For anyone who doesn’t know you yet, who is Mobola, and what is House of Mobola all about?

'Mobola'  actually named Adedayo Omobolanle is  the passionate Founder and Creative Director of House of Mobola and a blessed child of God whose faith continues to guide her journey.

Through House of Mobola, her mission is to make fashion accessible to every woman, empowering them to express their individuality, embrace their confidence, and communicate their personalities through style. For Mobola, fashion goes beyond clothing; it is a means of self-expression, allowing every woman to tell her story in her own unique way.

House of Mobola is for the elegant woman who doesn't just want to stand out but also wants to make a statement.

You make such beautiful and unique pieces. Where did your love for fashion and creating clothes begin?

My mum was a civil servant, and at a point during my childhood, she was transferred to Abuja. I spent a lot of time with our neighbour, who was a tailor. Whenever I visited her shop, I watched her make beautiful clothes, and I was fascinated.

I decided to try sewing myself, so I would take my mum's wrappers, cut them up and make outfits for my dolls. I tried using a sewing machine once and hurt my finger. That was when I knew I needed to learn properly

I spent some months there, but I wasn't learning much because most of the cutting happened after I had left. I eventually stopped and started learning on YouTube. I learnt a lot, and when my mum realised how serious I was about it, she told me on my birthday that I needed to accompany her to her office.

I was grumpy, but on our way, she said she needed to check something. I watched my mum enter a shop that sold sewing machines. Oh my God, I cried! To this day, that remains my best birthday gift.

My mum is my greatest cheerleader. She has always been supportive, always, always supportive. We got the machine, and the journey began.

Take us back to the beginning. How did House of Mobola start, and what made you decide to turn your creativity into a business?

I was formerly in the skincare business, and everything was going well until I felt it was time to level up.

One day, while scrolling through Instagram, I came across a comment about skincare suppliers. I checked out the page and sent a message. The woman was really nice and explained everything to me. She told me how her life had changed since she started using a particular supplier and gave me the supplier's contact in Korea.

I was excited and decided to give it a try. I bought some products, they were delivered, and we tested them on people. The results seemed fantastic, and that was when I decided to put all my eggs in one basket.

My husband advised me to take things slowly, but I didn't listen. I thought, what was the worst that could happen?

This happened in 2021. I bought 100 items each of 16 different products. I was so happy because the products were branded in my name, and all I had to do was sell them. I cleared the products, got a store to stock them, and started selling.

That was when the nightmare began.

People's faces started burning, and the creams left rashes on their bodies. My head was spinning. What was going on? I contacted the supplier, who told me that if the products didn't work on their faces, they should use them on their elbows.

I could hardly believe my eyes. Their elbows? Impossible! I demanded a refund, but she refused. I had to take my loss, and I almost went into depression.

I blamed myself constantly. I cried every day, wondering how things had gone so wrong when I had been doing well producing the products myself. Why had I looked for a supplier? Why had I bought so many items?

After all that crying, my husband suggested that I travel to London alone, take a break and get to know myself better. He believed I would return rejuvenated.

That solo trip was one of the best decisions I ever made. One day, while sitting in my hotel room and going through my phone, I came across some outfits I had made in the past. I thought to myself, “Mobola, you've always been passionate about this. Why not give it another try?”

This time, I was more knowledgeable. I carried the lessons from my skincare business with me. I knew what had caused things to go wrong, and I never forgot those mistakes.

I spent six months doing my research before launching House of Mobola in October 2022. The brand was officially launched on 13 October 2022.

Gratitude.

What are the core values that guide House of Mobola?

Body inclusivity, confidence and class.

Body inclusivity is one of your core values. Why is it so important to you that women of different shapes and sizes can wear your designs?

This is why we are very particular about body inclusivity. All sizes and shapes are accommodated.

Has your personal style influenced the brand, or have you found yourself designing things that are completely different from what you would personally wear?

Yes, my personal brand has contributed largely to the things I design. I'm all for confidence and comfort. This is something I think everyone would notice once they see our pieces.

It takes a lot of grit to build a brand, but I like to take everything to God because the moment you decide to do it alone, you're done for.

One of the most difficult periods was when I lost my brother three years ago. This brings back a lot of memories for me.

I was running sales when my brother died. Nobody knew what I was going through on Instagram because I don't mix family with business.

I had to be there for my brother's burial rites while also delivering customers' clothes. It was a lot. I cried every day, every single day, and I almost couldn't function.

I took everything to God in prayer and asked Him to help me because the cross felt too heavy for me to bear.

That experience is the reason I completely stopped doing sales. It scarred me.

Immediately after the sales ended, I took a solo trip so I could find myself again. Spending time alone in another country really helped me. I returned better; a better business owner, wife and mother. Everything was better. In fact, I returned a better version of myself, with different plans.

I would say passion. I am very, very passionate about House of Mobola.

While business isn't a one-size-fits-all journey, in my case, passion keeps me going. I have a lot of plans mapped out in my head, and every month, I set a goal for House of Mobola.

This has been my biggest motivation. Once a goal is achieved, I tick it off my list, but the list is almost never-ending because, with each passing day, I want more.

You’re also a mum of three. How on earth do you balance motherhood, running a business and still finding time for yourself? 😂

There's no balance. I simply just do my best.

You’ve mentioned that many people don’t even know you have children! 😂 How do you find time to reconnect with yourself, and how do solo trips and reading influence your creativity and design process?

A lot of people aren't even aware that I have children.

I take a lot of solo trips because they help me discover myself. Every time I travel alone, I return home different — better and wiser. I never come back the same person.

Reading is another thing I don't joke with. My body may be resting, but my brain is exploring its imagination.

I tend to imagine a lot of things and play out scenarios in my head. This is one of the ways I come up with different styles. Once I close my eyes, I can imagine a dress. I then do a bit of sketching, although I don't think I'm particularly good at it, and write my ideas down. I'm better at writing them down because I try not to rely on taking a mental screenshot of everything.

This process has really helped me.

What has building this business taught you about yourself that you probably wouldn’t have learnt any other way?

I've learnt a lot. Also, in business, you never stop learning.

Beyond the beautiful clothes, what experiences have shown you just how much people believe in and support House of Mobola?

You know how they say, “Strangers will support you like they know you”? This is what I've personally experienced in this business. It's so surreal that you'd definitely know this is a divine orchestration from God Himself.

My friend, who owns this blog, is one of my biggest supporters. From the birth of House of Mobola, she has been consistent.

When we celebrated our third anniversary, Kemi Mobuse was there for me. When we needed to put our video on a billboard, I only had to make a phone call, and she showed up for me.

I've also had strangers recommend my business to their friends and families.

Fashion can be a very competitive space. How do you stay creative and keep coming up with new ideas without getting distracted by what everyone else is doing?

I block out all the noise. I take a solo trip every once in a while, as this gives me a lot of clarity. Reading is also a major part of my creativity. When I'm reading, I get a lot of inspiration.

What has been your biggest lesson about customers, money and running a business that you wish you knew when you started?

• Clients are not your friends.
• Never sell on credit to a client. That's the fastest way to lose them.
• Think of a solution first, and never settle on the problem because, as long as you're running a business, there will always be something to fix.

For someone reading this who has a creative talent but is scared to turn it into a business, what would you tell them?

Do it anyway. Don't be a perfectionist; you'd never get anything done. You'll learn along the way.

If you could go back to the Mobola who was just starting House of Mobola four years ago, what would you tell her?

I am freaking proud of you...

What are you hoping to achieve with House of Mobola in the next few years? Do you have a big dream for the brand that you haven’t told us about yet? 👀

Giving the pen to God to blow my mind!

And finally, for anyone who wants to own a House of Mobola piece, where can they find you and how can they place an order?

Instagram @House of Mobola

Whatsapp: 2348073138072

Website: www.houseofmobola.com/

Thank you for Reading...😉