The fashion world is abuzz from Startup Fashion Week™ (SFW) as the organization marked a decade of nurturing talent this past season. A brainchild of Founder and Executive Producer Jodi Goodfellow, SFW has evolved from a modest idea into a transformative force for small businesses, making it the first and only multi-city fashion week in Canada. Read on below for some of the new faces of Canadian Fashion that were showcased this past season.
Name: Eseohe
Website: https://www.eseohe.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eseohe_official/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eseohe.Official/
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, I’m Judith, the designer for the brand Eseohe. I have had a passion for fashion for as long as I can remember, and I have been making clothes since 2012, but My journey as the creative director for Eseohe started in 2020, when I decided to compete in a fashion design competition through AFWT… and I won! In general, I am a very creative person, I sing, write and custom make clothes for people!
What inspires you?
I am tempted to say “everything” and while that is true, I would say more specifically,
1) My collections are inspired by themes, usually from relatable themes in my life. For example, my latest collection is called “working Girl” and the inspiration is women in business who want to look professional and classic but also love fashion, bold prints and designs.
2) I’m inspired by fabric. If you take me to a fabric shop I WILL purchase something , whether I need it or not. I’m most inspired to design when I see a vibrant coloured and /or intricate piece of fabric.
Tell us the story behind your brand/ art.
My designs for this brand are influenced by my upbringing. I grew up partly in Europe and partly in Africa, so I tend to fuse western and African cultures, styles and prints in the conceptualization and the execution of my designs.
I love bold colours and looks with intricate detailing. Ultimately I want there to be beauty and elegance in each piece I wear and design for others and so, my vision with Eseohe is to have a fashion brand that creates vibrant artistically designed clothing that people are proud to create and wear.
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone starting out in your field?
Research opportunities for young people within the field you want to work. Most companies and platforms in arts and fashion have some kind of training or exposure program that is meant for people just starting out. For example, I started out in fashion in Toronto by interning for Narces. I started my brand by competing for the student designer competition through African fashion week.(and I also volunteered for African fashion week the year before I competed, just so I got a feel of the show. ) Instead of trying to be just like already established brands, take advantage of the exposure these platforms can give you.
What do you love most about SFW?
The organizer! This has been such a great experience. Jodi, the founder, has set up amazing events and amazing partnerships for startups. She is also extremely organized and has given valuable tips for marketing almost every week since September.
Interested in learning more about Start Up Fashion Week, click
here.
