It feels great designing for international stars – Yusuf Abubakar Tumi

Weekend Magazine: You were recently made creative designer for Bobby Valentino. How did you land that? Yusuf Abubakar:  Wow! That was major for me. Growing up, I watched videos of him and Ludacris singing about the beauty of Africa and our ladies. I am really honoured and thrilled to be working with Bobby Valentino as […]

Weekend Magazine: You were recently made creative designer for Bobby Valentino. How did you land that?
Yusuf Abubakar:  Wow! That was major for me. Growing up, I watched videos of him and Ludacris singing about the beauty of Africa and our ladies. I am really honoured and thrilled to be working with Bobby Valentino as the creative designer of his collections in collaboration with my brand. I just finished his second collection. We are bringing him to launch his collections in Nigeria. We have companies that will be endorsing our event, ‘The African Times’ from international watch brands to corporate bodies. It is a show that will bring talents across Africa and Europe to exhibit in Abuja and Bobby Valentino is the special guest, heading the event for his collection here Abuja. I’m very excited about it because we are pulling out the creative entrepreneurs in Abuja and we’ll showcase the real Bobby Valentino and the collection I’m creating for him.   
WM: You were also briefly costume designer for the Oprah Winfrey series ‘Flex and Shanice.’ What was that experience like?
Abubakar: The experience was absolutely epic. They reached out to me without my initially taking them seriously. In no time I saw it buzzing online and all, then I had to sit right and say ‘let’s do this.’ We all know the name Oprah as a big brand and her TV network as well, I may not have made it to Oprah herself but making it to her TV network and a series on her network was a dream come true. That is still one of my biggest accomplishments on the American scene linked to my work.
WM: Could you share with us your deal with the MTV MAMA Awards this year?
Abubakar: (Laughter). That is top secret but I would give you rough ideas. My partnership with MTV was for Vintage concept to be the official time for MAMA 2015 and more to come. Roughly speaking, I handled more than $132,000 worth of watches, excluding certain pieces. So it was a major partnership which I did and all the winners of the award had a wristwatch courtesy of Vintage Concept and I.  What I have done with this company I brought to Africa, is to initiate corporate social responsibility, adding value to the consumer and how we promote African music and entertainment with our time. That’s what I did with Vintage Concept.
WM: Was that something you saw coming?
Abubakar: Yes, because I know I can deliver, given the opportunity and platform. I have always been involved with corporate sponsorship. I consult for a number one (English) Premiership clubs, negotiating partnerships where you can have your company sponsor a Premiership club for a whole season; once the deal is sealed you pay me.
 WM: How would you describe yourself? Designer, entertainer, fashion icon, entrepreneur…
Abubakar:  (Laughter) I engineer the designs with a fashionable style that entertains. In a nutshell, I’m a serial entrepreneur. We’re a lifestyle brand so we pride ourselves in anything but being just ordinary. I’m more of a business person with an eye to design.
WM: You have done quite a bit in the entertainment industry in recent times. Is that an area you are looking to branch into full time?
Abubakar: Yes, we are into entertainment, we just signed our head artiste, Yung Kheengz; he is someone people should watch out for. He has an impeccable style and we would be shooting his first official chart video, in sha Allah, soon. We have a record we would be putting out real soon! Everyone should watch out for king Bawa a.k.a. Yung Kheengz. I call him the leader of the ‘New School’ and he is bringing on a different genre.
WM: With your work has come fame. How have you managed that?
Abubakar: Wow! Fame …  I feel normal though. I think my work is more famous than I am. It’s a stage in life for anyone doing anything for the public. It has its good sides and bad sides. The good sides are obviously the complimentary stuff I get and exclusive rights over any latest items or events. The bad side is, you can’t make mistakes like others. You have to be seen as ‘Mr. Always Right’ … flawless. And then you get the weird ones who are just weird. But it has its good days and bad days.
WM: Who is the special lady in your life?
Abubakar: She knows herself, she is very special and I am very lucky.
WM: What is the most gratifying thing in all that you do?
Abubakar: Meeting random people in public and hearing them say how I have inspired them. When I don’t post things online, I get people’s direct messages saying they want to see what my next dress look would be. Someone saw me in Paris, and he was from Singapore, but the way he spoke to me about my work, I was shocked.  I find such really gratifying when all I am doing is just to benchmark my work. Every single person who has approached me has inspired me. Everyone who spoke and encouraged me; shook hands and prayed for me, have all inspired me. And it is so amazing how being a designer or tailor as I was rightly called, could influence people I never thought I would ever see. What the footballers I have met also say of my effort inspires me.
WM: How easy or difficult was it branching out of computer science/engineering?
Abubakar: I am still in computing, I never branched out. My science engineers the fashion I have; I still use computer to design. A friend and I also have a software company. So I am still a technology designer.
WM: What inspires your kind of designs?
Abubakar: The major things are the fabrics. Others are simplicity, patterns, taste, time and environment. I love the 60s’ looks like Malcom X precisely and the Victorian era. And the Gatsby too!
WM: Who has had the most influence on you in the trade and away from it?
Abubakar: In no particular order I would mention a few – Jeffrey Banks, Arthur Mcgee, Scott Barrie; however, I have lots of them for various reasons. Every child would always say his father and mother first outside fashion and Malcom X. Jeffrey Banks for instance, is a ‘go-getter’ fashion designer and an icon. They all have various roles of influence they play in my brainbox.
WM: How do you handle female fans?
Abubakar: (Laughter) ‘How do I handle you know …’ I honestly don’t handle anyone. If there would be any need to handle anyone I would cut off. I haven’t had any experience that would lead to handling so I guess I’m cool with everyone around, a few weird people around as always but that’s all about it.
WM: What’s the most unexpected request a fan has made of you?
Abubakar: I think I had to do a video for them wishing their little sister a happy birthday; then a request to have a meal together. I don’t even know them. I think that’s the most.
WM: What’s your target for the next two years?
Abubakar: I want our official stand-alone store that caters for everyone and anyone old and young, from apparels to food. Like I said, we are a lifestyle brand and we want to put in all, we want to have our education and training centre free of charge, hopefully have our factory setup here. We’re looking and hoping to set up our first stand-alone store, in sha Allah, in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Minna and Port Harcourt.
WM: What makes you tick?
Abubakar: Life! I make the best use of my environment, I spend a lot of my time travelling and not sitting down in one place. The environment and issues that affect the scene make me tick.  Friends and family and the 60s lifestyle is one factor.
WM: What is your muse?
Abubakar: My muse works with time. I’m really moved by how people back in those days did so much but with so little resources. Dating back with time plays an important role in my art and what I do.
WM: What are five fashion principles every guy should live by?
Abubakar: Simplicity, which means less is more, attention to details, be spotless, clean.
WM: What is it like designing for stars like Tiote, Ruba Wilson, French footballer, and the likes of them?
Abubakar: It’s incredible I mean Tiote isn’t just a client but a personal friend and I can say that about all the clients I have had, from Ruba Wilson on Oprah Winfrey Network, Leon Best of Blackburn Rovers (FC), not to bore you with all the names and British TV show stars but they have always encouraged me to be more and do more. Bobby V is my ‘student’ (laughter) but he is a friend as well because the whole process is working together and creating a look that represents their identity.

whole season; once the deal is sealed you pay me.
 WM: How would you describe yourself? Designer, entertainer, fashion icon, entrepreneur…
Abubakar:  (Laughter) I engineer the designs with a fashionable style that entertains. In a nutshell, I’m a serial entrepreneur. We’re a lifestyle brand so we pride ourselves in anything but being just ordinary. I’m more of a business person with an eye to design.
WM: You have done quite a bit in the entertainment industry in recent times. Is that an area you are looking to branch into full time?
Abubakar: Yes, we are into entertainment, we just signed our head artiste, Yung Kheengz; he is someone people should watch out for. He has an impeccable style and we would be shooting his first official chart video, in sha Allah, soon. We have a record we would be putting out real soon! Everyone should watch out for king Bawa a.k.a. Yung Kheengz. I call him the leader of the ‘New School’ and he is bringing on a different genre.
WM: With your work has come fame. How have you managed that?
Abubakar: Wow! Fame …  I feel normal though. I think my work is more famous than I am. It’s a stage in life for anyone doing anything for the public. It has its good sides and bad sides. The good sides are obviously the complimentary stuff I get and exclusive rights over any latest items or events. The bad side is, you can’t make mistakes like others. You have to be seen as ‘Mr. Always Right’ … flawless. And then you get the weird ones who are just weird. But it has its good days and bad days.
WM: Who is the special lady in your life?
Abubakar: She knows herself, she is very special and I am very lucky.
WM: What is the most gratifying thing in all that you do?
Abubakar: Meeting random people in public and hearing them say how I have inspired them. When I don’t post things online, I get people’s direct messages saying they want to see what my next dress look would be. Someone saw me in Paris, and he was from Singapore, but the way he spoke to me about my work, I was shocked.  I find such really gratifying when all I am doing is just to benchmark my work. Every single person who has approached me has inspired me. Everyone who spoke and encouraged me; shook hands and prayed for me, have all inspired me. And it is so amazing how being a designer or tailor as I was rightly called, could influence people I never thought I would ever see. What the footballers I have met also say of my effort inspires me.
WM: How easy or difficult was it branching out of computer science/engineering?
Abubakar: I am still in computing, I never branched out. My science engineers the fashion I have; I still use computer to design. A friend and I also have a software company. So I am still a technology designer.
WM: What inspires your kind of designs?
Abubakar: The major things are the fabrics. Others are simplicity, patterns, taste, time and environment. I love the 60s’ looks like Malcom X precisely and the Victorian era. And the Gatsby too!
WM: Who has had the most influence on you in the trade and away from it?
Abubakar: In no particular order I would mention a few – Jeffrey Banks, Arthur Mcgee, Scott Barrie; however, I have lots of them for various reasons. Every child would always say his father and mother first outside fashion and Malcom X. Jeffrey Banks for instance, is a ‘go-getter’ fashion designer and an icon. They all have various roles of influence they play in my brainbox.
WM: How do you handle female fans?
Abubakar: (Laughter) ‘How do I handle you know …’ I honestly don’t handle anyone. If there would be any need to handle anyone I would cut off. I haven’t had any experience that would lead to handling so I guess I’m cool with everyone around, a few weird people around as always but that’s all about it.
WM: What’s the most unexpected request a fan has made of you?
Abubakar: I think I had to do a video for them wishing their little sister a happy birthday; then a request to have a meal together. I don’t even know them. I think that’s the most.
WM: What’s your target for the next two years?
Abubakar: I want our official stand-alone store that caters for everyone and anyone old and young, from apparels to food. Like I said, we are a lifestyle brand and we want to put in all, we want to have our education and training centre free of charge, hopefully have our factory setup here. We’re looking and hoping to set up our first stand-alone store, in sha Allah, in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Minna and Port Harcourt.
WM: What makes you tick?
Abubakar: Life! I make the best use of my environment, I spend a lot of my time travelling and not sitting down in one place. The environment and issues that affect the scene make me tick.  Friends and family and the 60s lifestyle is one factor.
WM: What is your muse?
Abubakar: My muse works with time. I’m really moved by how people back in those days did so much but with so little resources. Dating back with time plays an important role in my art and what I do.
WM: What are five fashion principles every guy should live by?
Abubakar: Simplicity, which means less is more, attention to details, be spotless, clean.
WM: What is it like designing for stars like Tiote, Ruba Wilson, Sylvester the French footballer, and the likes of them?
Abubakar: It’s incredible I mean Tiote isn’t just a client but a personal friend and I can say that about all the clients I have had, from Ruba Wilson on Oprah Winfrey Network, Leon Best of Blackburn Rovers (FC), not to bore you with all the names and British TV show stars but they have always encouraged me to be more and do more. Bobby V is my ‘student’ (laughter) but he is a friend as well because the whole process is working together and creating a look that represents their identity.