Appears from Mai Atafo. (Picture Credit score: Mai Atafo)
Nigeria, the colourful heartbeat of Africa, is a kaleidoscope of cultures, colours, and creativity. It’s house to the second largest movie business on the globe whereas additionally being the style, technological and artistic hub of Africa, in response to Nigeria’s tourism web site. Lately, a brand new wave of trend designers have emerged, infusing conventional Nigerian aesthetics with modern aptitude and international attraction. There have been loads of rising trend designers popping out of Africa, right here we’ll spotlight just a few from the brand new crop of trend darlings – Mai Atafo, Banke Kuku, Cute-Saint, Dye Lab by Rukky Ladoja, and Eki Kere – all of whom are redefining Nigerian trend and charming the world with their distinctive types.
A show from Brooklyn Museum’s Africa Vogue exhibition in 2023. (Picture Credit score: The New York Instances)
“At present the worldwide trend group is trying to the African continent for greater than inspiration,” stated Ernestine White-Mifetu, the Sills Basis curator of African artwork on the Brooklyn Museum, in an interview with NYT. “The style world at massive is lastly prepared to concentrate.”
MAI ATAFO
A glance from Mai Atafo. (Picture Credit score: Ebuka Mordi)
With a penchant for luxurious and class, Mai Atafo stands as a beacon of high fashion in Nigeria. His designs are a seamless mix of traditional magnificence and trendy glamour, interesting to fashionistas each regionally and internationally. From meticulously tailor-made fits to breathtaking bridal robes, Atafo’s creations exude timeless allure and impeccable craftsmanship.
Atafo’s affect extends past the runway; he’s additionally a mentor and advocate for rising designers, nurturing expertise and selling excellence inside the Nigerian trend business. Together with his eponymous label, Mai Atafo continues to raise Nigerian trend to new heights, one beautiful ensemble at a time.
BANKE KUKU
A glance from Banke Kuku. (Picture Credit score: Bella Naija)
For Banke Kuku, material is her canvas, and he or she paints with an eclectic palette of colours and patterns. Drawing inspiration from Nigeria’s wealthy cultural heritage and her Yoruba roots, Kuku’s designs have fun conventional Nigerian textiles whereas infusing them with a recent twist.
Every bit by Banke Kuku tells a narrative, weaving collectively intricate motifs and daring prints to create wearable artworks. From silky pajama-inspired seems to be to assertion equipment, her collections exude a way of pleasure and individuality, inspiring ladies to embrace their heritage with satisfaction and elegance.
CUTE-SAINT
Appears from Cute-Saint. (Picture Credit score: Cute-Saint)
Within the fast-paced world of streetwear, Femi Ajose, the designer behind the label Cute-Saint is making waves along with his daring, edgy designs that push boundaries and defy conventions along with his genderless collections. He has a finger on the heart beat of city tradition, Ajose’s aesthetic is uncooked, rebellious, and unapologetically Nigerian.
From graphic tees adorned with Afrocentric motifs to outsized jackets, Ajose’s creations for Cute-Saint resonate with a youthful viewers looking for authenticity and self-expression. His model displays the dynamism of Nigerian youth tradition, celebrating range and individuality in all its varieties. The designer additionally has sustainability on his thoughts as all his creations are made in Nigeria with useless inventory material that comes from prior collections or has been discovered on the metropolis’s well-known Yaba market.
DYE LAB BY RUKKY LADOJA
Rukky Ladoja on Constructing a Socially Accountable Nigerian Vogue Model Dye Lab. (Picture Credit score: Okay Africa)
In an period of eco-consciousness, Rukky Ladoja is main the cost for sustainable trend in Nigeria together with her model, Dye Lab. Utilizing conventional dyeing methods and pure supplies, Ladoja creates vibrant, one-of-a-kind clothes which are as form to the planet as they’re trendy.
From tie-dye attire to hand-painted skirts, each piece from Dye Lab is a testomony to Ladoja’s dedication to moral trend. By championing sustainable practices and supporting native artisans, she is paving the best way for a extra environmentally pleasant future for Nigerian trend.
EKI KERE
Nigerian Actress Nancy Isime Stuns in Eki Kere. (Picture Credit score: Vogue Ghana)
Together with her free-spirited designs and bohemian aesthetic, Abasiekeme Ukanireh, the designer behind the label Eki Kere, captures the essence of wanderlust and journey. Drawing inspiration from her travels throughout Africa and past, Ukanireh ‘s collections are a tapestry of cultures, textures, and colours.
From flowing kaftans to embellished headpieces, Ukanireh’s designs for Eki Kere’s evoke a way of wanderlust and whimsy, transporting wearers to far-flung locations with every bit. Her model embodies the spirit of exploration and self-discovery, inviting trend lovers to embrace their inside nomad and journey past the extraordinary.
Keep in mind to view UoF’s classes on West African textiles.