We recently had the opportunity to interview Oluwabiyi Olusoga, Founder and Creative Director of PHRS Apparel. As a fashion enthusiast, he brings a unique blend of creative and strategic vision to the field.
Believing fashion is more about self-expression, Oluwabiyi Olusoga is actively transforming industry standards through his work.
Vision that Sparked the Journey
We started the interview by asking, “What inspired you to start or lead this business, and how has the journey surprised you?”
Oluwabiyi shared, “What inspired me to start this brand was my intuition, instinct, and calling. Fashion to me is more than just what you wear, it’s a message. It’s a language, it’s a community, it’s a way of communicating without words; fashion to me means a lot.
The journey so far has been surprising because I started doing this for fun but now it’s really breaking into the fashion scene and doing a lot of numbers.”
Message to Younger Self
We then asked, “If you could go back to your first year in this role, what advice would you give yourself?”
“If I could go back to my first year in this role, the ultimate advice I’ll give myself will be to never stop, never give up, and never stop dreaming big because whatever seed you plant can grow beyond your imagination,” Oluwabiyi commented.
Driving Clarity amidst Challenges
Challenges are a part of every profession. To learn Oluwabiyi Olusoga’s approach to solving problems that don’t have clear solutions, we asked him to share a glimpse of the same.
He commented, “Firstly, I set a deadline to solve anything in life, then identify the problem, and point out the possible ways to solve it! That way I achieve clarity.”
Defining Moments in Career
We were interested in learning more about the events that brought Oluwabiyi Olusoga’s business to where it is today. So, we asked, “Can you share a unique experience that shaped the way you run your business?”
He mentioned, “The times we failed. Failures aren’t inherently bad; they make me learn more and get better at the way I run my business. In short, failures are inevitable.”
A Leader Who Listens
As a leader in the fashion industry, Oluwabiyi Olusoga’s approach has become an inspiration for aspiring professionals. To learn more we asked, “If you had to describe your leadership style in one word, what would it be, and why?”
Oluwabiyi stated, “Leadership to me in a word means a listener. Listening to both compliments and criticism, then using the feedback to improve. A leader is someone who serves and understands the needs of the people and community.”
From Setbacks to Success
We also asked Oluwabiyi Olusoga to share a challenge he faced that led to a surprising breakthrough.
“Marketing. Initially, I was confused; I didn’t know how to market and how to reach my actual audience. Eventually, I experimented with some marketing strategies like influencer marketing which converted.
Networking and collaborating with people in fashion who have significant platforms to showcase the brand led to a big breakthrough, and I was able to find my footing in the fashion industry,” he reflected.
Redefining Industry Standards
Lastly, we asked, “If you could change one thing about the industry you work in, what would it be?”
Oluwabiyi explained, “If I could change one thing, it would be the industry’s reliance on overproduction. A lot of brands still produce in large volumes without guaranteed demand, which leads to waste, markdown culture, and ultimately devalues both the product and the brand.”
Connect with Oluwabiyi Olusoga on LinkedIn to gain industry insights.
Visit PHRS Apparel on their website to check out their latest collection.
Also Read:-
Creativity, Technology & Impact: The Digiwits Journey With Marc Bou Sleiman
Designing Experiences That Stay With Us — Dimitar Stefanov
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