•How He Sews For BIG Pastors
Everyone simply calls him Kenny Jones, but his real name is Kehinde Olayiwola. He is a twin, who is blessed with a lot of gifts. He is a Lagos Tailor who goes around with his tape rule all the time. He is a fashion designer too, He creates great designs for his customers. He sings also. He drums and he is also a Minister of God.
Kehinde Olayiwola is the guy behind the popular Kenny Jones Designs, on Obafemi Awolowo Way Ikeja, Lagos. He also has a showroom in Abuja. And he has been churning out great designs for the past 27 years. So good is Kenny Jones that he has won the heart and confidence of many great men of God, who wear his designs all the time.
Though he will not tell you when you ask him, City People Online can reveal to you that Kenny Jones has an impressive clientele list. He sews for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. He sews for big men of God like Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo, Pastor J.K Kalejaiye, Pastor Wale Adefarasin, Pastor Femi Paul, Pastor Tonny Akinyemi, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, to mention a few of his long list of clients.
Kenny Jones, who made his debut in the fashion world in 1992has grown his fashion business phenomenally. He started off sewing suits and formal wears but he has now grown so big to sew natives like Kaftans, Buba and Sokoto and well embroidered Agbada.
Kenny Jones, who is also a gospel musician has a twin brother, Taiwo who sings and handles talking drum with dexterity. He is into furniture too. He runs Taiwo Jones Furniture Companyat Shasha Road, Lagos.
Kenny Jones He springs up each day with unique styles of clothing. He is a believer of an age old colourful tradition, which he translates into many layers and complexities of his remarkable designs. Kenny Jones’ celebration of the African glamour and prints have gained him international fans to the extent that gospel singer, Chief Ebenezer Obey, who is one of his clients refers to him as “Kenny Jones of the Universe.”
He never stops telling anyone who cares to listen that he is from a humble background. “My brother and I, Taiwo come from a very humble background. We didn’t come from a privileged background. We don’t have wealthy parents who could easily finance our education but we developed ourselves through the teaching we received from Evang. Ebenezer Obey and Bishop David Oyedepo. And these helped us to re-shape our lives,” he said. Our work speak for themselves. We are also giving back to Nigerians through our programme, “Praise God with the Twins’ which is newly initiated.
Amongst the notable men of God, according to Kenny Jones are Bishop David Oyedepo, the General Overseer of Winners whom he said is one of his inspiration to develop his talent in life.
According to him, “I started my life with Bishop David Oyedepo right from when he started his church at Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos. Though, I was his boy but his teaching impartation of undiluted words I received from him made me develop myself to what I am today. So, I have been his designer for more than 2 decades now,” he said.
“Likewise Evang. Ebenezer Obeywho has been client for more than 2 decades too. “I got to know Evangelist Obey since 1995. I was his PA, his errand boy as well. I used to clean his shoes for him, run his errand and even travelled with him then. When I started my fashion outfit under him, he couldn’t do away with me because of my honesty. He trusted me so much but he really inspired and motivated me in life. So, I was his designer right from 1992 to 2010.
Snr. Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo wears his designs as he is also Kenny Jones’ client. Likewise Pastor Sam Adeyemi Snr. Pastor of Daystar Church, Pastor J. T. Kalejaiye, Special Assistant on Evangelism to G. O. of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Bishop Abraham Olaleye, General Overseer of Rahnaan, Pastor Wale Adefarasinwho is the elder brother of PastorPaul Adefarasin and the Senior Pastor of all wear Kenny Jones Designs clothing as they are all his clients.
Kenny Jones is called the “King of Nigerian fashion in some circles. He is known for his ability to take traditional Nigerian designs and infuse in them classy, elegant.
Besides, these notable men of God, who are his clients for over 10 years is the Vice President, Osinbajo who is also a Pastor at the Redeemed Churchof God.
Pastor Paul Adefarasin, Snr. Pastor of House on the Rock also wears his designs. Kenny Jones Designs are conventionally described as colourful and vibrant prints, coupled with 90s classic tailoring and this has won him a number of accolades in the designing word.
Kenny Jones is also into music with is twin brother, Taiwo and with the band known as Praise God T&K band, and PraiseGod Team’ disclosed that what really inspired him into fashion designing and music dated back to his childhood days.
“Music has always been part of us, this is because of our church background. My late dad, who died at the age of 95 years in 2005 is from Oyo State. My late father was a CAC Prophet and that made him to always officiate from the altar. So, Taiwo and I had no option other than to be in the choir. I was the one of those that sang while Taiwo would always beat the drum and which we still both do till now in our band. He beats the drum while I sing. So, this was how my music career started right from the choir,” he said.
Speaking further, he said, “But what inspired me to go into fashion designing was because of my humble background. But we had home training. I was very good in ironing of clothes. I would pay attention to details, put the necessary gatous and other parts. So, my dad asked me to go and learn tailoring, while Taiwo was asked to go for carpenter and furniture making. That was the genesis of what I do today, he said.
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