Sunlight Collaborates with LFW Lagos Fashion Focus Talks 2019

R-L Speakers; Rukky Ladoja , Omoyemi Akerele, Mai Atafo , Sanyade Okoli, Joseph Ike, and Isioma Aihie

This year, as part of Sunlight Nigeria’s women empowerment agenda, Sunlight Nigeria sponsored the Fashion Focus Talks. At the session, Mai Atafo was invited as the Sunlight facilitator for the event which took place at the Alliance Francaise | Mike Adenuga Building Ikoyi, Lagos on the 10th of September 2019.
This year’s theme, #BeyondCreativity, addressed the future of fashion and the need to drive conversations beyond the beauty of craftsmanship and instead evolve and hone-in on how even more value can be created within the ecosystem. Mai Atafo in his discussion stated that “What makes fashion work is when you bring your pieces out and people are able to buy it because it is undeniable quality” he continued by saying going beyond creativity, “You have to understand your customers how they behave and how you can make them keep coming back to your brand”.

 

R-L Rukky Ladoja , Omoyemi Akerele, Mai Atafo , Sanyade Okoli, Joseph Ike, and Isioma Aihie

 Lagos Fashion Week this year hosted a series of curated free talks in four (4) cities across Africa (Kigali, Abuja, Dakar and Lagos) for the Fashion Focus Talks Africa. In a bid to inspire collaboration amongst African creatives to achieve sustainable businesses and a thriving socio-economic industry, four (4) facilitators spoke about how collaboration among creatives can change the narrative about Nigeria. Speaking at the event were; Rukku Ladoja (Creative Director, Grey Project), Mrs Isioma Aihie (CEO, Grey Velvet), Joseph Ike (CEO, JZO), Mai Atafo (Creative Director, Mai Atafo) and Sanyade Okoli (CEO, Alpha African Advisory).

 This year, through the platform that Lagos Fashion Week offers, Sunlight is empowering women to empower others. From now till October 2019, Sunlight is partnering with two more designers, sponsoring a collection to be sold during the LFW 2019.
These designers – Morenikeji Akinsola and Chichi Emordi, train students in different areas of clothes production throughout the year.
The proceeds of the sales at Lagos Fashion Week will be going into their business as a way to further their empowerment agendas.
See images below

Mai Atafo accepting hamper from Team Sunlight

Fashion Focus Audience

The Re-Ovulation of Iro and Buba by Nigerian Designers

Call it recycling, call it revolution, one thing we are sure of is fashion style never dies, okay; we could say the style faded or let us say we outgrew them.

We will be taking a walk down memory lane with the Iro and Buba, that is the traditional Yoruba women attire, though it is not known to the Yoruba alone anymore as other African tribes have embraced this fashion style.

Growing up, we saw our mothers look good in this style, that is the round cut neck, oversized hand, straight cut wrapper, same style for everyone, no matter your fabric or the price of your fabric.

 

Sometimes when we see them in these outfits, we know it is time for a special occasion, it has also evolved from being just the attire of the celebrant to the guests who have become more fashion demanding hence designers have been interpreting this once “simple style " in many more designs other than Simple .

Here are a few of these designers and their idea of today’s Iro and Buba.

Komole by Deola Sagoe

Komole is the name of Deola’s iro and buba and this has been a favourite of most elite brides on their special day. The style is made from her signature silk aso oke fabric intricately designed with laser cut outs. The entire traditional 2 piece outfit creates silhouettes that flatter any figure or body of its wearer.

Alaine by Celine

 She put a new spin on the traditional Nigerian womenswear classic, the iro, and buba. By making faux wrapper: skirts and dresses sewn to give the illusion of an iro, without the trouble of tying a traditional one. The stripes did get our attention. Who knew?

 TURFAH

Turfah’s iro and buba is the latest sensation on the block. They come in volume enhanced blouse styles – bows, ruffles and a generous amount of fabric along the iro over the smart looking wrapper (buba), though it is mostly in rich tone colors of silk fabric

Odio Mimonat

There is never anything usual with this designer . She is like the gift that keeps on giving .  She has her designs stenciled; you don’t see a stenciled aso-oke often. By the way, it is called the Aadun series.

Omoge Creation

 With the infusion frill in their designs, Omoge creation has stamped it on mark  on the iro and buba style.

Funke Adepoju

Anywhere you see the Iro and Buba with the fringe ends, you know it has the FA stamp on it . Her extension of the wrapper by embellishing with fringe details gives it a sexy vibe . Think Great Gatsby meets African Traditional vibe  .

Ituen Basi

 With 2 latest designs named - Nkoyo collection which is the laser cut Ankara design and the Lape & Salewa collection which is made with sequins. Ituen Basi has always kept her interpretations quite interesting as she started out by reviving the age long Oleku trend in the most colorful way in Ankara, denim and leather.

written by

lawal dolapo