In 1970, the lens of Eliot Elisofon captured a still moment along one of Benin City’s most culturally known streets. The photograph shows a modest tailoring shop bearing the name Monsco The Supreme Tailor, standing quietly along Igun Street. Its hand-painted signboard, boldly lettered and confidently displayed, reads 1st Class London Art Fashion, Suit Specialist, and Trained by London Tailor. These phrases introduce the shop to passersby with clarity and pride, expressing the services the tailor wished the world to see.
The shop’s façade is simple, typical of many small enterprises in Benin City during that era. The doorway opens toward the street, framed by walls that appear worn by sunlight and time, while the large painted sign announces the identity of the craftsperson within. The photograph offers a firm sense of place, capturing the shop as part of the everyday rhythm of the city.
The Presence of Craft on Igun Street
Igun Street, long known for its distinguished community of bronze casters, has been connected with artistry for generations. Along this historic street, craftspeople shaped their workspaces, creating an environment where creative skill, inherited knowledge and daily enterprise blended naturally. The existence of a tailoring shop in this setting illustrates the variety of trades that contributed to the character of the area. It shows that along with the revered bronze casters, other skilled workers also carved out their space in the city’s cultural and commercial landscape.
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Monsco The Supreme Tailor stood among these artisans, positioned within a street celebrated for its longstanding craftsmanship. The photograph reminds readers that Igun Street was not only a place of ancient artistic tradition but also an active part of modern economic life, where diverse small businesses worked side by side.
Tailoring and the City’s Changing Style Scene
During the twentieth century, tailoring played an increasingly visible role in cities like Benin. As more residents embraced new forms of clothing, tailors became key figures in shaping how people presented themselves in work, ceremonies and everyday living. Shops like Monsco’s helped meet these growing needs, stitching garments that reflected both the practical requirements and personal expressions of their clients.
The signboard’s emphasis on suits highlights how tailored clothing had become a meaningful part of urban identity. Suit making required precision, fabric knowledge and a careful hand, and tailors who specialized in such garments offered a valuable service to a changing city. The photograph places this particular shop within that wider landscape of growing urban fashion and craftsmanship.
A Street-Level View of Enterprise
The image of Monsco The Supreme Tailor offers a clear look at small-scale urban enterprise as it existed at the time. The shop does not appear grand or elaborate, yet it carries a sense of dignity through its signage and placement. Such shops formed the backbone of everyday economic activity, providing needed services to residents and giving each street its own character.
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The visual style of the signboard reflects the artistic choices common in many parts of Nigeria. Lettering is bold, words are arranged to catch attention and the language conveys confidence in the tailor’s skill. These details show how businesses expressed themselves visually, using paint and lettering to communicate their presence in the community.
This moment, preserved through the photograph, portrays a shop that stood ready to serve, a craftsman who contributed to local life and a street that held many layers of work and heritage.
The Photograph as a Window into the Past
Through Elisofon’s lens, the shop becomes a snapshot of time, offering a glimpse into everyday life on Igun Street more than five decades ago. The image captures the textures of the surroundings, the simplicity of the structure and the significance of the sign that carried the tailor’s message to the street. It reflects the presence of a small business that was part of the city’s movement, culture and routine.
While the photograph focuses solely on the shop’s exterior, it is enough to leave an impression. It invites readers to imagine the rhythm of footsteps passing by, the craftspeople at work in nearby studios and the conversations and trade that filled the area. It shows how even the most modest storefront holds stories of place, work and identity.
Author’s Note
This article presents the story of a tailoring shop captured in 1970 on Igun Street, a place known for its rich artisan heritage. The photograph preserves a clear view of Monsco The Supreme Tailor, offering a window into the everyday craft, enterprise and street life of Benin City at the time. It reminds readers of the quiet but meaningful roles that small shops played in shaping the city’s cultural and commercial character. Through its signboard, setting and preserved image, the shop stands as a small yet vivid part of the city’s history.
References
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Men’s tailor shop with painted sign, Benin City, Nigeria, photograph by Eliot Elisofon.
Okpokunu, Edoja and Agbontaen Eghafona, Kokunre A., Benin dressing in contemporary Nigeria, social change and the crisis of cultural identity, African Identities, 2005.
Igun Street, historical artisan district in Benin City.
