THE ILLUSION OF PERFECTION 2

While Tayo chased borrowed luxury in the clouds of Lagos, his neighbor, Nadia, a young lady in her 20s, had chosen a profoundly different path.

Nadia's foundational resilience was forged by intrinsic determination and the fires of loss. Growing up with absent parents who prioritized appearances and careers over their parental duties had already molded her desire to live differently. Although the painful tragedy of losing both parents in a plane crash left her an orphan, it never stifled the fierce, hopeful fire burning within her.

The period following the crash was brutal; the banks and tax services took everything left behind and Nadia was barely able to survive. She was alone, almost broken and overwhelmed by depression until a generous relative stepped in, took her in and accepted to see her through school.

Over the years, that generosity inevitably began to thin, and Nadia determined to find a purpose in life and not be a burden embraced the world of fashion design. She had always dabbled with fabrics as a teenager so she approached Mama Ireti who owned a small fabric and sewing services shop down the road and made her an offer. 

Mama Ireti was fascinated by the beautiful but humble young woman who had a folder filled with hand sketched dazzling designs and was eager to learn how to give wings to her dreams. For a small token and additional services of keeping the shop clean, she accepted to teach her the little she knew.

Soon, learning from Mama Ireti, after school hours became a special thrill for Nadia. She poured her heart into her pupilage, demonstrating a talent for creating new designs while bonding with Mama Ireti and her family. She was a natural and before long, with Mama Ireti's encouragement she started her own fashion design business — Nadia started sewing from her home.

Opening a social media account dedicated to her passion was a crucial step. It was a place for showing her genuine work, and soon, clients fascinated by her skills began to trickle in.

Snap. Click. Upload.

Nadia smiled as she twirled in her latest design just as her phone started buzzing. She knew what that meant. Hastily taking off the dress she focused on receiving new orders from eager clients while resolving to place an advert for an assistant on her social media handles before the end of the week.

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