By Siji Oyewusi
With many up and coming designers and a schedule of shows to run through two days, the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) event is set to launch its second edition on the 23rd and 24th of May 2015.
While you might be excited to see some new designers you know and adore, there are some new names you just need to look out for.
We’ve gathered a list of 10 designers to watch during the show.
TINA LOBONDI
Tina Lobondi is a Congolese born international Fashion Designer. Her collections are based on exceptional attention to details and finish, classic and chic designs. She started over seven years ago, her clientele include Grammy Award winning singer, Angelique Kidjo; London based singer, Lianne La Havas and Hollywood actresses, Shona McGarty and Hetti Bywater.
OKIKI MARINHO
Launched in 2012, the Okiki Marinho brand has been providing fashionable clothes and luxury handbags that cater for both working class and high net worth clients. The clothes and bags are notable by their unique designs, quality materials and leather, superior craftsmanship and longevity.
ALABI COUTURE
Ready-to-Wear label, Alabi Couture is a Nigerian based luxury brand designer for both male and female. The C.E.O, Meg Alabi has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 2 decades as an event producer and was a runway model for 16yrs both in Nigeria and overseas.
LINES BY CHAAB
Winner of Music Meet Runway Rising Icon 2014, Ogochukwu Akabogu is the founder of Lines by Chaab. With a natural eye for mixing prints, colours as well as matching shapes, the brand hopes to take the lines by Chaab label to a level where clothing would become a vehicle for uniting people of different races and cultural background.
BIG BEN
Nigerian-based fashion designer and celebrity stylist, Ebenezer Kilani is the MD/CEO of Big Ben, a bespoke menswear designer with a range of sharp suits and tailored pieces with electrifying colours. His biggest dream is to be one of the leading designers in Africa and across the globe.
JREASON
Founded by Jide Adedeji, Jreason focuses on both male and female collections. The brand’s determination is to create amazing designs for the young and daring teenager with an appeal for trends, style and class.
ELIKEM KUMORDZIE TAILOR
Big Brother Africa 2013 finalist, Eelikem Kumordzie is a bespoke designer, a celebrity tailor and the Official Tailor for The Black Stars of Ghana.
LUMIÈRE COUTURE
Founded a year ago by Bertha Owusu, Lumiere fashion brand is a Luxury Women’s Clothing brand based in Ghana, made for fabulous fashion forward woman with an elegant taste.
KING HAKBAL
Created by a mathematician, Hakeem Adeyinka Balogun, the King Hakbal brand was founded to cater for every king at heart who is simple, stylish and most importantly, classy. According to Hakeem, the King Hakbal ‘ethos’ is all about sartorial elegance.
JPKINGDOM
All for curvy ladies, JPKingdom was created for plus sized and full figured ladies with taste for beautifully crafted couture pieces to enhance their curves. The label was founded by Hadassah in 2011, using African prints with sultry twist.
