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.
Either chic or classy or the pre-modern native attires, the Nigerian fashion industry has got you covered. With many of our major fashion brands promoting the image of the fashion culture we have in Nigeria, which I must say is still a growing one
Here are the 15 Nigerian Fashion Designers taking the lead beyond Nigeria;
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 makeup 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 catwalk 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 the 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-around aspect and does not include just clothes.
DEOLA SAGOE
Deola Sagoe is a renowned Nigerian fashion designer and founder of ‘The House of Deola Sagoe’. Having studied at 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.
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 at 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.
ADEBAYO LAWAL
Adebayo Oke-Lawal has been designing since the age of 10, and since officially entering the fashion industry,
he’s dabbled in writing and styling, working with African designers, actors, pop stars and even magazines but design is his greatest passion, and since starting the label in 2011, he’s been hard at work trying to bring Orange Culture to the world. Adebayo
Oke-Lawal describes Orange Culture as a “movement” more than a clothing line, for a creative class of men who he describes as “self-aware, expressive, explorative, art-loving nomad[s].” The label previously produced womenswear options, but Oke-Lawal says he’s since decided to focus on the fellas.
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.
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 the winner of the African fashion awards in 2012. Lisa’s collection has been showcased
in Nigeria, U.S, U.K, and South Africa.
YOMI CASUAL
Omoniyi Makun also known as Yomi Casual (brand name), was born January 25, 1985 (age 32) in the city of Lagos, Nigeria. Yomi happens to be the last of seven children and younger brother to popular Ace Comedian, Ayo Makun also known as AY and has his origins traced back to Ifon, Ondo State, Nigeria. Yomi Casual as he is popularly called happens to be a graduate of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Nigeria where it dimmed him fit to have studied Fashion designing and Technology of Clothing.
TOYIN LAWANI
Toyin Lawani (March 1, 1982) born into the Lawani family of Ekiti State in the South West of Nigeria to her father, Yisah Lawani a former commissioner of Police and her mother, Princess Atinuke Babalola, a serial entrepreneur (also royalty) Many years of hard work and perseverance has earned Toyin Lawani, a business empire-Tiannahs place empire, which consists of over 20 divisions, Toyin Lawani had the task to create outfits within 5 hours to style the songstress and her dancers for the street dance off in Lagos and she delivered. Her designs and styling skills have graced editorials for major Nigerian magazines, the likes of Complete Fashion and more.
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 upcoming Nigerian fashion designers in their quest to become 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.
TRISH O COUTURE
Trish O Couture was successfully launched in 2007 as a luxury brand for women with finer taste in fabrics and style and has focused on bespoke and ready to wear. Her collections are inspiring. The designer makes use of lace, velvet, sequins, feather, leather and Ankara prints on chiffon fabrics to portray both the sexiness yet softness of womanhood with the aim to have a global appeal to all women across the world, Trish O was born and grew up in fashion and she is inspired by what she sees around her,
She introduced Trish O ready to wear line to many Nigeria women both at home and abroad. Trish O Couture line is very unique and feminine. Trish O has gone to several fashion show both within Africa and international, and has won several awards: such as ( The 3rd Glam & Essence ” Style Award & Runway Show 2014″ | Most Outstanding High Fashion Designer 2014), ( Moms Awards ” Making Moms Award 2014 ” | Mom In Art / Fashion /Style Award ), ( Top Celebrities ” Female Achievers Awards 2014 ).
TI NATHAN
Led by the creative director Temitayo Nathan who won the first season of the Fayrouz L’Original competition alongside the Team Elan, the brand has been in existence since 2013 releasing their debut collection.
His classic tailoring and luxury fabrics have gotten him this far in the fashion scene, where prominent stars including Wizkid, Orezi, Noble Igwe, RMD, Jane Michael Ekanem, Patoranking, Joseph Benjamin and a host of others have all been seen clothed in designs from the brand.
Tayo’s major design aesthetics are bright colored suits, vintage-inspired pieces, military suit ensemble and well-tailored trench coats.
ADE BAKARE
Having been in the fashion industry for two decades, this Nigerian fashion designer has gained recognition both at home and abroad, which in turn has fetched him a high-end clientele.
In 1991, he launched his brand, ‘Ade Bakare Couture’ and began selling his collections to boutiques in England, Scotland and the 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 beyond Nigeria.
-Article Written by-
Badejo fuwa