THE TOP 10 NIGERIAN FASHION DESIGNERS 2017
Fashion in Nigeria has really come a long way. From the mainstream traditional clothing to more western like wears, the fashion industry is now one of the fastest growing industries, employing workers ranging from models to make up artists and everything in between.
FOLAKE FOLARIN COKER
Born to Nigerian parents in 1974, Folake Coker had her education in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and after bagging her degree, she returned to Nigeria to pursue her fashion dream.
She launched her fashion brand, ‘Tiffany Amber’ in 1998, and it has grown to be one of the well known Nigerian fashion brands. Folake has staged various fashion shows both home and abroad, and has received numerous awards for her work, including ‘Designer of the year’ in 2009 and ‘Fashion Brand of the year’ in 2011. She has also made it to the Forbes list of Power Women In Africa.
DURO OLOWU
A lawyer by profession, London based, Nigerian fashion designer, Duro Olowu has made a name for himself in the global fashion industry. He is well known for his colorful African prints, and has worked with A list clients, including Michelle Obama, Solange Knowles, Uma Thurman and many others. In 2005, he was the first designer to be named New Designer of the Year at London Fashion Week without staging a catwalk show.
At the African Fashion Awards in 2009, he was named the Best International Designer and was one of the six nominees for the Swiss Textile Federation‘s top prize of 100,000 Euros.
DEOLA SAGOE
Deola Sagoe is a renowned Nigerian fashion designer and founder of ‘The House of Deola Sagoe’. Having studied in The University of Lagos and The University of Miami, Deola’s fashion sense has earned her global recognition with notable persons like Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
LISA FOLAWIYO
Her fashion label ‘Jewel by Lisa’ is a well respected label, with showrooms both in Nigeria and New York. She is notable for her style of merging West African traditional wears with modern day tailoring techniques. Lisa has admitted her love for simplistic styles and manipulating color and mixed prints.
She has worked with notable clients such as Beyoncé, Eve and Tasha Smith, and has received various awards, including winner of the African fashion awards in 2012. Lisa’s collection have been showcased in Nigeria, U.S, U.K, and South Africa.
SOARES ANTHONY
This young Nigerian fashion designer derives his inspiration from merging native Nigerian attires with Japanese tailoring techniques. His work is centered on males, and has his collections sold in the U.K, U.S and France.
Anthony runs a mentoring program, with the goal to assist up coming Nigerian fashion designers in their quest to becoming iconic in the global fashion industry.
LOLA FATUROTI
Lola Faturoti is a Nigerian born, New York based fashion designer. She was born in Ondo state, and received her education in London, before moving to New York. In New York, Lola was employed in Charivari Boutique, where the president of the company, having noticed her passion helped her launch her first fashion collection.
Lola rose to fame after making a dress to celebrate Obama’s win in the presidential election. The dress had the words ‘Oluwa gba President Barack Obama’ meaning ‘God Bless President Barack Obama.Her inspiration comes from her roots, as her grandmother had also been a fashion designer.
FRANK OSHODI
Nigerian fashion designer, Frank Oshodi, began his fashion career as a model, working with top fashion houses such as Dakova and Nikki Africana. He later became a model manager and then launched his make up brand ‘House of Buno and Fashion Designing’
He rose to fame after landing the gig of the then Miss World, Agbani Darego’s designer and make up artist. His work has earned him notable clients, and a spot in the hall of fame of Nigerian fashion.
ZIZI CARDOW
This Nigerian fashion designer had originally wanted to become a forensic profiler, but after landing her first fashion job at the tender age of 17, her eyes opened to the world of fashion.
Her career has earned her top clients and numerous awards, including the Prestigious Designer of the year award, which she won after just one year in the fashion industry. She has since then, added many to the ever growing list.
Her fashion line, ‘Zizi’ has done well to popularize Nigerian fashion and her designs have been featured in many international cat walk events. Zizi has also been featured in top media houses like CNN, SABC and Channel O, and in a bid to give back to society, she has launched various mentorship programs.
MAI ATAFO
Mai Atafo, a leading Nigerian fashion designer, stepped into the limelight after launching his fashion line ‘Mai Atafo’ which fetched him a vast and famous clientele.
Mai has worked with celebrities such as Stephanie Okereke, Uche Jombo, Waje, Mercy Johnson and 2Baba. Some of his awards include winner of City People Fashion and Style’s Hottest new male two years in a row, LFW menswear Designer of the year and Allure’s Most stylish man of the year.He believes fashion is an all round aspect and does not include just clothes.
ADE BAKARE
Having been in the fashion industry for two decades, this Nigerian fashion designer has gained recognition both home and abroad, which in turn has fetched him high end clientele.
In 1991,he launched his brand, ‘Ade Bakare Couture’ and began selling his collections to boutiques in England, Scotland and Channel Islands. He also has a perfume named ‘Breeze’ and owns ‘Ade Breeze’ a jersey line of his brand.
His work has been showcased internationally, and this Nigerian fashion designer continues to make waves in the fashion industry.
There you have it,these are the wonderful set of Nigerians who are making us proud.what do you think please share your thought in the comment box below.
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