TIANNAH'S EMPIRE
On our fashion tour for this week, we are introducing to us a fashion mogul, who has succeeded in making herself a force to reckon with when talking about fashion in Nigeria. We are talking about no one but Toyin Lawani of 'Tiannah's empire'-which will be our tourist's site for this edition.
BIOGRAPHY
Toyin Lawani was born into the Lawani family of Ekiti State in the South West of Nigeria o the1st of March 1982 Her father is, Yisah Lawani a former commissioner of Police and her mother, Princess Atinuke Babalola, a serial entrepreneur (also royalty).
She attended Ebire Nursery and Primary School in Ibadan, Oyo State and in 1992 she was admitted into the prestigious St John’s College in Lagos. She was admitted to study English at the University of Lagos in 1998, where she graduated. As a student of the University of Lagos, she also enrolled at the Opral Benson training institute, a decision that helped pinpoint her lifelong career path. Toyin Lawani is a single mum of two very smart kids; Tiannah and Tenor.
CAREER
At the age of 16, her business career kicked off; and it began with the trading of clothes, shoes, bags, hair attachments to her fellow mates in the University. She sold her items and wares in a boutique, located in Hall 36- of her university accommodation, but within months, the boutique expanded to include a supermarket and a hair braiding salon. A year later, a Spa was opened along Akoka Road, in Yaba, a suburb of Lagos, and the clientele flocked towards the extraordinary seventeen-year old entrepreneur who eventually went on to study in Los Angeles School of Fashion for a Diploma Course, Exodus Hair School in India and Johnyim Fashion and Beauty Institute in Korea.
Toyin’s mum played a huge role in shaping her daughter’s pathway; from the age of 17 to her mid-20s, she introduced Toyin to a number of dealers in fabric and hair products all across the middle east and Central Asia where she mastered the art of hair processing, coloring and hair treatment. Many years of hard work and perseverance has earned Toyin Lawani, a business empire-Tiannahs place.
Today, Tiannah's empire, which consists of over 20 divisions -Tiannah Spa (Spa Treatments), Tiannah’s Dance Studio(choreography), Tiannnahstyling Music Video (Shoots, Directs and Styles Videos), Tiannah’s Glow (Cream and Consultation), Tiannah’s Hair Goddess, Barbing Saloon, Nail Studio, Tiannahstyling (style outfits, Elegante Boutique, Fashion Academy, Elegante by Tiannahstyling, Elegante Kids, Amala Dot.Com, Tiannah’s Travel and tour, Tiannah’s Make up Studio, Tiannahs Photography, Tattoo Parlour, Tiannahs Home&Furniture Company and more, has turned to a fashion 'empire' really, setting trends. Toyin Lawani is described as the Queen of hustle, who is such an inspiration to young women that are aiming to be successful through hard work and diligence.