Over the years, I have grown to hear people say “made in Aba” as a synonym for fake products. This made me see it just like that. Recently I made a trip to Aba and honestly I have a different view about the city of Aba.
They are very creative and good at what they do. They may have problems with people management and environmental management but I think it is because nobody has thought them how to.
I visited the fabric market and I must confess the tailors and designers are doing something great and still remains a mystery to me why they are underrated. In fashion sense they are the “China” of Nigeria. I don’t think it’s a secret that most most big fashion labels produce in China,it’s the same thing over here only that they make it hidden as a business secret.
The Aba people are business oriented and love fun. They have a habit of sitting with friends on weekdays evenings over bottles of beer and pepper soup, trust me the tempo is not the same during weekends. You can go see for yourself. I wonder if they had an international fashion exhibition what stories will be made from it. We will never know until we try.
They have their bad side too, most people are money focused and would go any length to get as much as they can from you. You are on a free ride it you have a local that you trust and that is real.
