Wale Nubi was born and raised in Nigeria. He's a father of two sons and those are his inspirations for the name of his men's clothing line: Jojayden.
"My sons are my greatest inspiration. They are what [motivate] me," said Nubi.
Nubi has been in the United States for almost 10 years. Jojayden items include custom suits, pants, shoes and accessories for men. His clientele list includes groomsmen, prom attendees and other boys/men who prefer and need a custom fit. Just last month, Jojayden released its first-ever ready-to-wear line that includes T-shirts, polos, sweaters and other casual items.
"People go to different types of events and functions and I wanted to provide a casual line," said Nubi. We do a lot of explicit pieces. Our pieces at our store are unique and considered high-fashion. We bring quality clothing at an affordable price. Some of these pieces are from Italy. We want people to look good and not struggle to find affordable men's fashion."
In Chicago, men have pretty much copywritten their look. Chicago's men fashion is usually an image of oversized clothes ( baggy pants, T-shirts, hoodies, etc. )—and Nubi is looking to change that. He lived in the United Kingdom for years and his fashion sense was more in that direction. When Nubi moved to Chicago, he wanted to provide something new to the locals: high fashion.
"I'm all about quality and details in my clothing line. I wanted to bring that style to the U.S.," Nubi said.
Nubi told Windy City Times he believes that having a store in Hyde Park is a great thing. He said that since it is currently prom and wedding season, business will increase.
Nubi said, "It's a good opportunity for me because people here love fashion. Now, we can bring the love of fashion, for example in New York, to Chicago. Growing with a community from scratch gives a better chance and roots you into the community. Hyde Park is growing and Jojayden is growing with the community."
Nubi previously worked as an IT security consultant for Fortune 500 companies and decided, after a few years, to follow his passion in men's fashion. In 2016, he opened Jojayden.
He ended the conversation with this bit of advice: "Luxury does not mean you have to break the bank. When men are dressed in Jojayden, I want them to feel classic, timeless, and represent high-fashion in Chicago."
Jojayden is in Hyde Park, at 1457 E. 53rd St. To shop with the brand, visit the store or the website: Jojayden.com .
