Inside a sunlit studio filled with rolls of textiles and garment racks, designer Taofeek Abijako sits at his drafting desk, sketching the gentle drape of a gown. Beside him, his young daughter leans over the table, crayon in hand, adding her own vibrant pink flourishes directly onto his fashion renders. The atmosphere isn’t one of guarded focus or strict professional boundaries but a living space where creativity is inherently collaborative. “I also see my studio as my personal playground,” Taofeek reflects, watching her scribble alongside his tailored silhouettes. “So her joining in… it’s real sharing”.
For the Head of State founder, design has never been a solitary exercise isolated from the realities of home. Bringing his daughter into his workspace introduces an uninhibited, spontaneous energy that directly sparks his process. “Every creative seeks like a child… and it comes out during the process,” he says, as they toss a soccer ball over a table cluttered with swatches, markers, and juice boxes. “Having her around brings that out. All that reminds me of is just freedom. I just love how free and there’s no guideline on the canvas”. That lack of rigidity is precisely what fuels his work. It’s a design ethos shaped by play, family, and unfiltered curiosity.
“At the top of the day, especially if I have my little one with me coming to the studio, I’m packing essential things.”
Balancing high-fashion production with fatherhood demands a tool that moves effortlessly between two worlds without needing to redefine itself. Enter the red Target bag—an object so ubiquitous in daily life that its utility feels entirely instinctive. It’s an essential carryall that fits naturally alongside high-end garments and studio tools. Hanging from the edge of a clothing rack or resting on a leather sofa, the bag anchors the daily rhythm of a parent navigating a creative career.
“At the top of the day, especially if I have my little one with me coming to the studio, I’m packing essential things,” Taofeek explains. “Change of clothes, and toys, and all of those things that are mine—a computer, sketchbook, notes”. The tote becomes the physical link between his roles as a father and a designer, seamlessly holding snacks, crayons, tech, and fabric samples all in one place. It adapts to whatever the day demands without disrupting the aesthetic of his environment.
Even in a meticulously planned day, the unpredictability of working with a child means quick adjustments are part of the routine. “There are days where you start your day, maybe you leave something behind that’s not with me at the studio,” Taofeek notes, carrying his daughter down the hall with the tote slung over his shoulder. “How can I make a quick run to the closest Target to grab something? That’s how I solve those problems on the go”.
Ultimately, the tote fits into Taofeek’s life as an indispensable companion to his lifestyle. As he gathers his sketches and prepares to step into an elevator with his daughter in his arms, the bag carries the quiet proof of a full day—bridging the gap between the studio canvas and the comfort of home.