How This Banker Quit Her 9–5 to Build a Fashion Brand (Getting startup capital from her husband, surviving tailor drama & going viral by modeling her own designs) - Mode by Tantish
In this episode of Build Your Own Business, Hachi sits down with Tayo Owoeye, CEO of Mode by Tantish, a ready-to-wear fashion brand known for chic, African-print inspired dresses.
Tayo’s journey is a powerful story of reinvention. After years of working at Access Bank, she walked away from the security of a 9–5 job to pursue her true passion: fashion. What started with selling clothes and accessories back in university has now grown into Mode by Tantish, a brand known for stylish ready-to-wear outfits that blend creativity with African culture.
Her path wasn’t smooth. Tayo faced disappearing tailors, betrayal from trusted staff, and the challenges of staying consistent while raising a family. But with persistence, creativity, and the courage to put herself in front of her brand, she transformed her passion into a thriving business.
You’ll learn:
* How Tayo transitioned from banking into full-time fashion entrepreneurship
* Why fashion school gave her the knowledge to succeed
* The pitfalls of managing tailors and how to stay ahead of challenges
* How modeling her own designs changed her brand’s trajectory
* The viral Instagram post that earned her 4,000 followers overnight
* The lessons she learned on trust, resilience, and consistency
* Why “knowing your craft” is her golden rule for new entrepreneurs
⏱ Timestamps
03:32 – Selling clothes & accessories in university
04:17 – From fashion school to a banking career
07:52 – Getting startup capital from her husband
09:31 – Selling her first collection on Instagram
11:41 – Pregnancy, pandemic and taking a break
14:59 – When tailors show you “premium wahala”
18:59 – Putting herself front and center on social media
20:37 – The turning point: modeling her brand herself
23:37 – Going viral: 4,000 followers from one post
27:59 – Lessons learned: trust, consistency & knowing your craft
🔗 Links & ResourcesFollow Mode by Tantish on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modebytantish/ [https://www.instagram.com/modebytantish/]
Visit Oze: https://bit.ly/ozesp [https://bit.ly/ozesp]
Download the Oze App: https://oze.app.link/COLCczTe2Vb [https://oze.app.link/COLCczTe2Vb]
Oze Business School: https://bit.ly/spobs [https://bit.ly/spobs]
👉 Thinking of quitting your 9–5 to start a business? This episode gives you the honest truth — the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that can help you build your own brand. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real stories from African entrepreneurs.