GTB Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2013: 11 Designers to Watch Out For

After months of anticipation and preparation, the 2013 Guarantee Trust Bank Lagos Design and Fashion Week is finally here and boy do we feel the excitement in the air!

The Lagos Fashion Design and Fashion Week is arguably one of the biggest fashion events in Nigeria with fashion’s best and brightest on hand to showcase their varied collections. As usual, the week long event is marked by a series of exhibitions, award ceremonies and of course runway shows.

With no less than 40 designers showcasing their various collections, we home in on 10 of the hottest designers to look out for at the 2013 GTB Lagos Design and Fashion Week.

 

·       Lanre Da Silva Ajayi(LDA): Lanre Da Silva Ajayi burst onto the Nigerian fashion scene in 2005, taking the industry by storm in the process. With her signature Victorian-era inspired pieces, the LDA brand has evolved over the years to become a hot favourite among Nigerian fashion lovers. Earlier this year, the LDA brand debuted at the famous retail store of world design giant- Dolce & Gabbana. LDA, thus, became the first African designer to stock pieces from their collection at the high end Dolce & Gabbana Spiga2 Concept Store located in Milan, Italy. With such great antecedents, we have no doubt that LDA will light up the runway at the GTB Lagos Design and Fashion Week.

·         Tiffany Amber: The history of Nigerian fashion cannot be recorded without the mention of Tiffany Amber. Launched in 1998 by owner/Creative Head, Folake Folarin-Coker, Tiffany Amber is synonymous with Nigerian high fashion. In 2008, the label became the first to debut at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, New York and had such a great outing that she was invited for a second time the following year. She thus became the first African-based designer to showcase twice at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

·         Jewel By Lisa: In 8 short years, Jewel By Lisa has emerged a leading fashion brand in Nigeria. Through her signature fusion of ankara and ornate embellishment, Jewel By Lisa has become a hot favourite for both local and international celebrities with her designs having been spotted on Solange Knowles and Thandie Newton to name a few.

·         Maki Oh: Having launched her first collection in 2010, Maki Oh seeks to tell stories through her collections. In her words, ”traditionally, clothes were worn as a means of communication…” and that much is evident in the 26-year old’s style, with her penchant for adire fabrics. For her debut at the 2013 New York Fashion Week, Maki Oh chose to tell a story centred around women and the roles they play. With such antecedents, we can expect a stellar outing from the designer at the GTB LFDW.

·         Orange Culture: Young, colourful and edgy, Orange Culture, as described by label owner Adebayo Oke-Lawal is “a movement”…a movement that has quickly caught on with the young, trendy and upwardly mobile. Having worked with the likes of Mo Cheddah and Tiwa Savage, Orange Culture is set to have an interesting outing at the LFDW.

·         Mai Atafo: Where two or three Nigerian power male suits are gathered, let Mai Atafo be present. Over the last few years, Mai Atafo has quickly established himself as the designer to beat when it comes to the design of male suits. With his recent foray into wedding dresses, Mai is set to give happily ever after a whole new meaning with his Wedding By Mai collection. Asides suits and wedding dresses, Mai is known as a classic/urbane designer. For the 2013 GTB LFDW, Mai Atafo in a phone interview with Pulse revealed that he would be showing his Safari Revolution collection which would feature pieces with dull, earth colours as well as animal prints.

·         Odio Mimonet: With a penchant for using ankara fabrics and bold prints, Odio Mimonet is no stranger in the world of Nigerian fashion. Having participated in several high profile fashion shows over the years like the Arise Magazine Fashion Week, M-Net face of Africa and Vlisco Urban beat. In recent years, the Yabatech/London College of Fashion graduate has also launched her ready to wear line, Voyage.

·         Iconic Invanity: Since its inception in 2009, Iconic Invanity has quickly grown to become a known brand. With the likes of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Melanie Fiona, former Essence magazine editor Susan Taylor amongst others as clientele, Iconic Invanity is known for her creative use of fabrics and colour to create timeless and classic pieces for the truly  iconic woman.

·         Kiki Kamanu: Former Harvard Neurosurgery Education Program Coordinator, Kiki Kamanu is as eclectic as they come. With a mixed parentage (Bostonian and Nigerian) and having travelled to over 50 countries in 5 continents, Kiki’s designs are bold, eclectic and chic. In the time she’s been on the scene, Kiki Kamanu has had her designs showcased in several top-notch shows like the London Fashion Week in addition to having been featured on CNN.

·         Obsidian: Having emerged the 2012 MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week/British Council Young Creative Entrepreneur of the Year, Creative Director Isoken Ogiemwonyi and her team are a people on a mission – a mission to create effortlessly eye-catching design through a fusion of modern, edgy, traditional and tribal influences.

·         Kinabuti: Italian duo Catherina Bortolussi and Francesca Rosset are the brains behind leading contemporary label, Kinabuti. With their creative combination of ankara and plain fabrics, Kinabuti differs from the pack through their heavy focus on social empowerment through fashion. In an exclusive chat with Pulse, Francesca Rosset revealed that the Kinabuti style for the 2013 GTB LFDW would see a great use of black, sparkling sequins, reflecting fabrics and Vlisco African prints to create a look that is  futuristic, rock, strong, edgy.