22/09/2026
Storytime on how I almost lòst 50k out of the 90k I chàrged for dress years back.😩💔
A bride contacted me online and said she needed a reception dress for her wedding. She already had her fabric, so she came to my place for consultation and measurements. After discussing different options, we settled on a corset dress with hip padding and a few embellishments.
The total cosț was ₦90,00O.
Normally, I require a 70% deposiț before I start any project. But because of how much she pleaded, I made an exception and accepted just ₦40,OOO as a deposit. Looking back now, that was my first mistake.😔
Since she had already provided the fabric, I used the ₦40,000 to buy linings, accessories, and other materials needed for the dress. The remaining ₦50,000 was supposed to cover my profit and help me recover some money I had added from my personal savings.
Everything went smoothly. I made the dress, and she came for her first fitting. She loved it. After making a few adjustments and adding the beadwork and embellishments, the dress was ready.
Her wedding was on a Saturday, and she came on Friday evening to pick up the dress. Originally, she was supposed to pick it up earlier in the week, but she said she had been busy with wedding preparations.
When she arrived, she tried on the dress and absolutely loved it. I was happy because the dress came out beautifully.
Then it was time to pay the balance.
That was when she told me her phone was off and asked if she could pay later.🙄
Mind you, throughout the entire process, communicating with her had been something else. Her number was rarely reachable, and whenever I managed to get through, she often wouldn’t pick up. Most of our conversations had actually been through her fiancé’s WhatsApp number because she claimed she had lost her smartphone.
As she stood there asking for the dress without paying the balance, a thought crossed my mind:
“I don’t know where this woman lives. I don’t know any of her family members. The number I’ve been chatting with isn’t even hers. If she leaves with this dress, how will I recover my money?”
Unfortunately, I ignored all the warning signs and handed over the dress.
I trústed her.😩😭
The next day was her wedding, so I didn’t bother her. On Sunday, I started calling. No response.
Sometimes the phone would ring and she wouldn’t pick. Other times it wouldn’t go through at all.
When I eventually reached her, she told me not to worry and promised she would pay.
Days passed.
Nothing.🙆
A whole week after the wedding, I was still chasing my ₦50k😭
Then on the Saturday that made it a week after the wedding, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across her husband’s profile.
As I looked through his page, I noticed that he was a respected member of his church community. People engaged with his posts and clearly held him in high regard.
I immediately realized something:
This might be my only chance to recover my money.
Instead of sending a message to him on WhatsÁpp that his wife could read and dèlètè, I decided to call him directly.
When he answered, I first congratulated him on his wedding. Then I politely explained that I was the fashion designer who made his wife’s reception dress and that the outstanding balance of ₦50,000 had not been paid.
I also explained that I had been trying unsuccessfully to reach her for days.
At that point, I was already considering going to their church because the wedding photos online clearly showed where the ceremony took place.
I told him that I believe he wouldn’t want a situation where som would come to their church to create a scene because of their wedding. And that I also noticed that he is someone people respect in their church 😩😅
Guys I said all these so I can get my money 😩😂
As God may have it, the hubby is a good person. He calmly asked his wife if she knew a fashion designer who was requesting payment.
She said yes.
Then he asked me to send my account number.
Less than five minutes later, the full ₦50,000 landed in my account.
That day taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.
No matter how trustworthy a client appears, never release a completed outfit without receiving the agreed payment.
Always insist on at least a 70%–80% deposit before work begins, and make sure the balance is paid before the outfit leaves your store.
If you’re still allowing clients to take their dresses home without completing payment, you’re taking a huge rísk.
You may get lucky and get your money later but sometimes it doesn’t end well.
Have you ever had this kind of experience as a fashion designer ?
Good morning Deluxe Nation ❤️
