AFWN wrapped up May 23-24 2015 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
I arrived at the tents at Eko Marquee to fashion enthusiasts, photographers, exhibitors and the media. The rain didn't slow anything down on the green carpet set outside. I grab my press pass and head inside the tent to the show in progress. It was the first day, the show’s opening, and it delivered some heavy hitters. Designs mainly by the up and coming and students. I tell you, we have some talented folks in Nigeria.
This year’s installment delivered as promised, there were a lot more designers rolled out in two days. As usual, I enjoyed it all—the pageantry, the models, the designers, the intricate fabrics of different colors, textures, styles, the ethnic inspired accessories with a with a modern twist, mingling with fellow industry professionals, meeting new faces, celebrities, fashionistas, collaborators. I got many compliments on my hair. Nigeria have really come a long way in fashion, the designers were really on point this year, had me wondering who to patronize at the end of the show. I’m just glad that as time goes, African inspired fashion have gained a mainstay and international recognition.
Day one delivered designers by the up and coming and students, namely Yaba Tech, FADAN, a Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week winner. If the showcase was any indicator, I’d say the future is bright for these designers. Day two delivered more seasoned and well-known designers that have been making names for themselves and are recognized internationally, to include my good friend Adebayo Jones (more on him later).
Designers include:
ADEBAYO JONES
AFT
ADAORA’S
ADY BY LINDA
AFRICAN THINGS
ALABI COUTURE
ANUBA COUTURE
BAROQUE BY WENDY
BELLE ARRAY
BIG BEN KILANI
BISI DARAMOLA
BUCHIVER
CHAIVO DESIGNS
COLOURS OF C.U.E
DAY_IDAH
DEBBY AFRICAN STITCHES
DE LAURELS OUTFIT
DOUGHYEEN
ELAWE CLOTHING
ELIKEM. THE TAILOR
EMINENCE 1129
ENKAYSTYLINGS
FAW COUTURE
GRAZEE STITCHES
HEMERA
HOUSE OF LINEN
HOUSE OF PAMBAL
HOUSE OF SOLANGE
JP KOUTURE BY HADASSAH
JREASON
KAYE CREATIONS
KING HAKBAL
LINES BY CHAAB X DAVIVA
LORENORE
LUMIERE COUTURE
MARCO MARTINEZ
MASSIVE BY FANNY
MAUFECHI
MBANA HOUSE OF STYLES
MC STELL
MY OLAEDO
NARA COLE
OLAYINKA CLOTHING
OKIKI MARINHO
OMAEMIHE
ON-RU COUTURE
OSUARE
QOZIE
OVEM’S FASHION
SAZIIS
SOUZA
TRISH O
T-NGAZY
RUTH 1470 ACCESSORIES
REVOLUTION BY YETTY D X DAVIVA
ZEENO DEE
VHOR
ZHUKKIIAFRO DESIGN
ZIZI CARDOW
Designs ranged from haute couture to ready-to-wear, mens styles and children’s wear. There’s a little something for everyone and taste. There were artfully crafted evening dresses, cocktail dresses with cut-outs, thigh-high slits, long, short, asymmetrical hemlines, oversized, tailored suits, jackets, tops, pants and ethnic accessories, extensive bead work, sequins, patches, embroidery in delicate and durable fabrics and vibrant colors. It’s traditional-meets-modern, it’s afrocentric, it’s European, it’s regal, it’s edgy, it’s sophisticated, it’s classy, it’s a combination of things. Each piece is made to flatter and accentuate any curve and physique, the laces, silks and sequins just cascaded each model's body and bounced effortlessly, the fitted pieces were as if molded in place. The handbags and accessories are crafted using African textiles. Each is designed for today's man or woman, there’s hardly any design that’s not wearable.
Event highlights include performance by child models for
Tinnah Stylings by designer
Toyin Lawani. They sashayed down the stage with swagger, to a rousing cheer by the audience, it’s like they were born for it!
Amarachi—Nigeria’s got Talent winner and former alum led the procession, performing on stage. Although children’s clothes are hardly ever boring, this designer’s is especially fun. One would be excited to dress a kid up in the morning.
JPKoutrue by Hadassah presented designs for full figured women with sass. Entertainment and flamboyant personality
Denrele Edun didn’t fail to do what he does best—give the audience a dose of his big personality! I give it up to a guy who can rock high platformed heels like sneakers and big hair like mine. I loved his crochet braids. Notable actors
Uti Nwachukwu and
Ikechuchu Ogbonna walked for Big Ben Kilani collection.
There was ample opportunity to catch the show as it was divided in three time slots, a 2pm, 5pm and 8pm. Day 1was a sensory overload as models kept sashaying down the runway in the packed tent until late in the evening. A day like this one is not without a few run-ins—with other photographers vying for prime real estate. A photographer has to double up as a hunter for great content, one has to be ruthless in the field, it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. Any hesitation and you miss all the good shots, any misstep or shift and another has already taken your place. There are not many second chances for the money shot, no grace. My hair drew attention for right and wrong reasons. For the general audience mostly positive, for other photographers it’s was mostly in the way or a distraction. It all played out to my advantage really, I generated fans. Photographers (and the rest of the audience) all wanted pictures—of me!
I was throughly spent by the end of the first day. I was reeling and expectant of what the finale show would bring—more heavy hitters. Attendees had the opportunity to catch the Pre Gala and the Gala Show. With my gear in tow, I stepped out in the late afternoon to the red carpet to members of the media and guests, the show's already started. They pull me aside for interviews on my personal style. I spend approx. 30 mins with a young protégé. My goal was to find the models backstage. I love to catch them out of their element, their different personalities during downtime. Backstage was organized chaos, everyone was everywhere. As a photographer, I'm always a little hesitant to get in a person's personal space. I thread softly, gaging body language, not everyone likes having their picture taken. As soon as they see me though they open up almost instantly. This was my chance to acquaint myself with all these human mannequins. "Oh yeah! I remember you from last year" some say to me. They're all smiles, posing as my lens flicker away. I catch the models, , makeup artists, other photographers, the designers. Everyone ever so curious about my hair. I laugh now as I recall these lines: "Is this all your hair?" “Can I touch it?” Apparently, Nigerians are not well acquainted with crochet braids—a hair trend that pretty much rescued women with natural hair.
The venue at Eko hotels had been transformed into fashion wonderland, models sashayed late into the evening, coming to a head at the grand finale—the Gala Show. Cool FM’s
Mercy Ajisafe and Mr. Nigeria 2014—
Emmanuel Ikubese kept the audience entertained, dishing out awards and transitioning the audience through the program. Socialite, business mogul and fashionista—
Ms. Abiola Okoya (more on her later) introduces a cause close to her heart. As the Global Ambassador for AFWN 2015 she’s on a fight for the eradication of Sickle Cell Anemia with
Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria. SCFN is making access to treatment more attainable, continues on research studies that would make SCA more or less a chronic illness than a death sentence. The disease she knows all too well as it hits close to home with two of her children. A global awareness for a disease that affect quite a population in Nigeria cannot be understated—150,000 reported cases annually, with countless healthy carriers of the gene [more info
here]. I’m especially proud a platform such as this one is creating awareness for serious issues in Nigeria, to include the fuel scarcity currently suffered by it’s citizens, it was especially hard for some attendees who navigated the jungles of Lagos to obtain fuel to be able to attend this event.
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| Fuel Scarcity by Apple art creations |
The Gala show produced exquisite designs by those that have perfected their craft overtime, notable is the King of Couture—
Mr. Adebayo Jones, a London based designer, whose collection—
Adebayo Jones Luxury, closed the show. He just commanded attention, his attention to detail is impeccable. His designs spell opulence, it’s luxury and regal with the use of chiffon, organzas, velvets, brocades, silks, damasks. I was blown away. It’s no surprise for a designer with more than 30 years in this business.
AFWN 2015 Style and Fashion Awardees include: Emerging Fashion designer McStell, Emerging Stylist Damilola Oke for Fierce & Modish, Emerging Fashion Journalist Antonia Soares for Complete Fashion, Most Stylish Female Celebrity Yemi Alade, Most Stylish Male Celebrity Kunle Afolayan, Young Fashion Entrepreneur Olakunbi Oyelese for April By Kunbi, Fashion Icon Opral Benson and Contribution to African Fashion Lexzy Mojo-Eyes. One lucky audience member with a business card won a round trip ticket to Africa Fashion Week London 2015, courtesy of Travelfix.
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| With Adebayo Jones (second left), Yetty Ogunnubi (center) and friends |
Special thanks reserved to AFWN team
Ronke Ademuliyi,
Abiola Okoya,
Abiola Olatunde Aloba,
Yetty Ogunnubi, thank you for sharing your platform with me. I loved Yetty’s artsy-inspired collection,
Revolution by Yetty D, filled with geometrics and color. All the wonderful people in the media and press or otherwise that I got to meet,
Rich Tankley, Sonya Banjo, Shade Oladipo, the one and only African doll designer to compete with Barbie,
Taofick Okoya (more on him later), the models (inbox me!). The master designer himself
Adebayo Jones, next stop—definitely another one of your shows.
It’s been a whirlwind and this article is long overdue. More pictures from AFWN 2015 on my
Facebook page.
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