Women We Love: Obijie Oru, Award winning Costume Designer and Creative Director of the BYGE Brand

March 22, 2017

Today’s Women We Love beams the spotlight on Obijie Oru, an award winning costume designer and the lead designer at the BYGE Brand.

Obijie Oru is a lawyer turned fashion and costume designer. She graduated from the University of Benin and has worked in fashion since graduation. As an autodidact, her first job as a costume designer was in the award winning thriller The Figurine (2009) produced and directed by Kunle Afolayan. She has worked on several movies, TV programmes and reality shows like ‘Maltina Dance All’ where she has worked as a costumier since the first edition.

Obijie has won and been nominated for several awards. In the 5-year run of the AMVCA’s she has been nominated for Best Costume Designer in a Movie/TV Series three times in a row (2015, 2016 and 2017), winning the award in 2015 for Kunle Afolayan’s period thriller, October 1. She also won the award for Achievement in Costume Design at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) 2015 for October 1.

She has worked with award winning film directors, film technicians and actors and under her fashion label BYGE, she has also dressed stylish women and stars in the Nigerian film industry and entertainment scene.

In this interview for TW Women We Love, Obijie Oru takes us through her journey from her childhood to becoming a multi award winning costume designer.

What was it like growing up and can you tell us about yourself?

Growing up was fun for me especially as I was tomboy. I grew up in Navy Town and attended Navy Town Primary School, then I went off to FGGC Calabar. I ended up in the University of Benin. I am the third of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Oru. I have the most amazing family ever as they have always been there to support me. Some of my greatest strength come from my background; the ability to stand up for myself and soar even in desperate situations. My confidence and high self esteem is a result of my parents loving me unconditionally. I was taught that I am the same as everyone else and there was never a case of boys being different from girls in our home. We all did the same chores divided equally by my mum. I am thankful for my background for it has shaped me into who I am today.

Why did you ditch ‘Law of Torts’ and court room drama for designing, pattern making and dressing characters for other dramas?

I cannot quite say when I decided to not be a lawyer anymore. I have always stitched and cut up fabrics from as far back as when I was 6 or 7. At that age I could hand stitch a skirt properly. By age 10, I could tie and dye. In our time, we weren’t quite encouraged to do vocational training as such. I was always good with literature and government and I was quite argumentative, it seemed the clear conclusion was being a lawyer, which I thought was the best thing for me. I never stopped sketching and hand stitching although I never tried learning clothes making properly. It required a level of concentration that I didn’t have at that moment. After school, I had an extra year and wanted to do something that would put some money in my pocket and that is when I started because the concentration came then. I absolutely adored transforming people through clothes.

What did your parents say about the change after sending you to study law?

My parents support me in whatever decision I make concerning my life choices. They have never questioned me but only counselled and encouraged me.

How did you train yourself for your new careers in fashion and costume design?
Once I decided this was absolutely what I wanted to do, I took a short course in pattern drafting. I wanted to go attend a big school or travel abroad but I couldn’t afford it. I made do with what I could find around and put my “back to it”. I did 8 weeks and everything I learnt afterwards was on my own. I learnt how to cut up my patterns by instinct, reading and practicing. I learnt the art of corsetry by reading up books, taking vintage clothing and pulling them apart to check how the work was done. I also studied the work of designers I admired and tried to imitate their work before I began to form my own style of work. Now I like to call myself an excellent pattern drafter, an experienced cutter and an ever-growing designer. It’s a continuous learning process for me. As for Costume design, it is a career I never envisioned. I didn’t see it coming and it just happened. I started out by doing costumes for the Maltina Dance All Family Dance Reality Show.

Obijie Oru in her studio

Obijie’s Work In Maltina Dance All TV Show

When and why did you start BYGE?

I started my brand as far back as 2002 unofficially and decided to take it seriously in 2004. I rented a shop in Festac town in 2005 and the rest is history. My brand started out of the need to do something positive that could earn me money without doing a 9-5 job. I had to try out several businesses before I settled for fashion. I always say fashion found me because I have sketched and done needle work all my life. I have also woven and braided hair; at a time in school I used to make hair to make ends meet. I also cook. I tried out cooking first but fashion found its way, I wasn’t even thinking about it. I made an outfit for myself for a wedding I attended. Someone saw my outfit, loved it and ordered it.

Obijie’s Designs

Congratulations on your AMVCA 2017 nomination for Best Costume Designer in a Movie/TV series. How did you receive the news of your nomination?

Thank you! I was on set in far away Jos and unlike the 2016 nomination which I wasn’t expecting, I hoped to get one for 2017 though I put it out of my mind. They were a lot of good movies out in 2016 and even though I knew I had done good work, there was a possibility of not getting any nomination. We were filming in a village called Bidol in Plateau state and the news came in the middle of filming. I was so overjoyed and I remember running to break the news first to two of my assistants who worked diligently on the production King Invincible and work with me all the time. Without them my work would have been so difficult. They fill in my blanks. Not calling their names though just in case there are poachers lurking! (laughs).

Obijie With AMVCA 2015 award for October 1

In the 5 year history of the award scheme, you are the first film technician to be nominated in the same category back to back. How does this make you feel and what does it do for your brand?

It is an honour to have 3 nominations back to back to back and it makes me feel really appreciated. I’m happy for the recognition and this encourages me to keep at what I’m doing. Obviously, I must be doing something right. On what it has done for my brand, it has given me respect and set me miles apart and those who appreciate the kind of work I do want me on their projects. I just want to work and make a difference in the Nigerian film and television industry. That’s all I care about. If the awards come with it, hallelujah!

Obijie’s Work In King Invincible

What is your personal style?

My personal style is like that of the BYGE woman: Timeless.

What is your advice for Nigerian female entrepreneurs who wish to go into fashion and costume design?

My advice is pretty simple: Keep studying and mastering your craft. Take courses when you need to or have the opportunity no matter how short. It’s very important to have a mastery of whatever business you want to go into. Learn before you start or learn as you go along. Balance your life and career. This is also very important.

Written by: Bimpe Adebambo