The creative industry in Nigeria over the last decade has witnessed so much growth and every year, it opens up a lot more to the world. The fashion industry is one of the industries at the forefront of Nigerian global recognition and we cannot but celebrate the amazing talents we turnover yearly.
These are some of the Nigerian-owned fashion brands and designers that are the rave in recent times and for notable reason too.
What a time to be fashion forward and Nigerian!
1) Orange Culture
Orange Culture is an emerging favourite for the fashion forward. It is a movement carving a niche for menswear in Nigeria and encouraging bravery with the creative ideas in men’s fashion. The brand, however, also caters to women, who have established a dominating presence in the brand. Orange culture designs are unique with an androgynous twist, creating the opportunity to cater to a wider range of people looking to tell whole stories with the way they dress themselves.
Orange Culture stands out as one of the first Nigerian brands to have inspired collaborations within the fashion industry and some of theirs include collaborations with Huawei, Rokus London, Maxivive, Dennis Osadebe and many more.The brand has attracted global attention and been featured in esteemed international publications including Vogue (US, UK, Italy).
All pieces produced by the brand are manufactured in Lagos and fabrics are also sourced from local Nigerian fabric makers. The designs are intricately designed for an African touch, where culture meets class and the new emerges out of the old in their contemporary urban streetwear.
The Creative Director, Adebayo Oke-Lawal, launched Orange Culture in 2011 to bring his unique vision to fruition after having worked with several Nigerian designers prior to that time. He worked as the fashion editor for WOW! Magazine and done other editorial work for Vogue Italia, Nataal and others. He has styled many celebrities like Kate Henshaw, Ice Prince, Rita Dominic and more.
Orange Culture has showcased at the Lagos Fashion & Design Week, the International Fashion Showcase organized by the British Council during London Fashion Week and on the runway at London Fashion week under Fashion Scout. The brand is celebrating for having been the first Nigerian brand to stock at Selfridges. Orange Culture is currently stocked in Lagos, Paris, London, New York, Hollywood and Kenya and they are not stopping there.
Orange Culture to the world!
Orange Culture
Website: orangeculture.com.ng/shop/
Instagram: @orangecultureng
Instagram: (Adebayo Oke-Lawal): @theorangenerd
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
2) Mimi’s Kreationz
Mimi’s Kreationz is simply “fashion for boss babes”. It is a ready-to-wear and bespoke brand which caters to the fashion needs of boss ladies and women who desire to feel powerful with a fashion statement.
In 2019, Mimi’s Kreationz won the Nivea Nosos Fashion Competition and was awarded the Rotary Youth Leadership Award Prize of Honor for Fashion in the same year.
From launch till date, this star brand has dressed countless style icons across the globe with their versatile pieces, inclusive of renowed women in media such as Lehle Balde, Ife Agoro of Diary of a Naija Girl, Dakore Egbuson, Chika Ike, Waje, Tomike, Beauty Queen Unoaku Anyadike, Mimi Onalaja and Kaylah Oniwo.
The Creative Director, Mimmi Nwosu, started her pursuit of the art of fashion designing in 2008 and after a number of years of experience as a Customer Service and Telesales Team lead in an e-commerce company, she decided to follow her passion and branch on her own. She launched Mimi’s Kreationz officially in 2019 and the brand has gained notable traction since then.
Definitely a brand to look out for!
Mimi’s Kreationz
Address: 23 Opebi road, Opebi, Lagos
Whatsapp/Telephone: 08131124958
Instagram : @mimis_kreationz
Email: [email protected]
3) Zephans & Co
Zephans & Co is another fabulous ready-to-wear brand for the modern woman. From a wide range of designs from gorgeous dresses to playful short sets, Zephans & Co stays winning and has dressed some of our favourite celebrities including Tiwa Savage.
The Zephans & Co woman’s style is timeless, classy, and bold. There is a fusion of vintage style with new and evolving ideas to produce ever stylish pieces.
The Creative Director, Kiki Achukwu was raised by a fashion designer mum and her passion for fashion was ignited at a young age. The vibrancy of 90s clothing is a huge inspiration for her. She’s in the business of affordable quality style.
For chic vintage style, dressing the sexy, bold modern woman, Zephans & Co has got your back!
Zephans&Co
Store: Plot 25, Block 72 Adebisi Popoola Crescent Off Victoria Arobieke, Lekki Phase 1
Website: www.zephansandco.com
Instagram: @zephansandco
Phone: +2348060506980
Email: [email protected]
4) ASF – All Simple Fashion
ASF is an online store, established in 2017, that provides affordable ready-to-wear clothing for women. Its focus is high street women’s fashion.
Thinking casual? Thinking classy? Thinking effortlessly stunning?
Then you should definitely be thinking ASF!
ASF
Creative Director: Femi Ahmed
Whatsapp: 08080246254
Email: [email protected]
Social media: @allsimplefashion
5) Adéy Soile
Adéy Soile is a contemporary female apparel brand that offers ready-to-wear and custom made clothing for the Nigeria working woman.
The brand’s focus is to revolutionize the working woman’s wardrobe with classic pieces that never go out of season. The brand gradually expanded from work designs to casual wear then night wear.
The owner and Creative Director, Tinuade Soile is all for empowering women and showing off their strengths to the world. She is inspired by many remarkable women around the world and has an appreciation for diversity which reflects in her designs.
Adéy Soile for the strong woman: dressing game-changers and world shakers.
Adéy Soile
Store: 18a Ahmad Tijani Street, off Victoria Arobieke, Lekki
Lagos
Website: www.adeysoile.com
Instagram: @adeysoile
6) CLAN
CLAN is a premium versatile brand offering a range from business wear to everyday clothing. It focuses on the modern day woman and caters to her urban, social, corporate needs. The brand was established in 2011.
With CLAN, less is more. The minimalist aesthetic of the designs, interwoven with an African undertone has caught the eye of the industry. The designs are carefully needle-crafted and employ the use of authentic techniques for distinct pieces.
CLAN appeared at its first international showcase in 2014 at the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. Since then, the brand has gained traction and attracted international attention.
The Creative Director, Teni Sagoe, is the daughter of renowned Nigerian fashion designer, Deola Sagoe, and one of the three sisters, Abah and Tiwa who founded CLAN. She is passionately breaking barriers and re-inventing fashion for the Power Woman.
CLAN
Store: Plot 292F Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos
Telephone: +234 818 449 4904
Instagram: @clanrtw
Email: [email protected]
7) Funke Adepoju – Phunk Afrique
The Funke Adepoju brand with its bridge line “Phunk Afrique” was set up in 2008 and had produced its first lookbook by 2009. The brand began with bespoke pieces but as a result of rising demand, branched out into ready-to-wear designs and a children’s clothing line. In the first year after putting out its first collection, Funke Adepoju won the City People Best Designer of the Year.
The brand has participated in the MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week, Heineken Lagos Fashion & Design Week, ARISE Fashion Week and has been features on editorial pages of reputable fashion periodicals over the years.
It is not a rarity to spot Nigerian celebrities in Funke Adepoju designs.
The Creative Director, Funke Adepoju, started out on her path to being a noteworthy designer from her days in the university where she revamped her classmates’ old clothing and gave them new life through beading and embellishment. Her first formal showcase was at a friend’s event, after which her fiery passion for fashion designing would remain unquenched.
Funke Adepoju
Address: 23b, Bishop Oluwole Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos
Instagram: @funkeadepoju
Telephone: +234 803 306 9807
Email: [email protected]
8) I.N Official
I.N Official is a Nigerian urban fashion brand that offers high quality unique apparel locally designed and produced.
I.N Official is quite a Nigerian pop star favourite and many are spotted in I.N designs often.
This is one of the brands out of Nigeria redefining men’s fashion and making bold statements with menswear.
The Creative Director, Ifeanyi Nwune, started his career in fashion in 2012 after experience as a stylist at the Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos. He launched I.N Official (named after himself) in 2014 and has gone on to make waves in the fashion and industry. His creative direction extends beyond fashion designing and his brand includes fashion films.
He is known for his advocacy for believing in black excellence and speaking against injustice against black people.
I.N Official
Instagram: @i.n.official
Website: i-nofficial.in/
The Nigerian fashion industry is such a gem and there are many more incredible brands doing the good work. It is amazing to see the diversity and rich culture preserved and re-invented. These awesome designers are essentially capturing the essence of the Nigerian people and creating a space for them in a dynamic world.
Nigeria is not left behind. From luxury to high-end fashion to urban streetwear, there is something for everyone.
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