Fashion
NIGERIA
NEXT LEVEL
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Taking Over The World One Thread At A Time Naija fashion possesses its own essence and is finding its place in the global fashion industry. As a result of its recent economic improvement, Nigeria has been bursting with creative energy. With the emergence of Afrobeat in the music industry during the ’60s and ’70s, then through the explosion of the Nollywood film industry when democracy returned to the country, Nigeria shows us that where there is progress, there is opportunity. Now Naija fashion is taking the spotlight, reminding the world that Nigeria still has more gifts to offer. Teni Zaccheaus, Jr., brand designer for Native magazine, describes Naija fashion, saying, “Naija style is flamboyant, eccentric, more often than not. It is always trying to stand out.” From wild prints of bright colours to designs that echo a rich, traditional African style, elements of Nigerian, or Naija, influence can be seen from all parts of the globe, ranging from Gucci to Louis Vuitton. Designers are even reaching the Red Carpet, with celebrities such as Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Lupita Nyong’o have been seen wearing Naija style with pride. In years past, the exceptional style of Nigeria was a hidden treasure. Designers and stylists would have to leave the
country and secure a spot at a highly publicised Fashion Week just to be seen and showcase their talents to a larger audience, a feat that was daunting at best. With Nigeria’s economic success, the country has seen the emergence of a middle class, but without a platform to display Naija style, many consumers began to focus their attention on luxury brands like Prada and shifted attention away from locally inspired fashion. However dedicated Nigerian designers were not to be underestimated. Rather than secure a spot in a Fashion Week outside of the country, they brought Fashion Week to Nigeria instead. In 2007, the Arise Fashion Week debuted in the cultural epicentre of Lagos and gained worldwide recognition. Even more, it helped to highlight what makes Naija fashion so special and desirable and refocused attention on its own exceptional flair. Only a few years later, Nigeria had officially established Lagos Fashion Week, inaugurated in 2011, which is now the premier fashion event in the country. Even more, the monumental improvements within Nigeria’s telecom sector have shined a light on Naija fashion
