The Mckiels: Pushing The Hustle

My love for fashion started at an early age of twelve with my eldest brother being my main motivator. He happens to be a lover of the hip-hop craze in the 90’s so most of his dressing and ways depicts the western way of life.

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After secondary school, I was trying every possible means to get into university. It wasn’t working at that time, so I decided to work while waiting. I went into Event planning (stage lighting precisely) and from been close to the entertainment industry, my interest in fashion started creeping up again…

So I decided to start my own brand, though I didn’t start until three years later that after gaining admission into college. I sold my first gold accessory in April 2013 for around #4500. It was a bracelet {northern skull). Earlier this year, I made it official and we started Mc’kiel Golds and Stones; I have since then been selling gold accessories ranging from wrist watches, bracelets, necklaces, rings, pendants etc..

My in depth passion for fashion made me venture deeper into it thereby adding clothings, shoes, bags and other accessories that complement everyday wears for both genders, young and old….

Summer 2013 stands as the beginning of a new chapter in my life as an entrepreneur. It was my brother’s wedding and my tailor had disappointed me. It was so bad, I had dress casually for his engagement. This occurence caused me to decide to go a step further, so I started learning tailoring. With a drawing talent, though not perfect, I was able to design as well as sew.

I started HOUSE KINGSMEN in September 2014, about a year after I started learning. Ever since, I have personally designed and sewn garments, suits, blazers etc. for men and women

The main struggle I face as jeweler and a fashion designer is the average student challenge. Having to combine attending lectures with dealing, designing and sewing is a cumbersome task to carry out at almost the same time. Also I have to be online because most of my jewelry business takes place online and that consumes a lot of time and money which is a major problem for an average Nigerian student.

Lack of constant power supply also reduces my work rate and effectiveness at times…

Another major problem is how to convince people to buy gold accessories from a tiny framed guy that hardly wears any. That has been a great issue and my immediate environment is sort of a stumbling block.

People around this part of world like good things but tend not to like paying for the right value. They also have to be extremely careful not to be too flashy so as not to attract the authorities [police men] because the common mentality is that every guy that walks the streets of Mushin and dresses well is engaging in internet fraud. That is also a major obstacle that I have been faced with.

Balancing school and work is always a great task, the fact that you are independent, make your money is enough reason to get distracted. But by telling myself the truth; which is reminding myself of the main reason I am having this opportunity at all is  because I am there to study. By making that my top priority, having that at the back of my mind keeps me going every time I get distracted; also there is this part of my room, on the wall, where I write words that motivate me so I also draw encouragement from the words there.

What/Who motivates me?

I get my motivation mainly from GOD because without GOD, this talent and skill won’t have been. I also derive joy from doing the great things He has put into my hands, that is also extra motivation. So when going through the down side of being an entrepreneur, I just go back to my sewing machine, or drawing table or better still start surfing the net for new ideas.

My advice to upcoming entrepreneur is that no matter what, never give up on your dreams. Continue to follow your dreams and success would chase you pants down.