Living Your Passion – Interview with International Milliner – Nena Kalu Ogba
With social networks, it is easier and faster to meet so many new people. One of the new people I met is Nena Kalu Ogba. She is an international milliner based in Lagos, Nigeria with a genuine spirit. A milliner is a person who designs, adorns, and sells hats. Her hats are unique and you can’t help but turn heads if you wear one of her designs. She has been featured in various magazines like Royal Ascot and Vogue. She currently appears in the October issue of Vogue. Aside from her designs, I admire her kind spirit and her ability to summon kindness through her social network. Enjoy my inspiring interview with Nena Kalu Ogba, an internationally renowned milliner.
When and why did you become a hat designer?
Nena Kalu Ogba – I decided to become a milliner out of curiosity. Even after graduating from fashion school, hats were still a puzzle to me. I could barely see stitches or joins and it made me wonder how they were done so I started looking for a teacher. The teacher I found turned out to be very well known: she was the official royal milliner to the late Queen Mother of England. I did not learn to grind with the intention of making hats for others. I just wanted to be able to bring some crazy ideas I had in my head to life so I could use some awesome creations at events. But when I got back to Nigeria a family friend was getting married and my dad asked me to make him a hat and come with him to the wedding as my mum was on holiday in the UK. I made a simple and eye-catching hat, which I wore to the wedding and noticed people coming up to me asking where I got my hat. Every time I gladly mentioned that I did it myself, they were shocked and asked for my number.
Thus my hat business was born and spread mostly by word of mouth before I had my first big show and the media fell in love with my designs.
Where did you study fashion and design?
Nena Kalu Ogba – I studied fashion at De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. I specialized in contour fashion, which incorporates evening and bridal wear, lingerie design, children’s wear, sportswear, swimwear. Later I took short courses privately and also at Central Saint Martins College, London, learning to make bags.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Nena Kalu Ogba – I take inspiration from anything: lines, shapes, nature, animals, birds, flowers, sometimes it could even be a teacup or plate design.
How have you been able to succeed in this industry?
Nena Kalu Ogba – Creating unique and original products, firmly believing in myself and God, the determination to reach the top no matter what, and constantly promoting myself through different media.
What advice can you give someone who is interested in a design career?
Nena Kalu Ogba – A career in design is not a roller coaster ride. You need to be focused, believe in yourself, well grounded and super strong within yourself, determined to make it to the top. Whatever happens, work day and night developing your imagination and creativity, pray a lot for the revelations of design, you must love design deeply and be clear about the reason why you want to be a designer, make sure you have the talent and strength to overcome yourself . your competitors, be original and not a copycat and be ready to persevere. Lastly, you must have a strong marketing team.
Where can people find your products?
Nena Kalu Ogba – My products are sold on my website – www.NenaKalHunter.com.
I have independent merchandisers and wholesale buyers who own stores or boutiques who also buy from me. My hats are bought from customers all over the world and we ship to almost every country.
What are your next goals for you and your company?
Nena Kalu Ogba: I hope to establish my entire clothing line, which is what I originally intended to do. This would be a line that would incorporate all aspects of men’s and women’s clothing and accessories and would be sold in stores around the world.
Nnenna Pastor – Thank you Ms. Nena Kalu Ogba.