THE FUNKY BRUNCH GIVES US AN EXPLOSIVE SECOND EDITION

What really makes helen Chukwu stand out from so many others in the business is the delicacy and honesty she brings to her vision of femininity, an approach that has captivated her many clients since her launch in 2011. With a newly opened store in lagos to add to the others in dubai and los angeles, it is clear that simone has reached a new stage in her career and there is no doubt that she has now graduated from the ranks of emerging talent to established designer. in this interview with Konye Chelsea nwabogor, she talks about her foray into fashion and her recent launch in lagos.

Tell me a bit about yourself?

My name helen pretty much means light, so each day that passes for me is a quest to bring something bright to the table. I aspire each day to create something different, you know challenge the status quo. I draw a lot of my inspiration and learning as an individual from traveling and meeting new people. Family is also very dear to me, each and every one of them as well as my a-mazing team.

When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?

Creativity and inspiration struck me at a very early age and I knew quickly that playing with dolls and playing dress-up meant something very different to me. Playtime became an expression of style and creativity where I would channel my newly found talents through ideas generating fabrics and trims. It never occurred to me that I would want to do anything else but be a fashion designer.

Did you ever have any doubts about going into fashion?

you know the funny thing is I studied Medicine initially, but few years in I realized that something was not right, that I needed to follow my passion, which is fashion, and since then it has been ‘no turning back’.

What inspired the creation of Helen couture?

while I was studying at Bellerbys College in Brighton UK, pursuing my Foundation Degree in arts, I was also spending a great deal of time working in Dubai, lagos and UK, at the same time pursuing my Bachelors in fashion design at Instituto Marangoni which I finished in the year 2015. I guess all of these learnings gathered and more summed up to give me the boost to setup something of mine that is helen Couture.

You recently launched Helen Couture in Lagos, what was the highlight of the event for you?

The highlight for me was definitely the number of people in attendance. I was so worried about the traffic on Friday. But people turned out in numbers and I am extremely grateful to each and everyone that made it to the launch. added to that, the support from family and friends was immense! The celebrities that made time to come as well! It’s actually a boatload of things

What sets Helen Couture apart from its competitors?

when we create our garments we make them to suit the environments they will be worn in. when I say this I don’t necessarily mean following trends in that clime but in a broader sense the technology present, what’s on the news, the history, amongst many others. all these are put into consideration when making our garments and hence distinguish us from the pack.

Describe Helen Couture in three words?

sophisticated - luxury - state-of-the-art

What influenced this category of your fashion brand, Luxury?

hmm, tricky one. First, before choosing the category I chose the target audience, women. In doing this, my plan is to clothe goddesses & great women (women of substance), such that when you think of ethereal garments as a lady the first name that drops in your mind is helen Couture. having said that, it was only right to keep the brand in the luxury category.

How would you define your personal style and the style Helen Couture exemplifies?

That’s a very fine line right there. Personally I am easy-going and don’t necessarily have one particular style. Today, I may be wearing a top that’s laced with pearls and fur, the next day you’ll find me in a tracksuit. But my train of thoughts while creating a collection stems completely from the latter me, the pearl lady.

Where do you get your inspiration when designing your collection?

asides traveling, I spend a lot of time doing research work with my team. as I have explained earlier we don’t narrow our search to just trends but also current happenings in a general sense. This makes the output richer than just a eare trend-search, it also goes further to give different directions to the creation of the collection.

What advice do you have for aspiring fashion designers out there?

Follow your passion. It is far from rosy on the way but it’s definitely going to be worth it at the end of the day. also, you’ll be sure to always have those crazy days where you want.