While in Nigeria, you made a name for yourself in the fashion industry as GTX Outfit, now you are known in the UK as EminenceByGTX. What inspired the change?
Becoming EminenceByGTX was a matter of growth. All my life, I have aspired to improve myself and my art. I continue to learn, unlearn, and re-learn. EminenceByGTX is the culmination of these improvements.
How is it like being a fashion designer in the UK?
It’s challenging. I have been a designer most of my adult life in Nigeria, however, coming to the UK felt like leaving my comfort zone. This is a new country, a new culture, and new expectations. Sometimes, it feels like you need to prove yourself anew. You do not always start from the height you have attained in your home country, but there is the liberal possibility that you’re getting back there with purposeful dedication.
What do you love most about being a fashion designer in the UK?
A lot, a lot. For one, the sheer size of the industry is exhilarating. It’s huge and it has so many segments. There are so many angles to consider, so many designers to collaborate with. Fashion is about cultural exposition and the UK is the melting pot of cultures and innovation on the planet.
So, how has the journey been so far in the UK?
It has its challenges, but I’m having a good time building a brand that means so much to me and many people in the UK.
Can you mention some of these events?
There are so many to remember, so I may only get the more recent ones. I was the official clothing partner and a nominee for Sheffield African Fashion Brand of the Year. I participated in the Crux Nation-organised Wedding Party 2 themed, “Gangs of Lagos” in August, where I provided Aso Ebi and outfits for grooms as we recreated the wedding party in Sheffield. There’s also the Black History month fashion show organised at Teesside International Airport by Stick and Stones with my outfits being one of the highlights of the day.
I have worked with top models in the UK such as Lani Diaz of Miss Philippines Universe fame, Cassianne Lawrence, who is also an alt musician, Amanda of Miss Trans Global Uganda 2022, Viviane Djiadeu, Ray Ray, and countless others.
So where do we see Gbotemi Oladotun and EminenceByGTX in the near future?
I am building a go-to brand for Africans and people of colour in the UK, a brand that would benefit from the endless possibilities to explore and collaborate on the global stage, a household brand everyone would be proud of.
