INTERVIEW WITH THE IFEANYI NWUNE (Updated)

 "Comfort is the greatest enemy of achievement"- Ifeanyi Nwune

I'd describe Fashion as Ifeanyi Nwune  an art (although the former is more valid). Ifeanyi Nwune is a model, brand ambassador fashion designer and the current winner of Redefinition 2014.  In his interview with SocioInspiration. He tells us the secret to his success! Enjoy :)

SocioInspiration: Hello Ifeanyi

Ifeanyi: Hello

SocioInspiration: Can you introduce yourself?

Ifeanyi: My name is Ifeanyi Nwune. I’m nineteen. I come from a family of six, my parents and   three siblings. We are four boys and I’m the last.

SocioInspiration: You are a stylist, is there anything else you do?

Ifeanyi: Yes. I'm also a menswear designer and creative director.  I just launched my debut collection named Control.

SocioInspiration: So how did you get your first gig?

Ifeanyi: I got my first gig when I was in hundred level at Arise Magazine Fashion week. Though it was a low paying job, it exposed me to a lot of experience and got me to connect with a lot of notable people in the fashion industry. The money was the least on my mind at that time.

SocioInspiration: How did you get that opportunity?

Ifeanyi: Umm, I think they put the opportunity online, and I applied for it and told my friend Terence Sambo to put in word for me. So he did, and I went for some interview and got to work with them

SocioInspiration: What’s styling about?

Ifeanyi: Styling is sort of like putting together an image for someone.  Most people in the public eye like to focus on their craft/field for more productivity, so a stylist is there to assist them in looking as "fly" as the work they produce. Proper coordination of the clothes to fit the client’s lifestyle and comfort is always put to consideration.

Also, we get to work with magazines and fashion event to ensure that the clothing pieces are represented in the best possible way for better appreciation.

Presently, I'm the personal stylist to Dr Sid and Choc City's Dj Caise  I've also gotten to work with Complete Fashion Mag, Red Sheet Mag, Uti, Wande Coal, Tunde Ednut, Elite Model Look, just to mention a few.

SocioInspiration: What motivates you?

Ifeanyi: Seeing the luxury lifestyle and status of successful people in the same field, drives me to work to be better than them.

Socioinspiration: Did you always know you wanted to be a stylist?

Ifeanyi: Honestly, not at all. But thank God I discovered I really appreciated "dopeness" and creating stuff at an early age.

SocioInspiration: So what exactly do you consider an achievement from you?

Ifeanyi: I did my first fashion work when I was sixteen.

SocioInspiration: So how has your journey to success been?

Ifeanyi: It's been quite exciting actually. Someone said, "it’s best to enjoy your journey to the top while it lasts, because once you get to the top, all you can do is fall". So I've been trying to enjoy every bit of it, even when it’s hard sometimes.  I take it all as experiences and learn from them. Trying something out is the only way to learn to do it.

Plus, my focus of where I want to be in life has been of great help to me. It has helped me realize you really don’t need everyone as "friends", but people with the positive energy to help you achieve your dreams.

I’ve also learnt to fight the idea of ‘yes men’. They sort of force you to accept the status quo, without you even knowing it. They appear positive, but when you think deep, you realise they actually derail your focus on where you initially want to be. So when they praise me, not like I don't appreciate them, but then I still have in mind what I'm yet to do. Comfort is the greatest enemy of achievement.

SocioInspiration: How do you combine school with all these?

Ifeanyi: It’s really hard multitasking. But then, I have to do what I have to do to stay relevant. People in the outside don’t care if you have school, you just have to be professional and appear when needed unless you'll be seen as unserious and hardly get any jobs.

SocioInspiration: What’s next for you?

Ifeanyi: Creating! Trying to make more stuff. More "dopeness" that people can wear and feel happy with. I want to ensure that guys do not have to spend so much on good clothes, or travel all the way just to find good clothing.

SocioInspiration: What’s your advice to readers?

Ifeanyi: Err..my advice is that you should stay in school, don’t do drugs (laughs). My advice is that they should keep doing whatever they feel they can do and make profit out of it.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE

SocioInspiration: Are you in a relationship?
Ifeanyi: no

SocioInspiration: Why?

Ifeanyi: Nothing. Not been in one for a while now. But definitely someday soon. (wink)

SocioInspiration: And have you had any girls ask you out?

Ifeanyi: Yes. I think it’s quite interesting when they do that. But then, I appreciate it more when it’s me that does the asking.

SocioInspiration: How do you cope with ‘haters?’

Ifeanyi: I don’t. I try as much as possible to ignore them even though it’s hard. But when sensible criticism is made, I take it into consideration because it helps sometimes. But lowkey, I've gotten to meet some of my "haters" and when get to know each other, we tend to become best of friends. Most times it’s just misunderstanding and wrong perspective that creates such.

Twitter and Instagram - @ifeanyinwune

Email address: ifeanyinwune@gmail.com