What started some years ago as a hobby has over the years turned into a passion. Taku Claude, a Yaounde-based fashion designer with brand name TC Design, received his first sewing lessons in his father’s tailor’s workshop. Upon graduation from the University of Buea, he devoted his time to the creation and production of fashion designs.
For about 20 years now, Taku Claude has showcased his expertise through slim fit and customised classical suits for men. His African origin is equally expressed via the addition of specific touches to his suits, jackets and shirts with both modern and traditional patterns. Women and children are not left out of his agenda, as he spends time seeking new dress patterns to suit the ever-increasing demand of this group of buyers.
Today, TC Design is a household name with an office in Bamenda and a head office in Yaounde. He supplies his products to business people, individual customers, parties, amongst others, as per the occasion. With ten top models, Taku Claude has participated in several fashion shows both at home and abroad. In 2011, he exhibited his products at the Miss Cameroon Finale in Yaounde. He also participated in the Annual Fashion Show in Douala and the Fredash International Annual Fashion Avenue (FIAFA) 2012 in Buea. He has also been to most parts of Cameroon during show-biz activities.
Internationally, he was present at the 2011 New York African Fashion Show in America, the 2012 London Fashion Week, amongst others. According to him, as fish is to water, so is fashion designing to portraying the cultural image of a country. The various dress patterns carry underlying cultural and traditional features that represent their countries of origin. He won a supply contract to the United States after a fashion exhibition.
Presently, Taku Claude’s major objective is to maximise his use of available potentials and opportunities. “Before going for a show, I come up with new models to entice the public and then expose our designs to the world. Depending on the grandeur of the show, we used to hire some models from other companies. I have peculiar and unique designs that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. I am thinking of registering some of them so as to stop people from copying them,” he said. His aim to satisfy the public with products at affordable prices.
