Popular Nigerian fashion designer Veekee James has revealed that customers who want to wear her designs should be prepared to pay at least N1 million for a dress.
The fashion entrepreneur made the disclosure during a recent interview while addressing questions and complaints from customers who consider her prices expensive.
Rather than apologising for the cost of her creations, Veekee James explained that several factors contribute to the final price of each outfit, including the time, creativity, expertise and investment required to produce her designs.
According to the designer, her prices reflect the value attached to her work and the effort involved in creating each outfit from scratch.
Why Veekee James Does Not Negotiate Dress Prices
Veekee James explained that negotiating the cost of her dresses can be difficult because there are several aspects of the creative process that customers may not immediately consider.
She said:
“Do we want to start from the value that you’re going to be getting? Do we want to start from the time that we’re going to take to detail this dress? Do we want to start from what it takes me to actually create a design for you? Because it takes me a lot,”
The designer also opened up about the challenges that sometimes come with creating new designs.
She revealed that inspiration does not always come immediately and that there are occasions when she has to seek divine inspiration before she can develop an idea.
Veekee James Says Holy Spirit Inspires Her Designs
According to the fashion designer, there are moments when she sits down without knowing what she wants to create.
She said worship and prayer sometimes help her find the inspiration needed to develop a new design.
“Sometimes I have to just even start worshipping for God to actually show me what to do. So that’s why every time I say, oh, the Holy Spirit gives me designs,” she explained.
Her comments offer an insight into the creative process behind some of the outfits produced by her fashion brand.
Veekee James Speaks on the Value of Her Brand
Beyond the cost of materials and the labour involved in making her outfits, Veekee James said her brand itself carries considerable value.
She acknowledged that she believes the Veekee James name has the potential to become even bigger but maintained that it already represents a significant brand in the fashion industry.
“The Veekee James brand is a big name in itself. It’s not even as big as it should be, but it is,” she said.
The designer’s comments have sparked conversations about the cost of luxury fashion and the factors that determine the prices of custom-made outfits in Nigeria.
Watch her speak below:
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