Aṣọ-Òkè: The Cloth We Inherit
I am standing before a portrait in Nigerian Modernism, the survey at Tate Modern. It is Akinola Lasekan’s 1957 oil of Justus D. Akeredolu. Lasekan and Akeredolu were both first-generation Nigerian modernists who once shared a studio in Lagos, and Akeredolu is remembered as the pioneer of Yoruba thorn carving, so the painter here is […]
Ohlanna Bu Zikora Is the Nigerian Designer Inspired by the 1930s
Zikora Ikebuaku knows how to credit their predecessors. There’s a level of surety and admiration
The History of African Designers at New York Fashion Week
When African designers began appearing on the New York Fashion Week stage, they brought with them more than collections—they introduced perspectives that expanded the conversation of global fashion. From Nigeria’s vibrant textiles to South Africa’s bold silhouettes, these creators have steadily woven cultural heritage and contemporary vision into one of the industry’s most visible […]
Legacy African Fashion Houses That Defined the Continent’s Style Future
Fashion across the continent has always been rooted in craftsmanship, talent, and boundless creativity—and nowhere is that more evident than in the pioneering legacy houses that rose to prominence from the 1980s onward. These houses wove an African narrative that resisted reductive stereotypes and demanded global recognition for its innovation and cultural depth. Their ateliers […]
Bridal Renaissance: The African Designers Redefining Chic Wedding Looks
Weddings across regions of the continent have their specific personality; in West Africa, it’s somewhat of a rave. In the East, it’s a charming ritual. In the South; it’s customary while the North is all about the culture. This personality is evident in the celebration, in the music, in the aura and definitely in the […]