A Fashion & Retail Conversation - Reni Folawiyo, Omoyemi Akerele, Jennifer Obayuwana & Amaka Osakwe Discuss

 {L-R} Amaka Osakwe - Maki Oh; Jennifer Obayunwana – Polo Luxury; Omoyemi Akerele – Style House Files & LFDW; Reni Folawiyo – Alara and (Moderator) Lola Ogunnaike – Presenter & Writer 

WIE Symposium - fashion, Retail panel

This post took quite a while, something about it seemed unfinished but after careful considering I thought better to post than save it for that 'appropriate time'. Good information is always good anytime..my conclusion.

During W:IE symposium last month, I had the privileged of listening to some of the leading women in Nigeria fashion industry - quite an enlightening panel they were. They discussed fashion - the creative and business aspect & Retail - the marketing, advertising and publicity aspect of it.

These women;

Reni Folawiyo - Founder, Alara

Amaka Osakwe - Designer & Founder, Maki Oh

Jennifer Obayunwana - Executive Director, Polo Luxury

Omoyemi Akerele - Founder, StyleHouseFiles & LFDW

 Moderator: Lola Ogunnaike

Share some fascinating points...

Reni Folawiyo on ALARA:

Alara will be about everything real  - heritage, tradition, in relation to today. It will also be a platform to celebrate our lifestyle, who we are, how we are...celebrating culture and what we feel they (people here) want to buy.

Omoyemi Akerele on LFDW:

Lfdw is not about the publicity, it's about positioning brands and the idea of fashion - "what goes on behind the wall".  Some feel fashion is for the elitist, it's not - often. That's the idea LFDW is trying to share, the idea to let people, sponsors understand fashion is more than parties and all the fancy nature around it.

Moderator: asks about the relationship between the government & the fashion industry - how to  promote fashion or bring art initiative alive?

Omoyemi & Reni: They'll make life much easier if they support, also they can help with infrastructure - it's one main issue that's yet to be resolved. So for us to gain that good standard the government needs to support with labour, infrastructure and more.

SPOTLIGHT : Maki Oh, LDA & Temple Muse in Vogue India

Vogue India cover and Vogueview on the brands

Nigeria's own Amaka Osakwe of Maki Oh, Lanre DaSilva-Ajayi of LDA and luxury house Temple Muse are featured in Vogue India April Issue featuring Indian actress, Shraddha Kapoor. The page shares a brief profile on the brands and what Vogue Loves about them, quite appropriate.

Top Picks : Maki Oh - Fall 2014 + Short Film for RTW

                                         Maki Oh Fall 2014 

Maki Oh: Fall 2014 Video Fashion Week

Ready-to-Wear concept film shorts from Video Fashion Week.

Full video HERE

African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) - 17th & 18th May 2014

For the first time in history, Nigeria will be hit with the biggest platform dedicated to African inspired fashion, African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN). The two-day spectacular show which will be held between Saturday, 17th and Sunday, 18th May 2014 at Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos will showcase everything that defines fashion from an African point of view.

African Fashion and Design Week (AFDW) - March 2014

The African Fashion and Design Week (AFDW) is an innovative event by Bluepearl Services International (BSI) and in partnership with World Fashion for Development supporting their goals of promoting economic development and social responsibility around the world through fashion as an avenue for development.

The AFDW aims to promote the business of fashion in Africa globally, nurture emerging talents and take local talents global and bring global talents local. Since its establishment, the AFDW has discovered and nurtured emerging designers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and sponsored designers from Nigeria and other African countries to showcase their designs during the Fashion Week Brooklyn New York.

Deola Sagoe on Arise TV - On 25years in the Fashion Industry

Ojy Okpe shared this on Facebook recently and I thought  to share on here with people who might be interested.

Deola Sagoe has been of great influence on the fashion industry in Nigeria and Africa as a whole  her designs have reached far and inspired several others not just to love fashion but to start their own passion. In an exclusive interview with Arise TV, Deola Sagoe talks to Lola Ogunnaike about her journey through the industry - the transition to DEOLA and many more.

Runway Report: Ghana Fashion and Design Week 2013 - VONNE COUTURE

Runway Report: Ghana Fashion and Design Week 2013 - HOUSE OF MARIE

Loza Maleombho Spring/Summer 2014

New York based African designer, Loza Maleombho continues to stay true to her style of using local fabrics while creating structured relevant pieces.

For its Spring Summer 201 collection, the designer features few trends spotted lately; from the abs-revealing type, cringed silhouettes to volume and craftmanship. The collection also features patterns and emphasized cuts like the highlighted-breast, detailed layering and simple architectural cuts that somewhat add simplicity to the designs.

This label remains consistent with its style; one thing I appreciate about it.

Dashing, Classic and Exquisitely Mannish - The New Okunoren Flagship Store

Okunoren Flagship Store

The Okunoren Twins have opened a flagship store on Mainland way in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi. The store’s perfect location, sufficiently off the hustle and bustle of Lagos, allows one to feel the solemnness of the space and also to amble the neighborhood in peace. 

STELLA JEAN SS '14

RUNWAY: #FashionForGenerations - CLAN at EbonyLife Launch

Talk about perfect fashion through a generation, CLAN has confirmed the fact of the saying; "fashion can be inherited.." Clan showcased an impressive collection at the EbonyLife launch few days ago. Yes, I love all the pieces.

More photos! More Photos!

RUNWAY: #FashionForGenerations - DEOLA SAGOE at EbonyLife Launch

Deola Sagoe's exclusive fashion showcase at EbonyLife TV launch to me is simply remarkable. Beautifully designed couture pieces, I'm super thrilled just looking through.

More photos after the cut!!

RUNWAY: #FashionForGenerations - DEO at EbonyLife Launch

Fabulous vintage fashion showcased by DEO {..of Deola Sagoe mother's} at the recently held EbonyLife TV launch.

One to Watch: Hesey Designs

Starting off on the runway, Hesey Designs is an emerging fashion brand that blends exotic creative designs with African prints to produce unique products.  

Hommage à l’Art by Vlisco

I've been procrastinating on writing this post just because I thought I’d need a special moment/period to do – review and revel – in the beauty of this yet amazing, outstanding and breathtaking editorial by (if I may say again) my favourite and leading fabric brand – VLISCO.

Vlisco is beyond fabulous, like I always say they have an amazingly brilliant team that come up with fantastic creative ideas such seen here and lots more; they also proof to be the leader with the numerous costumer relations opportunities they create almost every month.

Not to ramble this time, I believe the brand just speak for itself; bold, feminine, conservative yet versatile, classy, African, contemporary, elegant amongst lots more!

This is DeBuzz Views official introduction to …

Being Chic in CHiCHiA

This isn't exactly a collection I’d wear but I’ll like to credit the creativity beautifully … in words of course.

It’s not London here, so I can’t picture any of this fabric around here especially now that the weather is crazily hottt! I mean, I almost went to work naked today (not exactly). I wore a sheer top with just my brassiere and realized all the men I interacted with looked at nowhere put my chest, their pain I thought *wink*.

Thanks to AfricanFashionGuide, I stumbled upon CHiCHiA London’s A/W 13/14 collection and oh dear is it brilliant or what? The choice of fabric is obvious but the designs are what I am not quite convinced of. Questions I’ve asking include; who is the CHiCHiA woman? What does she do? Where does she go and who are her friends?

Deola Sagoe Throws Back at the Future with 'KOMOLE' 2013

I love this collection, it's really Komole just like in the 60's. Reminds me of those old photos of my parents except the styling here is different. 

See; instead of the huge head styles or head gears, here the models adorn a rather more modern look almost as seen in Mad Men (on the women now); instead of the very big chunky heels, wedges worn then, here the models were very chic shoes ; lastly rather than double layers wrappers or heavy fabric, the fabric here is simple yet classic, vintage yet modern, cool yet mature, looking back yet fashion forward.

Each look is a perfect representation of future inspired vintage love of African fashion sense even in a very conventional way...It's beautiful, and graceful in a way.

With the right styling and accessorizing, each piece in this collection can be well dressed up for any occasion. Yes, from formal, corporate, casual, glam, 'Komole' can be rocked!

With wonderful photography impact by Kelechi Amadi-Obi and beautiful styling by the lovely Ifeoma Williams, this collection brings back the long desired sweetness of master designer and inspiration, Deola Sagoe.

More photos after the cut!

Dating Game - Duro Olowu, London Fashion Week 2013

This is not one of those situations where I say something good because it sounds good. No,not at all... It is for a fact one of those moments where you see something you've always imagined in your head but haven't had the chance or clear understanding of how to put it down in words - well, maybe the exact words have been traded for something else; distractions of course.

He needs no introduction as he remains a regular on here. I'm always talking/sharing about him one point or the other - his collaborations  his fun and creative lookbooks and lots more. 

Duro Olowu is amazing and he represents his unique style very well in every collection he creates. He says fun, girly, sexy  as well as grown, decisive and confident all at once. He knows how to properly illustrates his designs while leaving little or nothing out. I mean, his use of prints is fantastic and the way he pairs prints and patterns up is tot-amazing.

Perfect Patterns + Lavishing Layers = Vlisco 'Jeu de Couleurs' Campaign

Honestly, I don’t think I keep up with my personal life as much as I keep up with Vlisco’s always charming campaigns – I mean, why would I have the website bookmarked and also make it on the list of my must check websites in a week?

 As in, why not? I love the brand!

Vlisco is an amazing brand that I’m almost sure is occupied with equally brilliant people as the designs created. Yet another stunning campaign – ‘Jeu de Couleurs’ (which I discovered means 'Colours Game') of photos I already in the folder of my laptop’s ‘Screen Saver’, I love the concept, the design and the way maximum control put into the ambiance set for the story. Seriously, nothing like this comes from simple minds, they have a great team – one I wish I could be a part of considering my dear love for fashion and especially campaigns.

                                                                      More photos!