The brand shares a periodic list across the
fashion industry where seasoned fashion editors are consulted before its
made public. "It has been an eventful and remarkable year for the
Nigerian fashion industry. The industry now appears very competitive
than before. Finding young Nigerian fashion designers who are making a
huge difference always brings us so much delight. As the year finally
comes to an end, BlackNBold Fashion House will be revealing its Top 10
Most Outstanding Young Designers of The Year 2016 with expert advice
from top fashion editors in Nigeria.
See BlackNBold's Top 10 Most Outstanding Young Designers of The Year 2016.
1. OGUGUA OKONKWO (STYLE TEMPLE)
Ogugua Okonkwo is the creative director and founder of Style Temple, Abuja’s most prestigious and popular fashion brand.
OG
as she is fondly called graduated from the University of Nigeria Nsukka
in the year 2008 with a BSC degree in Medical Laboratory Science. She
also has a certificate in Fashion merchandising. Fashion started for her
at a very young age. Her brand was launched in the year 2011 but got to
the spotlight in the year 2015 after she clothed the former Director
General of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Arunma Oteh, on her
50th birthday.
Style Temple(BlackNBold)
In
September, the label announced its presence in Lagos when it presented
its new collection; “IPSEITY” which was published on various fashion
blogs and magazines in Nigeria. She later went on to leave a remarkable
impression after she wowed the audience at the Heineken Lagos Fashion
and Design Week 2016. She was a nominee at this years The Future Awards
and covered the November issue of This Day Style MAGAZINE. Some of her
celebrity muses include: Toke Makinwa, Zainab Balogun and Stephanie Coker.
2. PAOLO SISIANO (SISIANO)
Paolo
Sisiano is the creative director of the design label Paolo Sisiano, who
was one of the finalists for the 2013 GTBank Lagos Fashion & Design
Week Awards. The young designer marked his 28th birthday on the 13th of
December this year. Paolo is a multi-platform artist. He is an
accomplished dancer who has worked on several high profile Nigerian
theatre musicals including Saro, Saro 2: The musical and Wakaa: the
musical.
Paolo Sisiano
He
is always inspired by his Mom who was very fashionable and trendy. Paola
was majorly involved in making costumes for dance production until his
friends saw his designs and encouraged him to go into high fashion
which he started properly in 2013.
His
spring/ summer 2016 collection tagged “Birds at War” was one of the most
spectacular and creative collections we saw this year. He showcased his
“DESERT ROSE” collection at the Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week
Vimbai, TY Bello, Beverly Naya, Bolanle Olukanni are some of the celebrities who have rocked his outfits this year.
3. SANDRAH TUBOBERENI (TUBO)
Sandrah
is a young women-wear label, best known for her creativity in
redesigning the traditional African bridal attires, chic prêt-à-porter
fashion clothing, and distinctive haute couture pieces with amazing
silhouette. She has a BSC degree in Economics from Madonna University
and a MBA in Global Financial Services from Coventry University. Her Mom
was a seamstress in a little shop in Port Harcourt where she grew up.
She started sewing and designing as a child and impressively started
making her primary school uniform herself. She came into the Nigerian
fashion scene in late 2014 when she switched from a career in Finance
and business development.
Tubo
Her
spring/summer debut collection featured eye-popping colours and
structured pieces which were showcased at the Africa Fashion Week
Nigeria in July earlier this year. She was nominated for best female
fashion designer at the ELOY Awards 2016 and fast rising female designer
of the year at the Lagos Fashion Awards.
Popular figures such as Tara Durotoye, Gbemi Olateru, Mimi Onolaja, Layole Oyatogun, Chika Ike, Mocheddah, Lala Akindoju Miss Vimbai, Dakore Akande to mention a few have been spotted this year in a Tubo outfit.
4. AYO ELIZABETH OLAOGUN (AYO VAN ELMAR)
AYO VAN ELMAR
is owned by Nigerian designer Ayo Elizabeth Olaogun. 'AYO' is African,
'VAN' is Dutch while ELMAR' was coined from a Spanish word meaning
'sea'.... a fusion of where the brand is heading. She moved to Austria
when she was 18 years old and came into the fashion designing industry
in 2010. Her first collection “MAGIC SHIELDS” was released in the year
2012. She is one of Nigeria’s most sought after designer with a lot of
works under her belt.
Ayo Van Elmar
It
has been a very successful year for Ayo from releasing her Spring/Summer
2016 collection “Fishbone” which was the talk of the town for a very
long time to showcasing the “Elegant & Chic” collection at the ELOY
Awards last month and opening her fashion cafe in the month of October
at the Oriental hotel, opening doors to other designers to stock their
collections. Popular Nigerian Nollywood celebrity actress and film
maker, Funke Akindele was unveiled as the new face of the Ayo Van Elmar brand earlier this month.
5. MOTUNRAYO JIMOH (MAJU)
Motunrayo Jimoh
is a graduate of the University of Lagos who got married to
Abdul-Rasheed Umaru in 2012. Maju’s creations are always upbeat with
today’s fashion and some of her designs also carry a vintage look.
She
unveiled quite a number of campaigns this year from the “Sweet Sweet
Summer” collection featuring Dedun Olobayo of StyleMeAfrica and Banke Su
to the “Ember Edit” collection in September featuring ace models: Banke
Su, Nikki Anyasi and Aduke Shitta Bey, the “Holiday Edit” collection
featuring young fast rising star Powede Lawrence and international model
Olamide Ogundele of Few models and the “Luxe Edit” collection featuring
DMW first lady and fast-rising singer and performer, Lola Rae.
Maju
Most
of her designs have been worn several times by celebrities and fashion
enthusiasts including Ini Dima-Okojie, Mimi Onolaja, Powede Lawrence,
Lola Oj, Ozinna Anumudu, Toni Tones and more.
6. TOKYO JAMES
Tokyo
is no doubt one designer that will completely dominate the African
fashion scene in the coming years. This young creative head has worked
so hard to become a force to reckon with in the creative and media
industry. The British Nigerian menswear designer and Creative Director
is also the Editor-in-Chief of Made Magazine and Creative Director for
Access Bank’s online TV platform Accelerate TV. The Tokyo James fashion
brand was born in Lagos, Nigeria when he relocated back to Nigeria.
Tokyo James
He
was featured this year on African Voices on CNN talking about the
business of fashion in Nigeria. He also showcased his collections at the
Glitz Africa Fashion Week, South African Menswear Week and at the
Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week. Celebrities such as Patoranking, Ycee, Dimeji Alara, Adekunle Gold have been spotted this year wearing a Tokyo James outfit. He sure had a remarkable 2016.
7. DERIN FABIKUN (FABLANE BY DERIN)
Derin
started her clothing outfit in 2009, at the age of 19. She’s a graduate
of management from Covenant University. Designing for her started as a
hobby. She has always had a passion for Fashion. Back in university she
used to make outfits for herself, adding to already made dresses she
had. Then it graduated to making tunics for her sisters, then friends
and friends of friends.
Fablane by Derin
Since
her entry into the scene with her elegant, unique and stylish pieces,
her designs have been worn by a number of celebrities like Mimi Onalaja, Zina Anumudu, Bolanle Olukanni, Ini Dinma Okojie, I am Dodos and more. She was nominated this year at the ELOY awards for female designer of the year.
Derin
is known for her aesthetic designs that feature droopy arms, lace and
unique mermaid gowns. She is truly a talented young lady.
8. EMMANUEL OKORO (EMMY KASBIT)
Emmanuel
Okoro was on our list last year as one of the “Top 15 Emerging
Designers of the Year 2016”. It is quite amazing to see how this young
designer has grown over the last year and how he has managed to be on
top of his game. His brand began making waves in 2013 but it wasn’t
until 2014 we got to really see the creative designs with its debut
collection aptly titled “the definition”. The collection would go on to
define the very essence of the Emmy Kasbit designs. By 2015, their
collection “FORTIS” was unveiled and it was to be the beginning of their
widely acclaimed recognition especially among Nigerian entertainers
notably media personality Uti Nwachukwu, Joseph Benjamin, Alex Ekubo and
many more.
Emmy Kasbit
Emmanuel
opened the year in grand style with his spring/summer 2016 collection:
“Disturbia” which remains the brand’s most idyllic presentation yet! In
November he released the “Ties That Bind” collection for his
Spring/Summer 2017 collection. Notable celebrities such as Yemi Alade,
Seyi Shay, Uti Nwachukwu, Munachi Abii, Omotola Jolade, Stephanie Coker,
Denola Grey have been spotted this year wearing pieces from the
designer.
9. AISHA ABUBAKR (AISHA ABU-BAKR LUXURY DESIGN)
Aisha
was long predicted as a designer to look out for in Nigeria. After her
formal education at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, she attended The
Fashion Academy Abuja where she acquired professional skill in fashion
designing. She started making outfits for her clients in the year 2010.
Aisha Abu Bakr
She
showcased her ready to wear collection; ROGUE at the 2016 edition of
the Heineken Lagos Fashion & Design Week which received several
applauds from the cheering crowd. The collection marries the designer’s
long time love for red, her memories of sunsets and bonfires experienced
on her many trips to Seychelles, the Caribbean, and the inspiring awe
that was provoked by the girl in red to create a collection solely
anchored on red; her favorite colour.
She has styled notable international celebrities such as Bobby Valentino and South Africa’s Kgopedi Lilokoe among many others.
10. ROSIE JACOBS (ASHILLAROZAE)
Rosie
is a new comer in the fashion industry but she has been outstanding
this year. She graduated from the University of Calabar with a
bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 2013 and went on to study fashion at
the OSC College of Fashion.
Rosie Jacobs
She
emerged as the most creative designer at the 2016 edition of the Wema
bank sponsored Nigerian Student Fashion & Design Week, regarded as
the largest gathering of student designers in Nigeria with over 30
showcasing emerging designers. She later went on to make the top 10
finalists of the Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week Fashion Focus contest.
She has styled various celebrities in Nigeria and we look forward to seeing what she has in store for us in 2017.
CREDIT: Richard
Akuson, Oge Agu, Emmanuel Oyeleke, Tosin Ogundadegbe, Damilola Shote,
Ozinna Anumudu, Olamide Olarewaju, Sharon Ojong, Abiola Orimolade and
Mutairu Motunrayo.
source _ Pulse
