Five Nigerian Fashion Brands Promoting Culture.
The concept of fashion borders on the ability to express oneself in any way and form. Like other aspects of culture, fashion has evolved over the years. This evolution did not discard earlier fashion styles but re-created them to fit modern taste.
This article shines the spotlight on Nigerian fashion brands that have infused core aspects of Nigerian culture in their designs and helped in the promotion of culture through fashion.
1) Éki Kéré - founded by Abasiekeme Ukanireh, this Nigerian fashion brand sees fashion from the point of creativity, culture and simplicity. Éki Kéré employs the art of weaving raffia into specific parts of their fabrics, to give it a cultural taste and unique feel.
2) Òkè Lagos: When it comes to weaving clothes into patterns and colors that showcase the Nigerian tradition, a clear name that comes to mind is Òkè Lagos. This Nigerian fashion brand derives its name from Aso-Oke — the handwoven cloth of Yorubas — an indigenous group in Nigeria. These materials are sewn into different designs that can be worn alone, with a pair of jeans, skirts, or any clothing of choice. Adekunle Abudu, the founder of this fashion brand, has indeed succeeded in adding his quota in promoting Nigerian culture through fashion.
3) Aso.ng - Aso is a Nigerian fashion brand focused on documenting futuristic creativity. Aso.ng showcases futuristic expressions while retaining cultural influences in their designs. Owned by Aanuoluwa Ajide-daniels, Aso.ng is on a mission to create fabrics and designs that bring to reality what can be as opposed to what is, in the Nigerian fashion industry. This creative ingenuity further stamps their goals and promotes Nigerian culture.
4) Orange Culture Nigeria - owned by the renowned fashion enigma — Adebayo Oke - lawal, Orange Culture has been at the forefront of Nigerian-made clothing. It has won numerous fashion awards like the Lvmh(Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennesey) prize in 2015, The BoF(Business of Fashion) prize in 2022, amongst others. Orange Culture uses specific African prints and designs to create quality fabrics that meet every measure of fashion.
5) Dye-Lab: This Nigerian fashion brand makes use of practical but unique dye techniques in creating fabrics. Their design has its roots in the Nigerian tie-dye culture and is made with the highest form of quality. Its founder Rukky Ladoja, has since its inception promoted Nigerian culture through her brand, and this has earned her recognition from Industrie Africa — a brand that recognizes Africa’s top designers and their work.
As more indigenous brands continue to spring up, I look forward to a massive shift in focus from overly importing clothes, to creating, buying and wearing home-made designs aimed at promoting Nigerian culture in Africa and across the globe.
