Welcome to Sunday Refocus Season 2! In this episode, Whitney Onwubuya, a Nigerian-born, Edmonton-based fashion, beauty, and lifestyle creator, shares the real truths every new content creator needs to hear in 2025.

Whitney talks about her creative beginnings, the challenges she faced starting out, how her culture shaped her content, and the key milestones that helped her grow. She also shares practical advice for staying inspired, building community, and creating content that truly connects. If you’re a new or aspiring content creator, this episode will motivate, guide, and refocus you on what matters most.

🔔 Subscribe for more weekly conversations that inspire creativity, growth, and purpose.

Season 2 Team Credits:

Nifemi Ashani - Host & Creative Director

Shania Villamou - Videographer

Ken Kosowick - Video & Audio Editor

Dhakshanyina Boopalan - Set Photographer

Sofia Villanueva - Social Media Coordinator

Jo Hannah Deena - Set Assistant & Content Coordinator

Angelli Garcia - BTS Coordinator

Season 2 Sponsors:

Strong Coffee Marketing - Studio Sponsor

Find Edmonton - Furniture Sponsor

Styled by Nif - Executive Producer

Thank You!

We all know how technology has transformed image retouching, right? 

But, get this – it's not just a tech thing; retouching plays a crucial role in the fashion world. How do you think these luxury brands or beauty brands get their stunning images to look top-notch?

In the season one finale, delve into the distinctive world of professional image retouching as we engage with Akin Kevin, the visionary founder of Retouching Noir based in Nigeria.

About Akin Kevin: 

Akin Kevin is a highly skilled image retoucher with over 3 years of expertise in beauty, fashion, editorial, commercial and lifestyle retouching

He collaborates with leading photographers and has earned recognition in publications like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Magazine. 

Akin’s portfolio includes work for esteemed brands such as Schiaparelli, Glamnetics, and Guinness. 

Explore Sunday Refocus's carefully curated resource list designed to propel you towards your industry goals.

In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting Paakow Essandoh, the visionary founder of MIZIZI International, as he shared the remarkable journey of transforming the brand into the global phenomenon it is today. ⁠

Paakow enlightened us on navigating mental health, advocating for culture, and establishing meaningful connections with communities and brand partners—an incredibly inspiring discussion.

About Paakow Essandoh:

Paakow Essandoh is a Ghanaian-American, health science graduate from the University of South Florida, and the visionary founder of MIZIZI International.  At just 20 years old, he launched MIZIZI in 2015 while pursuing his studies. Under his leadership, MIZIZI has experienced remarkable growth and triumph, curating exclusive collections that embody his values of connection, celebration, and representation.

MIZIZI, meaning "roots" in Swahili,  is a luxury streetwear brand for the African Diaspora. The brand sells sports jerseys representing countries and cultures worldwide, including Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Notably, MIZIZI has forged significant partnerships with industry giants such as Marvel, Disney, and Viacom, solidifying its connection with the African Diaspora in North America. The brand's influence has been prominently acknowledged by prestigious publications like Vogue, Forbes, and many others.

This week's handpicked resources are presented in collaboration with Paakow. Incorporate his recommended must-read books into your holiday reading list or kickstart your 2024 with insightful knowledge.

Check out the Sunday Refoucs Digital Fashion Resource Library!

What does it take to be a top fashion stylist?

In this episode ⁠@beagystyle⁠ shares invaluable insights on what a person needs to do to stand out in the saturated world of fashion styling. 

Beagy talks about styling celebrities, the importance of creating looks that transcend the latest trends, being insured, managing budgets, handling rejections and setbacks, relationship building and much more.

About ⁠Beagy Zielinski⁠:

Beagy founded the celebrated L’Armoire Du Stylist. A clothing atelier in NYC that brought the work of trailblazing designers to the attention of the world's leading stylists and image makers, such as the styling teams of Madonna, Rhianna, Lady Gaga and Beyonce. She continued styling her own clients, with her work being published by magazines including Vogue, ELLE, L’Official, Harper’s Bazaar, Schön and Cosmopolitan.

Her editorial work led to several appointments to style incredible talent, including Missy Elliot, Gigi Hadid, Zoe Kravitz, Pharrell Williams, Laura Carmichael, Toni Braxton and Tyra Banks, to name a few. She has held positions including Creative Director at several multi-label E-commerce platforms & Style Director at Zalando, and Fashion Director at several magazines.

Check out Beagy's book (available on Amazon):⁠ "Let's Talk About Becoming a Fashion Stylist - Your Guide to a Stylish Career."⁠

⁠Book a mentorship session with Beagy here.

In a nation like Nigeria, where becoming a fashion designer demands a different level of courage and determination, one must navigate countless challenges to establish their brand. In this episode, Ikeoluwa reveals her inspiring journey as a fashion designer in Nigeria, embracing both its beauty and flaws.

About Ikeoluwa Adebisi:

Ikeoluwa is a sustainable fashion advocate, fashion entrepreneur, fashion researcher, and digital creator. She is the founder of UpTote by IKÉ, a circular fashion brand that transforms pre-consumer textile waste into functional and fashionable pieces. 

Through her work as a fashion content creator and social media manager, she simplifies complex sustainability ideas to reach diverse audiences. Her ultimate goal is to assist Small and Medium Enterprises in Africa in creating fashion brands that prioritize sustainability across the entire apparel supply chain.

Check out the Sunday Refocus Digital Fashion Resource Library!

Diving into the realm of film photography and creative direction as instruments of social change. ✨📸

About ⁠Sarah Stalon⁠:

Sarah is a talented film photographer and creative director with a base spanning Dakar and France. Her artistic identity, “Through My Eyes,” beautifully encapsulates the concept that we all possess unique perspectives that shape our vision of the world.

Celebrating this diversity is what enriches both life and photography. Sarah firmly believes in the validity and significance of every reality and perspective. Her desire is to share her personal vision with the world, a vision through her eyes for you! 

Sarah shares her journey as a film photographer and creative director, delves into the art of storytelling, and talks about the power of representation through creative photography. 

⁠Check out the Sunday Refocus Digital Fashion Resource Library!⁠

From dissecting the Hollywood fashion workers' strike to unraveling the art of contract negotiation for fashion creatives and much more, Sinmi delved into the world of legal affairs in the fashion industry. 

About Sinmi Adesanya:

Sinmi is an accomplished Legal and Operations Coordinator based in Nigeria. She holds a pivotal role at the Council for International African Fashion Education (CIAFE) ⁠@ciafeorg⁠, where her unwavering dedication fuels her passion for fashion law and policy advocacy. 

Sinmi's visionary approach focuses on the strategic formulation and implementation of laws and policies that serve as catalysts for the industry's robust growth.

Having the privilege of Sinmi's guidance as my supervisor at ⁠@ciafeorg⁠ has been truly inspiring. Observing her adept leadership of a team of fashion research fellows, I've been motivated to learn from her and gain insights into her remarkable career journey.

⁠Check out the Sunday Refoucs Digital Fashion Resource Library!⁠

Diving into the vibrant world of African fashion with our special guest, Dr. Erica de Greef, co-founder of @afri_digital. Erica enlightened us with her rich experiences and deep insights into fashion curation, research, and decolonization within the African fashion narrative. ✨🌍

About Dr. Erica de Greef:

Hailing from the vibrant city of Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Erica de Greef is an accomplished fashion curator, researcher, and co-founder of the fashion-driven decolonial platform African Fashion Research Institute.

Erica’s work explores the profound politics, power, and poetics within contemporary African fashion. Alongside her esteemed co-founder, Lesiba Mabitsela, she has pioneered the transformative digital platform @afri_digital, fostering collaborations, nurturing creative growth and promoting inclusive engagements with diverse African fashion.

With a remarkable career that extends to her role as the first Fashion Curator at the prestigious Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) from 2018 to 2019, Erica's accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the fashion landscape. During her tenure, she spearheaded dynamic research initiatives. Curated breathtaking fashion exhibitions and public programs that have captivated audiences and brought attention to the beauty and cultural significance of African fashion.

Check out the Sunday Refocus Digital Fashion Resource Library!

Hello, and welcome to Sunday Refocus: a conversational podcast that aims to empower emerging creatives in the fashion industry. We are on a journey to help you refocus your path toward greater heights. I am your host Nifemi Ashani, the founder and CEO of Styled by Nif and This is a Styled By Nif Production.

Throughout my journey as a recent graduate and aspiring professional in the fashion industry, I have encountered numerous challenges in accessing essential resources and opportunities. Determined to overcome these obstacles, I have taken it upon myself to uncover hidden knowledge and resources by learning from industry leaders, fellow creatives, designers, investors, and NGOs. We are here to share these invaluable informal insights with other emerging creatives who are eager to succeed in this industry.

Our podcast serves as a community forum and digital resource dedicated to fostering self-development and facilitate the growth of emerging fashion creatives. We hope every episode will inspire you to take action towards walking in your God-given purpose.