00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Ready to step into the future of fashion?
00:06 In a time of fast fashion
00:08 and an ever-growing footstep of the industry,
00:11 how do these shoes combine aesthetics
00:13 with sustainability and traditional craftsmanship?
00:16 - One of the things that I love to do is ethical production.
00:21 And for us, ethical production is making sure
00:24 that we work with our hands,
00:26 artisanal skills and techniques.
00:29 And also we are so bothered about the materials we use.
00:32 And that's why we make use of remnant leather.
00:35 - Ebuka Omaliko started working in the fashion industry
00:38 in 2012 as an intern during Lagos Fashion Week.
00:42 After working for several brands,
00:44 he founded his own label, Maliko.
00:47 Where does his passion for fashion come from?
00:50 - I'm a self-taught designer.
00:51 So that was why it was so important for me
00:55 to sort of like get experience hands-on
00:59 during the fashion week.
01:00 So I would walk backstage, I would see the styles.
01:03 But as I was doing that,
01:05 I realized that there were no shoe designers
01:09 that were homegrown at the time
01:10 that are doing as much
01:12 as what the clothing designers were doing.
01:15 And that just pulled my attention.
01:19 It made me to realize that there is a need.
01:24 And that was why I started like designing shoes.
01:27 Oh, my love for fashion actually just comes from,
01:30 first of all, my interaction with people
01:34 and also just the community around where I find myself.
01:39 From Lagos to the East where I grew up
01:43 and then to the North where I stayed, you know.
01:48 All of these experiences I had
01:50 just made me love fashion differently.
01:53 - Due to the constant rise in inflation,
01:56 designers such as Ebuka have had to source materials
01:59 in their backyards to bring down the import costs
02:02 of buying materials they would typically order from overseas.
02:06 So how has Ebuka managed to build
02:08 an eco-conscious brand in Nigeria,
02:11 focusing on sustainability?
02:13 - We use the Mushin Market.
02:15 It's a leather market that is well-known in Nigeria.
02:18 You know, it's located in Lagos.
02:21 And so that is a major source of what we get our leathers from.
02:26 - Nigerian leather rates as one of the highest quality globally
02:32 and there are consistent suppliers to Europe and Asia.
02:36 It is mostly produced in the North of the country
02:39 and comes from goats and sheep.
02:41 However, in the footwear sector,
02:44 the country only owns an estimated 10% share
02:47 of the domestic market.
02:49 So why is it important for Ebuka to go the sustainable route,
02:53 but also produce quality work?
02:55 - Sustainability has helped us to really build
02:59 a responsible, conscious brand
03:03 in the sense that we make use of sustainable materials,
03:08 our ethical practices that we have imbibed
03:12 by engaging our local artisans and trying to preserve
03:16 this craft and also zero waste policy.
03:21 - Ebuka Omaliko designs Beespoke,
03:25 bold and beautiful shoes for footwear,
03:27 especially for users who like to stand out.
03:31 From manufacturing the shoe up to the final touches,
03:34 every part of the production is done by local artisans.
03:38 - He's just trying to do his first fitting
03:42 to know whether the insole will fit into the sole
03:44 that he has covered.
03:45 And, you know, the way he's doing it now,
03:49 if it doesn't fit, he will also try to adjust it.
03:53 - His designs are rooted in Nigerian culture and traditions,
03:56 yet modern and timeless.
03:59 The handmade shoes and sandals can be ordered worldwide.
04:02 - When I started, I wasn't thinking that I would get
04:07 to a point where I'm really going to be in this space
04:12 or this big.
04:14 But right now, for each day, there's always a need
04:17 for me to really work hard in making sure that
04:19 these crafts and these people I work with
04:24 are really seen and heard all over the world.
04:28 - Choosing the sustainable route
04:29 in the shoe designing process is not only a reflection
04:32 of personal values and beliefs,
04:35 but also responds to global trends,
04:37 aligning with the imperative to reduce
04:39 the environmental footprint of the fashion industry.
04:44 Ebuka's footwear leaves a lasting impression on the world,
04:47 one that echoes a commitment
04:49 to both style and sustainability.
04:51 (upbeat music)
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