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Fashion News

STANDOUT BRANDS FROM THE LAGOS FASHION WEEK 2022

Ekpo Events, Fashion News /

The Lagos Fashion Week as we know it, is an annual celebration of fashion, creativity, and arts. The event brings together fashion designers from all over the world to showcase their latest creations in a variety of settings, including Runway presentations and exhibitions. The fashion week’s mission is to create awareness about the importance of fashion and arts in Nigeria, Africa and all over the world. The Lagos Fashion Week creates a platform where African fashion is appreciated, promoted and accorded due global recognition. Since its establishment in 2011 by  Omoyemi Akerele, the Lagos Fashion Week has continued to make strides across the world of fashion and arts. Runway footage from the 2022 edition of the Lagos Fashion Week was featured in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s exhibition Africa Fashion where several African designers, photographers and creatives were exhibited. More on the subject, the 2022 Lagos Fashion Week was a blast! We got to relish the beautiful and colourful displays of well over 20 designers. Renowned and rising designers showcasing their finest work yet and we loved every minute of it. From the intricate fusion of up-cycled materials and dead stock fabrics by Heru Shezi to Elie Kuame’s splendiferous depiction of African royalty to Oshobor’s iconic “Na man you be” collection amongst a host of others. The fashion week was absolutely ‘Je ne sais quoi’. The 5-day fashion event was indeed a whirlwind of inspiration, creativity and innovation. Over the course of those days, there were a deluge of exhibitions and presentations. Nevertheless, we were able to meticulously curate a list of standout brands just for you. Here are some of the brands we found particularly intriguing… FRUCHE Fruché is a “mix of traditional Nigerian culture, heritage, artisanal techniques and contemporary design. The brand embodies a unique sensibility that seamlessly combines an outspoken narrative and a bold sensuality that is luxuriously modern”. The runway presentation was a sensational display of “pastel colors, cutouts, and ultra feminine silhouettes”. We loved how the designer took silhouettes and paired them with bright pops of color to create this collection. The result? A collection that’s both feminine and bold—and is sure to make any outfit feel fresh! Fruche’s runway presentation also featured am awe-inspiring live spray-paint artistry by Dricky in a touching tribute to the designer’s late father. TJ WHO TJ WHO is a contemporary Nigerian brand that hybridizes multi-cultural and cross-continental patterns, designs and styles to create unique, functional and expressive designs and pieces. The Brand places utmost importance on ‘representation’ in its designs and creates pieces that people can connect to. TJ WHO showcased ‘Collection 3’ off his 2023 Summer/Spring Collection. it showcases a mastery of asymmetrical cuts and patterns in what can be seen to be a fusion of streetwear and formal wear. The collection features deconstructed double sleeved suits, intricately detailed denim design amongst other pieces. Fundamentally, the collection is an embodiment of deconstruction and redefinition. Taju Ibrahim, the Creative Director and Founder of the brand had this to say: “This collection has been two years of experimental refining, redesigning and revising of ideas… this collection was us presenting to the world the number of designs we’ve tirelessly worked on over the years. With this collection we continued to follow our aesthetics of avant-garde, sci-fi and contemporary timelessness, after which we found ways to infuse them with our African heritage and hand-embroidered techniques.” ABIGAIL AJOBI Abigail Ajobi is a sustainable luxury streetwear brand that contributes towards the spread of social awareness by standing for community empowerment. She made her runway debut at the Lagos Fashion Week with a collection themed ‘Continuing the love story’, a sequel from her collection released earlier in February 2022. ‘Continuing the love story’ celebrates her parent’s love story and infuses their love story into her design as an inspiration to others. The custom print denim designs have Portions of a love letter written by her Dad to her mum hand printed on them. The brand’s signature ‘convertible clothing’ functionality means many of the pieces can be worn in multiple different ways. This allows customers to be more versatile in their style and encourages them to love their clothes for longer. AORAH Aorah is a “contemporary womenswear label centered around a strong sense of identity and culture, transforming traditional Nigerian textiles into contemporary designs.” The brand is a sustainable and ethically driven brand that primarily utilizes the Akwete traditional fabric, a fabric indigenous to the Ndoki clan of Abia State. Her runway presentation was titled ‘Ogbanaonwe a’ which literally translates to “It designs itself”. “A collection of love, inspired by the Akwete textile which it is named after. This collection is dedicated to all women that worked endlessly to hand weave these pieces.” OSHOBOR Oshobor is a sustainable androgynous brand domiciled in the ancient city of Benin that makes clothes using yarn and waste wool. The self-acclaimed ‘Masquerade Designer’ explores emotions of love, toxicity and warmth in his designs and uses his art to venture into age-long restrictions and prejudices. Oshobor’s Lagos Fashion Week debut themed ‘Na man you be’ addresses the age-long issue of toxic masculinity in the Nigerian (African) society. the collection instead celebrates Men and Women who serve as father figures in society. The collection features symbolic pieces such as the Oja used by Yoruba mothers and the Isi Agu associated with Igbo chiefs.  ELIE KUAME Abidjan based designer Elie Kuame is a fashion brand that focus primarily on women couture. The brand seeks to celebrate and empower women of the world with beauty, glamour and authenticity of their unique feminity. He fuses his Ivorian and Lebanese background with his cross-continental professional experiences to curate well refined and sophisticated pieces. At the Fashion Week, he presented his collection themed “This is Couture” which featured prints, shapes, ruffles and frills inspired by African royalty. Elie said: “The mixing between the traditional fabric with the modern ones and touch of gold’s light show our determination to celebrate the modernity of this royal sophistication: what is luxury means for

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LAGOS FASHION WEEK 2022: 5 NOTABLE TRENDS SET TO TAKEOVER IN 2023

Ekpo Events, Fashion News /

The 2022 edition of the Lagos Fashion Week was nothing short of transcendent. The 5-day International fashion show was home to renowned and rising fashion designers and brands across Nigeria and Africa at large. The event witnessed private presentations and runway exhibitions from designers like Fruche, Ugo Monye, JZO, Oshobor, Elie Kuame, Tia Adeola, Emmy Kasbit, Eki Kere, Heru Shezi, House of Akachi and a host of others. As we described in our earlier article ‘Ekpo’s Memorable Looks From The 2022 Lagos Fashion Week’, The Lagos Fashion Week 2022 was a ‘miscellany of glamour, picturesque and sheer resplendence’. Fashion Designers, Fashion Enthusiasts and attendees brought their A-game as they pranced in with colorful, breathtaking and trend-setting garbs. After a careful analysis of the prevalent trends at the 2022 Lagos fashion Week, we compiled a list of notable trends set to takeover in 2023. Enjoy! Photography by : Koko 1. SUNGLASSES (All eyes on you) Sunglasses aren’t only protecting our eyes from the sun anymore; they undoubtedly complement outfits, add to our style and sometimes, draw attention to us. At the Fashion Week, we saw a variety of sunglasses ranging from colorful, fascinating and some even awkward shaped. ‘Eye-catching’ indeed! A particular set of sunglasses caught our eyes. A silver framed Bottega Veneta BV1086S. The sunglasses seem to be a shift from convention, adopting a certain awkward shape. Its profound bold shape accentuates a manly and confident outlook for its wearer. The trend in sunglasses seems to be tilting to this bold and confident style. In Corroboration, we’ve gathered a few similar looks. Here is Lenny Kravitz at the CFDA Awards ’22. Bad girl Riri Going into 2023, we expect we see an overall shift to similar shaped glasses. 2. BLACK OUTFITS (Black is Gold) Whoever said orange was the new black clearly never owned a black dress. We saw a fine number of full black voguish outfits reiterating an overall confidence in the color. In spite of varying styles and color mix in some of the outfits, black still maintained predominance. Although styled differently, our overall confidence in black was reposed by the predominance of the colour at the Fashion Week. Despite the splash of colours on the runways and even amongst attendees, we were reminded of the ageless classy and regal outlook resonated in the colour black. 3.  MEN WEARING TRAINS (Staying on track!) Nigerian men seemed to have joined the train bandwagon. We couldn’t help but notice the popularity of male trains at the Lagos Fashion Week. The trend buttresses the recent shift toward gender-fluid fashion and its overture in the Nigerian fashion space. To give credence to our forecast, we are already seeing a number of celebrated figures who are ahead of the trend. For instance, here is celebrity designer and stylist Ugo Mozie at Naomi Campbell’s launch of her Emerge Initiative back in October. Also, we see Asap Rocky’s stunning appearance in khaki-coloured baggy trousers with trains at the Premiere of ‘Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever’. This definitely gives insight on what to expect for menswear in 2023.  4. HEAVY HAND ACCESSORIES (Lord of the Rings) Nigerian Fashion enthusiasts have thrown caution to the wind with stereotypes associated with wearing rings especially unconventional rings. Jewelry lovers were heavily adorned with alternative fashion rings. We can only expect more from the Nigerian goth subculture in 2023. 5.  MEN WEARING PURSES It was impossible to not notice the dominant use of purses by Men at the Lagos Fashion Week. Not man-purses by the way, actual purses. A variety of colorful and beautifully styled purses embellishing different styles. It makes bold to say that purses are no longer exclusive to women. It is as much a functional accessory to the guys as it is to the ladies and the Men at the Lagos Fashion emphatically made the point. Here are a few of our favourites… This goes to show that the bounds of masculinity have and continue to be redefined in Nigeria and the world at large. We can only expect more in 2023. We hope you found this interesting and informative. Please share your thoughts below

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‘DREAMLAND’ ORANGE CULTURE’S SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION 2023

Fashion News, Lookbook /

Nigerian based Contemporary Androgynous brand Orange Culture has released its 2023 Spring-Summer Collection themed ‘Dreamland’. Orange Culture is renowned for its non-conformist and expressive style. Orange Culture has been described to be more than a fashion brand, a movement that maintains its unique vision of fashion and continues to champion eccentric and daring campaigns in traditional and contemporary African fashion circles. With the prevalent sway on the gender and gender-inclusivity discourse, Orange Culture conveniently harmonizes this divide, curating haute couture that derail along gender lines nonetheless ladened with novel and unparalleled allure. As far as we can tell, Orange Culture continues to make waves within and beyond the shores of Nigeria and Africa at large, garnering several international recognitions and nominations like the LVMH prize and Woolmark prize along the way. The brand has become a huge influence to many (designers alike) and is easily credited to be a pacesetter in Contemporary Urban Street wear in Nigeria. Orange Culture’s 2023 Spring-summer collection ‘Dreamland’ is a stunning collection that utilizes and conflates a laudatory blend of colours and a rich array of fabric. While showcasing a range of custom African-print fabric, the collection exhibit a seemingly simple but Aesthetically astounding masterpiece. Worthy of note is the exquisite detailing and finishing in the collection. We see subtle splashes of colour on some of the pieces; elaborate handcrafting with garment stones, sequins, ostrich feathers, crotchet outfits and eccentric handmade bead bags. Orange Culture makes a connection to its Nigerian roots with the collection retaining a predominantly Nigerian backdrop and a number of the outfit names tracing its nomenclature to the South Eastern and South western Regions of Nigeria. Overall, Orange Culture makes bold with its 2023 Spring-Summer collection. In its usual tenacity, it upsets the boundaries of what some within the Nigerian clime would consider regular. Audacious and venturous indeed! What do you think about this Collection? Share your thoughts.

‘DREAMLAND’ ORANGE CULTURE’S SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION 2023 Read More »

SUMMER FRIENDS: DAVID BLACKMOORE X THE SUNFLOWER DEPARTMENT SUMMER COLLECTION 2022

3 Comments / Fashion News, Fashion Shows /

Nigerian urban streetwear brand David Blackmoore recently partnered with contemporary brand The Sunflower Department to launch their 2022 Summer Collection ‘Summer Friends’. The brands officially released the summer collection on the 15th of October 2022. Since its launch in 2015, David Blackmoore has progressively redefined the bounds of Nigerian Streetwear culture steadily advancing and revolutionizing prevalent trends of the Nigerian Streetwear space. The brand strategically adopts a revolutionary style where it integrates contemporary streetwear style against the backdrop of Traditional African design and style. TeenVogue describes David Blackmore as: “… a brand with a fusion of contemporary and traditional design aesthetics.” https://www.teenvogue.com/story/5-nigerian-brands-changing-the-streetwear-scene-in-fashion Speaking about the brand’s creative team duo of Asiafa Oghenefego and Asaju Samuel, Teenvogue had this to say: “The Design duo wanted to tell a redefined story of fashion and they sought to change the Nigerian streetwear industry by creating clothes that are multidimensional and afro-futuristic in nature.” https://www.teenvogue.com/story/5-nigerian-brands-changing-the-streetwear-scene-in-fashion Despite unremitting constraints and difficulties imposed by Nigerian socio-economic conditions which affect a number of Nigerian based brands, David Blackmoore continues to maintain consistency and superb delivery while launching numerous campaigns and releasing several collections over the years. “Summer friends is a gender-neutral collection presented by David Blackmore and Sunflower department which sheds light on ‘friendships’, ‘experiences’, and ‘relationships’ built during the summer month”. “Summer friends push the semantic dialogue, experiences, and emotions of the summer for the future, past, and present. Drawing inspiration from these factors, it includes a diverse mix of high-quality materials, modern craftsmanship, vibrant colors, vintage items, and collectibles while exploring bold ideas that stand out amidst the constant stream of street culture”. The androgynous collection resonates “Good vibes only” and embraces the genuineness and felicity of true friendship. The collection captures this with a blend of colours and its symbolic use of badges. The ‘Summer Friends’ collection transcends articles of clothing and includes items or collectibles like keychains, tote bags, mugs to mention a few. The collection is available for purchase  exclusively on the Garmspot online store and Garmspot Truth Beach Store; Landmark VI, Lagos. What do you think about the collection? Please Share your comments below.

SUMMER FRIENDS: DAVID BLACKMOORE X THE SUNFLOWER DEPARTMENT SUMMER COLLECTION 2022 Read More »

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW NIKE RELEASE FOR THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM

4 Comments / Editorial, Fashion News /

American Sportswear Company and Global Kit sponsors, Nike on Thursday, 15th of September 2022 released new 2022/2023 jerseys and kit for the Nigerian National team. This release follows the announcement of the extension of the contract agreement between Nike and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to December 2026 announced earlier in August this year. Stay with us as we dive in and take a closer look at the new Nike jerseys for the Nigerian National Team The home kit has a deep green base and is ladened with very detailed artistic designs of different patterns of a lighter shade of green which to us give off the aesthetic of the ‘Adire’ traditional fabric. The jersey is V-necked and has the image of an Eagle in front, a possible allusion to the depiction of strength on the Nigerian Coat of Arms or the name of the team ‘Super Eagles’ (or both, LOL), A white Nike logo and the NFF emblem. Unlike its predecessor which was deep green, the new away kit is white with elaborate black triangles beautifully patterned extending from the shoulder to the sleeves, green patches below the neckline and at the base of the sleeves and the Nike logo and the emblem of the NFF at the chest area. Since its release, a number of football fanatics have expressed mixed emotions over the new Nike designs. Below are a few: While a number of the comments and remarks generally appear disparaging and farfetched (which we do not endorse), We think that the new 2022/2023 jerseys appear ‘Sub Par’ and are far-off from a worthy rival when compared to Nike’s Nigerian iconic releases of the past years particularly with the new Home kit. The Super Eagles’ rather unfortunate failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has denied the new kit an opportunity of showcasing at the global football stage and possible international scrutiny, a far cry from the team’s 2018 kit which was adjudged the best kit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Nonetheless, The Super Eagles of Nigeria on the 27th of September 2022 at the Oran Olympic Stadium in Algeria made a debut of their new kit in an international friendly match against the Desert foxes of Algeria which ended in 2 – 1 defeat against the Super Eagles. Following Tuesday’s debut, it would appear that more Nigerians have come to take a liking to the new kit after all while some remain quite adamant. Regardless, We expect to see more showcases of the new jerseys in the build-up to the 2023 African Cup of Nations scheduled to be played in January 2024 due to weather concerns in Ivory Coast, the host nation. The jerseys are available for order on the Nike online store. What are your takes on the new jerseys? Share your comments below.

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NEW NIKE RELEASE FOR THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL TEAM Read More »

10 NIGERIAN CLOTHING BRANDS EVERY FASHIONABLE MAN SHOULD KNOW

2 Comments / Ekpo Events, Fashion News /

Over the years, Menswear has undergone tremendous evolution in Nigeria and the world at large. Nigeria has come to witness an elaborate advancement and expansion of preconceived limits of Nigerian Men’s wear. We’ve also experienced the immense impact of western influences in Nigerian Men’s fashion and a development and progression on what we previously thought native and traditional attires to be.   This article explores 10 Nigerian clothing brands that have set themselves apart by measures of sophistication, exquisite design, detail, elegance, etc. Here are 10 Nigerian clothing brands every Nigerian man should know ATAFO Atafo is a revered Nigerian brand adept in the art of making exquisite custom-made Suits, tuxedos and traditional attires. Atafo is credited with pulling off some incredibly glamorous looks at a number of Nigerian Galas, Award nights, concerts and even weddings. He styles a number of celebrities in Nigeria, prominent amongst which is the very iconic Ebuka Obi-Echendu, the recurrent host of the Big Brother Nigeria TV show, and the elegant and classy Denola Grey, to mention a few.  Atafo has flair with colour, flavour and glamour and has successfully explored shades generally considered effeminate and unassociable with men’s clothing. YOMI CASUAL A brand by Makan Owoniyi, brother to Comedian AyoMakun, popularly known as (A.Y). A ‘big name’ in the Nigerian Fashion scenery, Yomi Casual has a knack for bespoke Nigerian traditional kaftans. Yomi Casual has mastered the craft of harmonizing varying fabric and embroidery patterns. He infuses a modern vibe to the kaftan and explores an array of fabric patterns in his designs. He has also styled a very wide range of Nigerian male celebrities including legendary and veteran actor Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD), Big Brother Nigeria star Pere and several others. The ‘casual’ in his name is not superfluous either. He also designs outfits which are specifically curated to give off a casual and comfy vibe. He just recently released his collection themed “Summer Vibes”. DEJI AND KOLA When you think sophistication, think Deji and Kola. They are a tailoring company focused on Weddings, Corporate, Casuals, Traditional, Uniforms, and other forms of garment production.  Operating in the city of Lagos, Nigeria, Deji and Kola take pride in their ‘Low Cost High Quality’ mantra and assures its customers of detail and elegance. Deji & Kola is definitely a brand to take a liking to. We find their detailing next to none. Deji and Kola truly accentuates the masculinity in any man. Deji and Kola is a must-have for any Man with an ego. An asset in any wardrobe. You can never go wrong with this brand. ‘Last last’ two heads are better than one. Lol! DECO ‘D29‘ More popularly known as D29, Deco is your one-stop shop for ‘Agbada’ and traditional attire. D29 is skilled in the selection and tailoring of the choicest and radiant fabrics, principal amongst which is the Aso-oke fabric a hand-woven cloth fabric created and worn mostly among the Yoruba people of south-west Nigeria. Yes! You guessed right, ‘Owanbe’!! Just have a look at Mr. Incredible (M.I) and his beautiful bride in majestic elegance and style. D29’s striking excellence and overall delivery sets him apart in the traditional attire line of Nigerian Men’s fashion. Interestingly, D29 styles both male and female. The D29 brand assures a glamorous, colourful and picturesque outfit. The brand to channel the inner ‘Yoruba Demon’ in you. ORANGE CULTURE Orange Culture is a Nigerian androgynous brand that features clothing that derails along gender lines. Orange Culture showcases a variety of Gender-neutral clothing. This embraces the new global shift towards inclusivity, which has led to similar fashion brands gaining traction. This seems like a brand that would style a Wizkid or Burna boy music Video, LOL! The Orange brand might appear to be a shift from the above listed Nigerian clothing brands, but we still find it a valuable item for your wardrobe. DAVID WEJ David Wej is a Nigerian lifestyle brand celebrated for its bespoke suits, shirts, classic casual clothing and accessories. The Nigerian Designer melds and integrates traditional styles and techniques with a touch of the western influence to create designs ladened with panache and elegance. With a devotion to an expansive and overall global vision, David has made great strides in setting his brand on the global fashion scenery, recently launching his 7th Store in London, United Kingdom. TRAX APPAREL Trax Apparel is a Pan-African themed luxury fashion brand that harnesses true artistic prowess in its designs. A brand with an undaunted attachment to values of art, lifestyle and sport. Trax is well versed in the fashioning of traditional African attire particularly the ‘Dashiki’. With a unique, detailed and flawless blend of colours, Trax reinvents the dashiki and incorporates Pan-African subthemes, imagery and symbolism. Over the years, Trax has lent its voice to commiserate, support and make bold statements on trending cultural issues and happenings like the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Rape #NomeansNo, the Death of Chadwick Boseman amongst others. VANSKERE Vanskere is an Urban African ready-to-wear luxury brand launched in 2005. ‘Vanskere’, an eponym coined after its alter ego and founder, Evans Akere, a trained lawyer and a graduate of the London College of Fashion. Vanskere showcases a penchant for colours and geometry which it features in its collections. Towards the end of 2015, Vanskere announced the launch of its diffusion brand, Signore Fusion. Signore Fusion would go on to launch its ‘Glaze Campaign’ aimed at breaking stereotypical notions on what African inspired designs and collections ought to be. Signore Fusion has also presented collections like its 2019 Spring/Summer collection ‘Kabuki’, Signore Fusion Seasons 1 & 2 to mention a few. UGO MONYE Ugo Monye, is a pace setter in Huate couture and traditional ready-to wear attire in the Nigerian clothing brand space. Ugo’s designs encapsulate a regal and majestic outlook. In October 2021, Ugo Monye presented his 2022 Spring/Summer collection at the Lagos Fashion Week 2021 titled ‘the Opulence collection’. A collection inspired by three main materials; Pearls, Aso-Oke and Velvet which he states

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WHAT IS ATLANTA WEARING ? : ATLANTA STREETWEAR MARKET

Ekpo Events, Fashion News /

Ever wondered what the people of Atlanta are wearing on the streets or during events because we know all is slowly becoming the fashion capital of the south and for that reason we had to hit the Atlanta streetwear market over the weekend to check out the style and fits of the Atlanta Streetstyle connoisseur. The Atlanta Streetwear Market is the largest streetwear event in the world. More than 8,000 attendees from all over the world gather to experience this one-of-a-kind event. More posts you might like FIRST LOOK AT THE DAVID BLACKMOORE 12+ DENIM DROP.

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Faces And Style At The Fall 21 Atlanta Street Wear Market

Fashion News /

Face and Style at the fall 21 Atlanta streetwear marketFor the last leg of Atlanta’s biggest streetwear convention – the Fall/Winter 2021 Atlanta streetwear market, The Youths – Streetstyle enthusiasts, influencers, sneakerheads, brands and the city of Atlanta stepped out one last time to not just show off their rad style but also check some dope Atlantan brands curated by ASWM.Ekpo was live on ground covering all the stylish moments.

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