TOP TEN FASHION DESIGNERS IN NIGERIA

TOP TEN FASHION DESIGNERS IN NIGERIA 

1     DEOLA SAGOE

Sagoe began designing in 1989 and has gained international notoriety for her lively, and colorful designs. She was recently appointed to represent Nigeria in a new international campaign organized by the United Nations World Food Program. The campaign, titled “Catwalk the World: Fashion for Food.”, began in Nigeria in April 2006 and recently staged an event in Ghana which brought celebrities like Damon Dash, his wife, designer Rachel Roy, and Ghanaian-born, London-based designer Ozwald Boateng. The campaign's goal is to raise money towards halving the number of hungry people in the world, particularly children, by 2015. Sagoe frequently exhibits her couture collection at Cape Town Fashion Week and has been an invited guest of New York Fashion Week in the past. Sagoe has won the “Africa Designs” and the MNET/ Anglo Gold African designs 2000 awards for which she was nominated by Andre Leon Tally, US Vogue editor.

2. ZIZI CARDOW

Zizi cardow is a forerunner in contemporary African fashion. In 2000,when the label was launched, she began a revolution for the African fabric with a view to globalization, resulting in a growing patronage in ethnic fabric.After her first year of breaking into the Nigerian fashion scene, zizi cardow the founder and brain behind the label, won the prestigious designer of the year award at the premier event, NFS (Nigerian fashion show) in 2001.This award launched her designs in to the African market in (south Africa) and Europe(Italy, France and Britain).2002 ushered in a series of awards like DAME award for outstanding achievement in fashion, an occasion graced by the president and commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria chief Olusegun Obasanjo, st moritz style selection award, Imo state chamber of commerce conferred as an ambassador of fashion.Added to her list of laudable achievement is the nomination of her as the only Nigerian representative to the fashion and art exhibition in Milan tagged AFRICANDO, an occasion graced by the mayor of Milan, dignitaries and foreign ambassadors.In 2002 her fashion house staged a top-notch fashion show tagged ‘’jungle Renaissance’’ which receive rave reviews from both local and international critics in fashion industry, this then created the scene for the staging of ‘’jungle renaissance reloaded’’ in 2006.By 2006 zizi cardow had become a house hold name.

3. FALAKE FOLARIN COKER

Her fashion brand, "Tiffany Amber" was launched in Lagos in 1998 and has become an iconic label in the Nigerian fashion industry. The Brand has four stand alone stores and boutiques in Lagos and Abuja. She has staged several fashion shows in Africa, Europe and the United States. In 2008, she made history as the first African-based fashion designer to stage a show twice at the New York Fashion Week. She was the first recipient of the "Designer of the Year" award at the African fashion week in Johannesburg in 2009 and was also awarded "Fashion Brand of the Year" at the ARISE Magazine Fashion week in 2011. In 2013, she received an Enterprise Award at the 2013 Women, Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Symposium and made the Forbes Power women list.She unveiled her 'Nirvana' spring/summer collections at DOII Designs launch.

4. DURO OLOWO

Duro Olowu is a Nigerian-born, London-based fashion designer. He is best known for his innovative combinations of patterns and textiles that draw inspiration from his international background. His empire waist patchwork "Duro" dress was named "dress of the year" by both American and British Vogue in 2005. Some of Olowu's notable clients include Michelle Obama, Solange Knowles, and Iris Apfel. In 2005 he won "New Designer of the Year" at the British Fashion awards, the first designer to win without ever showing a runway presentation.

5. OHIMAI OTAFO

Mai Atafo is a Nigerian bespoke fashion tailor. He caught the attention of the fashion industry for the creation of his brand, Mai Atafo and by enrolling the Leeds-based Savile Row Academy to further train as a tailor. Sitting as current Creative Director of Mai Atafo Inspired, Mai Atafo continues in the trail of his early career as a Strategy Director for an Advertising Agency; Firehouse Group as well as Event Compere, Emceeing the return of the Miss Nigeria Pageant in 2010 after a seven years break with Co host, One time Miss World, Agbani Darego. Mai Atafo is a community mentor, he heads the Future Awards Central working committee

6. LISA FOLAWIYO

Lisa Folawiyo is a Nigerian fashion designer who is best known for incorporating traditional West African textiles with modern tailoring techniques with an emphasis on beading and sequin trim. She is also known for modernizing and embellishing Ankara, a West African fabric, using her own custom prints and embellishments.

Wearing her own designs

She started her label "Jewel by Lisa" in 2005 from her home, after which she became an internationally recognised name and brand, having showrooms in Nigeria as well as New York. Celebrities such as Issa Rae have worn her pieces. Rae wore a cummerbund dress to the BET Presents the American Black Film Festival Honors. Her collections are also showcased in the US, the UK, Nigeria and South Africa. She won the Africa Fashion Award in 2012, nominated alongside Maki Oh and Kofi Ansah. In 2012 she was also featured in Vogue Italia. In 2014, WWD: Women's Wear Daily named her one of eight emerging talents.In 2015 she was featured in the prestigious BOF500, which is a list of fashion brands that are shaping the international fashion scene. She was one of a few Nigerians who made it on the list. 

8. FRANK OSHODI

Frank ventured into Choreography and Model management before finding his footings in makeup with his label, House of Bunor and Fashion designing.

As a make-up artist, he has handled television commercials for a lot of Nigerian organizations such as Macleans Toothpaste, Ultrasheen, Chocolate éclairs, Indomie Noodles and others.

Frank has been in the fashion industry since 1989 but his label, House of Bunor started about 15 Years ago and has clothed the most high profile people in Nigeria.

9. ADE FRANK BAKARE

Ade Bakare Couture was established in 1991.  Thereafter, Ade started selling his collection twice a year (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter). His clients were boutiques situated in various parts of England, Scotland and the Channel Islands such as Chic of Hampstead, Adele Davis of Bond Street and Lucienne Phillips of Knightsbridge and Amersham.

He made great waves with his bridal collection and was selected by Bride magazine as one of London's most influential designers. Due to his enormous popularity, he has showcased his collections in Morocco, Capetown, Mozambique, London, New York and Paris where he was given an award.

10. LOLA FATUROTI

Lola created a buzz when she upstaged Ralph Lauren’s fashion show, at New York Fashion Week, with a show of her own right across the street from his show. Her move got her noticed and profiled in numerous top fashion publications including American Vogue, WWD and the New York Times