Laura Onigbode

Let me tell you an uncomfortable truth that many fashion designers do not want to hear.

Everybody copies.

Yes.

Everybody.

Before you come for me, hear me out.

The reality is that you cannot reinvent the wheel every single time.

Fashion has existed for generations.

Long before you and I arrived.

Long before social media.

Long before Pinterest.

Long before fashion magazines.

People have been creating garments, experimenting with silhouettes, adding embellishments and playing with design details.

So the idea that every design must be completely original is not only unrealistic, it can also be exhausting.

In fact, trying to create something that has never existed before can become a major source of creative frustration.

But here's the interesting part.

The best designers don't necessarily create from nothing.

They create from inspiration.

And there is a difference.

The masters understand that fashion is often an ongoing conversation.

One designer introduces an idea.

Another designer interprets it.

A third designer refines it.

A fourth designer combines it with something else.

And over time, something fresh emerges.

That is how creativity often works.

Let me put it another way.

Imagine two fashion designers are given the same reference outfit.

The first designer copies everything exactly.

Same neckline.

Same sleeves.

Same embellishments.

Same proportions.

Same everything.

The result?

A copy-and-paste version.

Nothing new.

Nothing memorable.

Nothing creative.

Now imagine the second designer approaches the same outfit differently.

Perhaps she changes the neckline.

Adds a unique sleeve treatment.

Introduces a different fabric combination.

Adjusts the silhouette.

Adds an unexpected design detail.

Changes the finishing.

Refines the fit.

The original inspiration is still there.

But the outcome feels fresh.

It feels different.

It feels intentional.

It feels like her.

That is the difference between copying and creating.

One duplicates.

The other interprets.

One reproduces.

The other transforms.

One follows.

The other contributes.

And that is where true creativity lives.

Not necessarily in inventing something completely new.

But in seeing possibilities others have overlooked.

One of the reasons I enjoy fashion design so much is because it allows room for interpretation.

The same inspiration can produce completely different outcomes depending on who is creating.

That is why I always encourage fashion designers to stop putting unnecessary pressure on themselves.

You do not have to start from a blank page every single time.

You do not have to reinvent fashion.

You do not have to exhaust yourself trying to create something the world has never seen.

Instead, learn to observe.

Learn to study.

Learn to gather inspiration.

Then add your own perspective.

Your own creativity.

Your own experiences.

Your own signature.

Your own flavour.

Because at the end of the day, people are not just buying clothes.

They are buying your interpretation.

They are buying your creativity.

They are buying your eye for detail.

They are buying the unique way you see the world.

And that is something nobody can copy.

So the next time you are feeling stuck creatively, remember this:

Don't ask yourself,

"How can I create something nobody has ever seen before?"

Instead ask,

"How can I make this idea uniquely mine?"

That question is often far more productive.

And far less stressful.

Let me ask you:

Where do you draw the line between inspiration and copying?

And for my fellow creatives, what is one thing you do to make your work stand out from everyone else's?

😃💝🌺🎁🌹🎀 MORNING TEA
THE WORD FOR TODAY TUESDAY June 23, 2026. "YOUR FAITH IS A CATALYST"

‘…The message…did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith…’ Hebrews 4:2 AMP

A CATALYST facilitates change; it makes things happen! For example, Alka-Seltzer without water has no effervescence, flour without yeast produces no bread, seeds without sunshine means no flowers, blue without yellow means no green, an egg without s***m means no baby, a spark without air produces no flame. Faith makes God’s Word work in your life. Without it nothing happens. Talking about the Israelites, Paul said, ‘When the good news of deliverance…came to them…the message…did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith.’ One author says: ‘Without specific catalysts certain results can never be achieved. To make spiritual progress, it’s not enough to read the Bible or listen to sermons. The activating ingredient to understanding is faith. After we hear God’s message, we must act on it…Maybe you’re experiencing bitterness or anger because of a failed relationship and God told you to put those emotions behind you, but you lack the will to do it. Let me encourage you; trust God’s Word and act in faith. His promises will bloom in your life, once you activate your faith.’ Faith is not intellectual assent, or paying lip service to what you read in God’s Word. It’s acting on it, confident that God will do what He promised. There’s a difference between faith and trust. You may believe a chair will hold you, but, only when you sit down and put your full weight on it, are you trusting it. Getting the idea?

Bible For A Year : Exo 20: 17, Ps 10, Jam 4: 1-3. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation💝🎀

*To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*💝🌹🌷🎀

Pretty dresses 😍❤️❤️❤️

Everyday is an opportunity to change your life.
Are you ready?! 😀