Mr. Newcome Tex Egbedi is arguably one of Nigeria’s best dressed men and the CEO of Texen Limited.
The Men’s Clothing Company which has been in existence for more than 25 years catering to the needs of high flying clients in Nigeria. Texen has become a symbol of Style, Class and a Role Model to other brands in the industry.
As a mark of its uniqueness you can pin point a Texen dressed client by its Classic and Quality style .
Texen is a fine example of an iconic fashion label which has mastered brand story telling.
In an exclusive interview with the City Pride Achievers Magazine the award winning and highly cerebrated Man of style whose brand has stayed ahead of every fashion brands in the Country explained what has kept his brand afloat for over two decades.
Excerpts;
Q. TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.
A. My name is Tex Egbedi, married with kids from the hip town Sapele in Delta State. I did my primary school in Sapele while secondary school was at the Prestigious Saint Peter Claver’s College, Aghalokpe Delta State.
I progressed from there in 1971 to Baptist Academy where I did my higher School Education and later on I went to London where I studied Business Studies at the South West London College 1973.
And from there to watford college where I studied and graduated in advertising management.
I returned to Nigeria on the employment offer of Ogilvy Benson and Mather Lagos.
Providence stepped in and I ended up with AT and P Sapele, (UAC Group) as a trainee sales officer
I stayed with UAC for a while and joined the New Breed Organisation in 1979 as the Advertisement Manager in 1979 when new breed magazine was the hottest magazine in the country.
When it was proscribed I moved to Sun Gas Limited where I worked and rose to the position of National Sales Manager. While there, I was head hunted to the glamorous Marketing Managers position that was created in the Nigerian Airports Commercial Ventures Limited which was a subsidiary of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria in 1984.
Q. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS CAREER?
A. I anchored here because among the three things which I had in mind as a student in UK to do in Nigeria, this was where I had a very strong background knowledge and competitive edge. The other businesses I thought of which I jettisoned as a result of previous work experience and exposure were to set up an Advert and Communication Agency or a fast food business.
Somehow, the Texen idea attracted me so much because of my experience as a student working in Men’s fashion Shops in London.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR OWN STYLE OF FASHION?
A. Classic and Timeless, that is the direction of Texen as well.
Q. WHAT IS THE FAVORITE PART OF BEING A FASHION DESIGNER?
A. Candidly I am not a fashion designer, I am a businessman who supervises a fashion Company (Texen) where Garments are produced locally and some others imported and produced under contract arrangement in Texen brand Label abroad. In our production departments we have in house designers who work with us and we also work with few freelance designers whose ideas of designs fit into our house creative vision for our Garments and Accessories.
However, because I have been interacting with the designers for long, I am now gradually becoming one of them. But that is not my turf. So for me, what Impresses me is when I encounter a Texen Clients well dressed in Texen Garments and Accessories.
Most fashion houses are named after their designers like Mudi, Maufechi etc but Texen is not like that as our designers are employed in the house. We are like Sofisticat , Hugo Boss, Dunhill etc.
Q. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR CHALLENGES IN THE INDUSTRY?
A. Major challenges in the industry includes Power Electricity, Staff, Exhorbitant, Forex Exchange and funds to drive the business. A major challenge in the industry is poor workmanship delivered in production of garments due to unskilled workers.
It is painful that Training opportunities for Tailors, Machinists, Cutters are fast disappearing.
Although, some banks are showing a great interest in the fashion industry in terms of providing funds, I think they still need to do more as this industry along with the Entertainment is a very deep industry yet to be tapped.
Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
A. For me, it is not only the fashion industry but for the economy in which the fashion industry is just a segment, Government has to improve on it’s efforts to provide more infrastructure.
Electricity has been a big problem to us too but recently we have also experienced tremendous improvement in power supply. I do hope it continues.
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It's unique, classic and the exceptional quality is incomparable.
Q. WHERE DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR BRAND 10 YEARS FROM NOW?
A. Texen will continue to be a more respected, trusted and reliable brand providing Garments, Accessories and grooming range of products for Men through our numerous and other respected outlets.
Q. TEXEN HAS BEEN EXISTING FOR OVER 20 YEARS, WHAT HAS KEPT YOU AFLOAT?
A. First of all, the grace of God. Then our passion and strong belief and conviction in our ability to deliver solid/reliable products and services to our Clients who have always patronised us regularly and a new set of Customers who are discovering us every day.
Q. HOW DO YOU MANAGE STRESS?
A. This nation itself is stressful, living In Lagos is stressful the news and happenings all around can be stressful so all i do is find a way to switch off. I try and keep myself away by finding time to relax and read just as I crave watching television to cool off.
Q. HOW DO YOU RELATE PAST AND PRESENT FASHION TRENDS?
A. My candidly observation is by the time you are getting to huge a new trend you find that a new one is popping up. This is where clothiers with experience have to advise their Clients properly as to what trends to adopt. Sometimes one has to know what is trending for his age, career, position in a society etc.
This is where we stand out as clothiers because we would not shy away from letting our Clients know what we think suit them.
Q. HOW DO YOU HANDLE DIFFICULTY CLIENTS?
A. During a business program I attended, we were told that we could be trained as a Managers but to be a good manager is another issue altogether. Customers comes in different modes and one has to know how to manage different characters so that when you are faced with such situations encountering hard Clients, you have to first of all know you still want to retain the Client and so whatever you do after this thought should be purely reconciliatory.
Q. WHAT'S YOUR ADVISE TO UP COMERS ASPIRING TO BE LIKE YOU?
A. I already know that it takes long to establish and maintain a successful label/brand. It is a long distance race with attendant, frustrations on the way.
Nevertheless once you trust in your ability, trust in God, and prepared to be determined you will sail through.
Weldon....
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