The Nigerian fashion industry is a giant powerhouse, not only in Africa but all around the world and various top Nigerian designers have received several awards and carved a name for themselves in the fashion industry. As the Nigerian fashion industry grows, we are lucky enough to witness talented designers emerge and wow us with their outstanding abilities to bring art to life through fashion. In an effort to call more attention to these genius minds, this article will examine some of Nigeria’s rising fashion designers.
EMERGING FASHION DESIGNERS IN NIGERIA
This list embodies names to watch out for in the Nigerian fashion industry in no particular order.
1 .Oluwatobi Akintoye
Founder and creative director of T16 World of Fashion, Oluwatobi Akintoye is a graduate of UNILAG where she studied Guidance and Counseling. Her career in the fashion world started with tailoring before progressing into fashion design. In her journey as a designer, receiving mentorship from the likes of Lanre Da Silva and Mai Atafo. She was one of the fashion focus finalists at GTB Lagos Fashion and Design Week, in 2014, and also partook in the DSTV Fashion Protégé Contest emerging amongst the top 4. Her brand, a mirror of who she is, represents strength, uniqueness, fun, boldness, and timelessness. Amongst the rising names in the the Nigerian fashion industry, Oluwatobi is definitely one to watch out for.
2. Akabogu Ogochukwu
Ogochukwu, winner of Nigeria’s Next Top Designer Competition and Music Meets RunwayRising Icon Competition in 2014 is the creative director of Lines by Chaab. This unique brand presents us with a mind-blowing color and pattern play, quite literally translating art into fashion. She has showcased her works at the Winasbet Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week as well as the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and was rated as one of the top 12 new designers in the industry by BlackNBold Fashion Industry in 2014. She has since been featured on reputable platforms like Africa Magic, E! Online, Pulse Nigeria, Studio 53, Bello Naija, and several others.
3. Omowunmi Owonifari
Just in her 30s, Omowunmi Owonifari is the brain behind Mo’fari couture. She studied Accounting in OOU and furthered in Lagos Business School. Owonifari went on to enroll in Nobel Afrik, a prestigious fashion design, and dress-making in Nigeria, during her training in June 2011 she was inspired to launch her own brand. She participated in several competitions which brought her brand to the limelight. In June 2014, just three years after she found her brand, she was named ‘Designer of the week ‘ by the Guardian Newspaper and a year later she was one of the top 4 at the Zinkata Red Carpet Challenge. She has also been featured in various television programs and fashion blogs.
4. Hafsoh Muhammed
Fashion entrepreneur and influencer, Hafsoh Muhammed is the founder and creative director of Elora Collections. She is known for the niche she has carved for herself in Islamic fashion especially with her fabulous EID Collection. Her brand is committed to creating luxurious and
modest designs with contemporary style. Her aim is to provide women with a style that represents their identity while maintaining originality with style and finesse.
5. Soares Anthony
Soares Anthony is a rapidly growing fashion brand named after the creative director, Soares Anthony. His love for fashion started as a kid when he spent most of his time sketching fashion designs. He, however, started out as a model before venturing into the fashion world, now he not only makes ready made outfits but also wedding dresses. He has since been featured in magazines in Nigeria and Africa at large.
6. Vovwe Omoo
This fashion designer is a graduate of Textile art from DELSU. After graduating in 2014, she went for further training at OSC college of fashion due to her passion for making classy and aesthetically pleasing clothes. She was brought to the limelight when she won an award for the most creative designer at the Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week in 2014, a competition that featured more than 40 upcoming designers all over the country. She was then featured on several media platforms. Just a few months later, she won the David Wej Half a Million Naira Fashion competition and the BlackKNBold Fashion Award for Young Designer of the Year. She has styled several celebrities in Nigeria and is a wardrobe designer and stylist for both Wazobia TV and Cool TV.
7. Samuel Udeji
Samuel Udeji studied Economics at OAU, he is a fashion designer and the Chief Executive Officer of AmDiddy Clothing. His brand which specializes in male clothing meets the need of having stylish and quality outfits that are also affordable.
He believes his brand will not only contribute to the economy but also provide employment opportunities both in the country and in Africa. He currently owns a website that allows customers to choose from any of their collections and place an order.
In conclusion, the Nigerian fashion industry is thriving with numerous talented and innovative designers who are making a significant impact both locally and internationally. With unique styles, quality craftsmanship and a keen eye for detail, these designers are pushing the boundaries of traditional fashion and inspiring a new generation of designers. As the demand for African-inspired fashion continues to grow, it is clear that Nigeria’s rising fashion designers will play a key role in shaping the future of the industry.
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