Lagos Celebrates Creativity in Fashion

Penultimate Sunday, Lagos stood still as the African Fashion Week was marked amid fanfair. Oluwabusayo Adekoya writes that the event showcased the creativity industry at its best

They all came gaily dressed to savour the moment of creativity at is zenith. It was an evening to remember. Explosions of colour, splash of creativity, and the cutting edge designs were the hallmarks of the recently concluded African fashion week Nigeria (AFWN) event which was held at the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria, Island Lagos penultimate Sunday. Lagos stood still as it hosted the biggest international fashion event in Nigeria.

It was the first time the African Fashion Week London (AFWL), dedicated to African Fashion took place in an African country. The African fashion week Nigeria, organised by the African Fashion Week London is an annual event that was created in 2011 by the delectable Ronke Ademiluyi and it has showcased over 200 African designers (50% of which are Nigerians) to a global audience of up to 40,000 and enjoyed enormous media coverage on various international broad band media.

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This year's edition of the AFWN, added to Nigerian's events terrain with the first international fashion runway show which had a special attention on up-coming designers in the country which was themed: "The Peoples Runway". The event brought to light the creative exploits of genuine talents in Nigerian fashion field, especially the unspotted ones, to help them nourish and build sustainable careers for themselves. Other fashion exhibitors were not left behind in the event, as they exhibited their designs outside the hall. According to the exhibitors in attendance, they expressed their joy to THISDAY as they were happy to have been part of this year's AFWN and how the event has opened a major platform for them to showcase their designs and what they can offer outside the shores of Africa and hope international events such as this would be more constant in Nigeria in order to get the international attention African designers deserve. They also spoke on how they have been able to gain more clients who were interested in their designs and with that it has given them the motivation to work hard and strive to do better.

The Catwalk show which kicked off at exactly 2pm, featured an array of up-coming talented designers such as; Ijc Collections, Jazz Effect, Daviva collections by NNDT, De laurels outfit, Zadira collections, Faerens, Belois Couture, Isi Agatamen, Afrika Nus by Rui Lopes, Yon Seno, Long Feet boutique, Magnetic Elegance, Buchiver, Madamoiselle Anglaia, AAMMA a la Mode, and Meg Alabi showcased their full collections and held their audiences spell bound by their jaw dropping intriguing master pieces at the African Fashion Week Nigeria funded by AFWN's sponsors. The audience were not disappointed at any given time because majorly all the designs were exquisitely crafted, one could have been confused to say they were made from known experienced designers. The hall was beautifully lit with the DJ playing songs that best suited each designer's outfits on the runaway. The ambience was conducive and the hall was well arranged. THISDAY spoke with one of the guests, Mr. Gbenga Oshikomu, who said: "This is the first time I would attend a fashion show in Nigeria in a long while. I initially did not want to attend but a friend of mine convinced me because I have had the privilege to attend some fashion shows in Nigeria years back and I wasn't too impressed with almost all the designs. But am amazed to see how African designers especially Nigerian designers have improved over the years and so far I have not been disappointed.

"Virtually all the designs are wearable with the infusion of African and modern designs compared with what we had few years ago. If these are the works of new designers then we should expect great things to come in the next five years. It's a well package organized show and I had fun watching the models strutting each designers outfits on the runway and with what I have seen, I believe African designers would take the fashion industry by storm globally because we have tons of intelligent, talented, and creative designers, I was filled with awe by the designs of the clothes and the textile materials used were simply gorgeous. Its high time Nigerians patronise some of our local designers and encourage them so they can aspire to be better and be more creative. Must confess am elated to see the rest of the show". The Gala night had in attendance few celebrities who stormed the event as well as style enthusiasts and socialites who graced the Red Carpet event with their class and demeanor. The ever controversial Denrele Edun made heads turn with his ever eccentric sense of style as he strode the red carpet wearing his signature high flying hairdo and a see through black lace dress with his famous extremely high boots.

The AFWN also showcased the accomplishments of time-honoured designers and celebrates the veteran icons of the Nigerian fashion such as: Elegante by Tiannahs Styling, Yutees, Zarita Couture, House of Marie, Big Ben, Queen E collections, Raymona, ATF, Awe Dzyn, St Eves, AN WURE, AFT, Lines by Chaab, and Style by Adesuwa. The kids were not left out as they also came out displaying some of the designers' outfits on the runway as guests were treated to a delicious three-course meal buffet with excellent cocktail drink.

The night would not have been completed as the highlight of the event was a special inspiring showcase of designs on the runway by veteran designer, Princess Abba Folawiyo of Labenella Couture. Ronke Ademiluyi, the founder and CEO African Fashion Week London and Nigeria gave the closing speech as she thanked guests and sponsors including everyone who participated in the show by making it a success. She said AFWN has adopted a pattern shift towards the perception of fashion design as an instrument of economic reconstruction and growth. Suffice to say, it was a marvelous well put together show filled with fun and laughter, glitz and glamour, class and elegance. Truly, AFWN has made its mark in Nigeria in which fashion lovers wouldn't forget in a hurry.

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