Nigeria Fashion Week: A cynosure of style & class

Nigeria Fashion Week: A cynosure of style & class

By Samod Biobaku

Sixthsense34@yahoo.com

The Nigeria Fashion Week might have come and gone but memories and scenes from the three-day event would remain evergreen in the eyes and minds of those who have an eye for the arts.

This year's edition, titled 'Going green' is a clarion call for people to have a rethink and work together to save the planet from poisonous gases emitting from nuclear energy sources into the atmosphere, destroying our planet.

Addressing guests at the opening ceremony, President/CEO of Legendary Gold Limited, organisers of the event, Lexy Mojo-Eyes explained that the Nigeria Fashion Week is one of Africa's premier fashion events, which have attracted not just local designers but also international stake holders in the fashion industry. Speaking on the theme of this year's event, he told the audience to use the opportunity to have a re-think in the effort to salvage our threatened environment from total destruction.  

The Nigeria Fashion Week 2011 hosted two shows daily. The 1^st show for 12 noon while the 2^nd for 6pm with each beginning with a red carpet cocktail. One amazing element about each of the 6 shows is that they all started on time as promised by the organisers. Legendary Gold Limited is generally known to begin their events on schedule. Most importantly, each show recorded standing room only.

Prior to the kick off of the event on November 17, 2011, the level of expectation from Nigerians assumed an impressive dimension with everyone braced to witness once again one of Nigeria’s premiere fashion events.

With local and international partners and collaborators, the event opened Nigeria’s fashion market to international brands. It therefore did not come as a surprise when the event hosted a wide variety of fashion products and accessories from around the world.

Organised by legendary Gold Limited, the show had a long list of participating designers, exhibitors, local and international guests and well as a broad spectrum of media representatives.

For the three-day event, each day structured to accommodate two shows; the first show and the second show.

This year’s event featured 42 designers and 39 exhibitors from over 22 countries. Some of the participating designers included Lagos-based Frank Osodi, O’makdesigns (Washington DC), Aremu Couture (Johannesburg), Ama Glow (Amsterdam), Amakdesign (London). Others included Zizi Cardow (Lagos),Poisa (Nairobi), Monu & Monu Fashion (Lagos), Beldies La Mode (Abuja), Chrystalix (Cameroun), Modela Couture (Lagos) Fred Eboka (Johannesburg), Ayo Van Elmar (Austria), Frankoo Designs (Tanzania) and a host of others.

Some guests who spoke to the press were impressed at the level of organisation and finesse they witnessed. One of them, Tee Mac Itseli told news men that this year's show was the best he has witnessed in Africa, being at par with what he has witnessed in more developed countries. He commended Lexy Mojo-Eyes for bringing the whole world to Nigeria. Erelu Abiola Dosunmu who bought a whole lot from the various exhibitors says ‘With the quality and standard of the Nigeria Fashion Week 2011, it is obvious that the Nigerian fashion industry has taken the lead in Africa fashion’

Each show witnessed attendance by top celebrities, Captains of industry, diplomats, Socialites and Government functionaries. The Going Green Collection was declared open by the Honourable Minister of the Environment who was represented by Mrs Funmilayo Oyeyipo who is a Director in the Ministry. Federal Road Safety Commission partnered in this too.

This year’s event attracted lots of international media which included Fashion Tv, Paris, CNN, BBC, REAUTERS, Vice Tv from the UK, Italian Vogue, French Elle, British Cosmopolitan etc.

The Nigeria Fashion Week is organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the World Fashion Organization.

On day one, designers like House of Misiano (Lagos), Alvince (Lagos), Debby Stitches (Abuja), O’makedesgins (Washington DC) Frankoo Design (Tanzania) and Zizi Cardow (Lagos) thrilled guests with variety of colours and designs.

The second show of the same day recorded another scintillating success when the likes of Zhikki Afro Designs (Lagos), Dabo Fashion (Abuja), Toorad Couture (Lagos), Bendtmark (Abuja), Alabi’s Couture (Lagos), Charvid Fashion n Styles (Abuja) and Aremu Couture came alive at the Muson Centre.

The day after, designers like Going Green Collection, Theodore (Lagos), Bayelsa 5 Designers (Yenagoa), Africute Casuals (Lagos), Scissors & Buttons (Port Harcourt) and House of Jola (Lagos) brought the Muson Centre alive.

Between the second show of Day 2 and the end of the show, the event was besieged by creativity and style as designers from all over the world continued to impress.

The designers include Ra’cough Couture (Lagos), Debby Stitches (Abuja), Ama Glow (Amsterdam), Serendipity (Abuja), Poisa (Nairobi), Amaksdesign (London), Frank Osodi (Lagos0, Beldies La Mode (Abuja), OJ Couture (Lagos), Ayo Van Elmar (Austria), Tangerine (Abuja) and Bebegrafiti (Lagos).

Others are Chrystalix (Cameroun), Duaba Serwa (Ghana), Monu & Monu Fashion (Lagos), Armstrong Loga (Cameroun), Elizabeth Philips (Lagos), Modela Couture (Lagos) and Fred Eboka (Johannesburg).