THEWILL DOWNTOWN OCT 24 EDITION

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

HARNESSING THE POWER OF YOUTH CULTURE

Here’s how Lagos Fashion Week inspired a decade of fashion innovation

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

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Photo: Kola Oshalusi @insignamedia Makeup: Desire Onyema @desire_makeover

EDITOR’S NOTE

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nly a year ago, young Nigerians of every tribe and tongue, spoke with one voice calling for an end to police brutality and bad governance, with deadly consequences. It was therefore quite disheartening to see footage of last Wednesday’s #Endsars memorial peaceful protests being violently disrupted by police. Their use of tear gas, arrest of protesters including journalists - and reports of shots fired, is a clear indication that they did not learn from the events of 20/10/20. When asked about the arrests, the Lagos State Commissioner For Police, Hakeem Odumosu commented that there were armed hoodlums in the midst of the protesters. He added that the protesters should have had a mode of identification such as armbands, t-shirts, or caps so police could tell them apart from “outsiders”. It does raise questions: Could these hoodlums have been deliberately planted by renegade state actors to sabotage a peaceful protest gathering?

Will there ever be a time where we can actually have a peaceful protest without sabotage?

Also last week, a number of celebrity sex videos plagued social media with mixed reactions from fans, friends, and foes. In my opinion, we all have our preferences when it comes to sex and our sexuality, and so if two consenting adults decide that making a video of their session in the bedroom (or elsewhere) is what fires up their sex life, then, by all means, be each other’s leading actor in that movie. What is inexcusable is one party releasing the video on social media ostensibly in error. “It was a mistake!” Seriously?

Now, onto this week at Downtown-The Fashion Week issue. For the world of fashion, It’s that time again when enthusiasts gather in one space to lap up what various fashion designers have spent the year creating: Fashion Week. Looking back 10 years when Lagos Fashion Week (LFW) was Lagos Fashion and Design Week (LFDW) we can see immense growth, and it’s no wonder; the brains behind the platform, Omoyemi Akerele is doggedly poised to take African fashion to the world. David Nwachukwu does justice to the cover story as he thoroughly examines the journey from LFDW to LFW. You will love it.

The Downtown Zodiac page takes a look at Scorpios and their fashion sense. Our oh-so-popular Downtown Confidential (aka, the sex page) shares the right kind of clothing to keep your partner longing to take them right off. Don’t miss the fashion, beauty, and movie review pages, all of which also pays homage to the world of fashion.

Until next week, enjoy your read.

CONTENTS

COVER HARNESSING THE POWER OF YOUTH CULTURE HERE’S HOW LAGOS FASHION WEEK INSPIRED A DECADE OF FASHION INNOVATION

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SÓRÓSOKE DOWNTOWN TIWA PEARL

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FASHION 5 MOST EXPENSIVE FACE MASKS AND WHAT THEY COST

14-15

05 FASHION

RELIGIOUS FASHION AN EXISTENTIAL OXYMORON?

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DOWNTOWN ZODIAC 4 WAYS TO WEAR IT LIKE A SCORPIO

FEATURE WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FASHION INFLUENCERS SAYING ABOUT...

Cover Image by Kola Oshalusi For Insigna Media

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DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL SHEER NECESSITIES

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REVIEW 5 OF MY FAVORITE COSTUMED FILMS

CONTRIBUTORS Odun Ogunbiyi @oddbodandthecity

- Contributing Editor Odunayo Ogunbiyi is an ex pharmacist with a passion for food and pampering. Writing about her exploits wherever in the world she may find herself is just her way of staying sane in this zany world.

Boluwatife Adesina @bolugram - Contributing Writer Boluwatife Adesina is a media writer and the helmer of the Downtown Review page. He’s probably in a cinema near you.

12-13 BEAUTY BEAUTY ON THE RUNWAY

Ifeoma Odogwu @hyperfashun - Contributing Writer Ifeoma Odogwu is an international Fashion consultant and Stylist. She shuttles her time between Lagos and London.

WHAT YOU SAID

Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa

AUSTYN OGANNAH

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor: Onah Nwachukwu @onahluciaa Editor-at-Large: Chalya Shagaya Senior Lifestyle Editor: Ayodele Johnson Writers: Kehinde Fagbule, Tilewa Kazeem Graphics/Layout: Olatunji Samson, Olaniyan John Digital Media: Oladimeji Balogun Guest Art Director: Sunny Hughes ‘ SunZA’ www.thewilldowntown.com thewilldowntown thewilldowntown

David Nwachukwu @ebube.nw - Contributing Writer David Nwachukwu has always been immersed in fashion from the age of 10, watching a Dior by Galliano show on television.

His work in fashion stretches across media, marketing, brand communications as well as design.As a fashion & lifestyle journalist, David has tracked key industry data for various publications including Industrie Africa, Culture Custodian, Haute Fashion Africa, and HELLO! Nigeria. A Geography graduate from The University of Lagos, David consciously aligns this background in environmental advocacy and sustainable development with the need to promote a more ethical fashion ecosystem. He currently oversees strategic communications at Clean Technology Hub.

Efua Oyofo @efuastar

- Contributing Writer Efua has always enjoyed telling stories.

A writer and cultural storyteller, Efua Oyofo helps clients tell their most compelling story. She focuses on social impact storytelling, and hosts a podcast: This African Love, exploring the culture of dating - and helping people develop more effective ways to navigate relationships in today’s world.

INSTAGRAM @bukihq

@giftshebaby

My Queen saskay, African beauty love you.

@starlistarry nice to see @ officialsaskay as a model

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VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FASHION

Most Expensive

Face Masks

& What They Cost 2. The Diamond Face Mask JACOB & CO. NGN 127,000,000

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BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE

ashion items are one of the best outlets we use to make statements. It is the reason why people spend a fortune to possess them. From the head down to our heels, every piece of clothing we wear differs in quality and most notably, pricing.

In 2019, if someone had told us that the most popular accessory would be face masks, we would have doubted them. Nowadays, the pandemic has made sure that the shoes we wear and handbags we carry aren’t the only things on our minds as we go outdoors. Covering one’s face has become as much of a fashion statement as we have embraced the new norm. But, it’s just a piece of clothing we have to put over our face to protect us right?

Masks make a statement and you can tell a lot about a person by what type of Personal Protective Equipment( PPE) they choose to wear as they go about their daily activities. From plain blue disposable masks to cute fabric-made reusable ones; aesthetic patterns to colour blocking; and frilly strings to dazzling embellishments, we’ve seen it all when it comes to over-the-top face masks.

However, if you want to take your pandemic-approved wardrobe to the next level, here are five of the most expensive and luxurious protective face masks money can buy.

1. The Diamond Studded Mask YVEL NGN 762,000,000 Made of 250 grams of 18K gold, over 3,000 natural diamonds with an approximate total weight of 210 carats are set in the diamond-embellished mask by Yvel.

It is not just for decoration either; this mask provides the highest level of filtration (N-99) and meets the most stringent standards to prioritise the customer’s safety.

This opulent piece of PPE was created in response to an order from a private Chinese billionaire from Shanghai.

Priced at NGN 762,000,000, we reckon that even the Delta variant in all of its gore is going to be intimidated at the sight of this mask.

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New York-based privately held jewellery and wristwatch retailer, Jacob & Co. made the Diamond Face Mask with 18K white gold.

It is carefully studded with 3,040 brilliant white round-cut diamonds, and unlike the diamond-studded mask by Yvel, this stunning mask is meant to be worn over any other type of protective mask to guarantee protection.

Remember when Rihanna sang “Shine bright like a diamond?” Well, you are literally going to shine wherever you go with this NGN 127,000,000 PPE.

4. The Black Crystal Mask CHRISTIAN SIRIANO NGN 302,260

As seen in his fashion shows, New York-based designer, Christian Siriano presented the world with a bounteous array of beautiful face mask designs.

From the simplest to the most flamboyant designs, the Maryland-born fashion designer has come up with a collection that’s to die for and available for all budgets.

However, since this is an article on highend PPEs, the spotlight shines bright on the Black Crystal Mask. An elegant, stone-embellished, decorative mask to add a bit of bling to your outfit.

The masks are decorative, hence you need to wear a medical protective facemask underneath for protection.

Released as a limited edition accessory, they are available on a made-to-order basis for NGN 302,260.

5. The Pure Silk Mask BIJAN NGN 243,840 3. The LV Shield LOUIS VUITTON NGN 442,500

Considered as more of an aesthetic protective accessory, visor shields are sometimes advised against as regular face masks offer better protection.

Louis Vuitton doesn’t seem to be paying attention to that however as they launched their PPE: a standard visor face shield with a twist. The brand designed it with LV engraved golden studs along with their iconic brown and gold monogram printed on both the trim and head strap.

The best part is that the LV shield is just as protective as is stylish. The light-sensitive protective visor can even be flipped up and used as a sun visor too. The French fashion house sets its price at NGN 442,500.

World’s most expensive menswear store, Bijan created a pure silk face mask to show that not all expensive face masks are encrusted with diamonds and gold. For example, the Beverly Hills-based brand Bijan created a pure silk facemask made in Italy.

In elegant black, pearly white, and the brand’s iconic yellow, the Beverly-based brand’s masks, made in Italy, are known for being “the most luxurious masks in the world.”

Made with the finest pure silk and presented in a glamorous matching box made of silk jacquard, the product’s description matches the product perfectly.

The Bijan Pure Silk Mask is sold for NGN 243,840. Just like the Black Crystal Mask

by Christian Siriano, this PPE is also a limited edition.

Whatever the cost of your face mask is, please never forget to protect yourself with them everywhere you go. Be safe!

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FASHION

BY KEHINDÉ FAGBULE The most practiced religions in the world, Christianity and Islam, might not see eyeto-eye on a host of things, however, when it comes to dress code, both religions stress conservative clothing for women.

In Christianity, several doctrines condemn provocative dressing for women but it’s not that straightforward. Referencing the Holy Bible, Deuteronomy 22:5 reads, “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing…” We see the tricky task of interpreting some Old Testament scriptures laws to our current circumstances.

What if a Christian woman is a construction worker, can she not then wear pants?

Must she always wear a skirt?

In the New Testament of the Bible, Apostle Paul spoke about women’s clothing. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, he said “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” It is important to note that in this scripture, Paul does not mention dresses or skirts only, but he says to women to clothe themselves modestly, which by definition means neither boldly nor assertively.

Religious Fashion

An existential oxymoron?

U Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala

nconventional and daring were some of the words used to describe what Kim Kardashian wore to this year’s Met Gala, but this wasn’t the first time women have been moving around without an inch of skin showing.

According to Wikipedia, fashion is a form of self-expression and autonomy at a particular period and place and in a specific context, of clothing, footwear, lifestyle, accessories, makeup, hairstyle, and body posture.

Across generations, cultures, and traditions, fashion has been a prevalent fixture in our existence. It is the most common form of expression of one’s personality. Despite its power as an art medium to make statements, however, fashion has enjoyed a bit of friction in the conversation with religion.

Religious institutions around the world often label fashion as a secular concept. In most religions, the laws are so restrictive and for the most part, it is often controversial if a devotedly religious woman dares to be fashionable… well in the public eye, at least.

A Muslim Woman in Burqa

Aysha Harun Photo - Getty images

Ifeanyi Adefarasin

Sarah Jakes Robert

Each generation must reinterpret these texts for their own time. Gold, pearls, elaborate hairstyles, and expensive clothes are not necessarily immodest in our contemporary society today.

Paul is not trying to regulate women’s dress but speak to the heart and attitude of whether they want the attention of men or God. This raises questions about what a Christian dress code entails. And if so, should we still follow it today?

The Islamic dress codes on the other hand have garnered the most controversies globally.

With a set of requirements to be met, the restrictions have been questioned over time.

The Quran calls for women to “draw their head-coverings over their chests” (24:30-31), and the Prophet Muhammad instructed that women should cover their bodies except for their face and hands. Most Muslims interpret this to require head coverings for women, although some Muslim women, especially those of more conservative branches of Islam, cover the entire body, including the face and/or hands, with a full-body chador.

Islam also guides that clothing must be loose enough so as not to outline or distinguish the shape of the body. Skin-tight, body-hugging, see-through, and flashy clothes are also discouraged for women.

To meet all of these requirements in one outfit, Muslim women have turned to characteristic garments and clothing accessories. This includes the burqa, niqub, abaya, and hijab, with the first two especially receiving the most criticisms globally. The hijab, however, is the most worn by Muslim women worldwide, and some of them style and wear it with a panache that is so aesthetically pleasing, it still ends up feeding the male gaze.

Over the past decade, several European countries, including some Muslim-majority nations, have placed a legal ban on the facecovering Islamic clothing, burqa. Even the permissible hijab has been heavily regulated in some parts of the world; women aren’t allowed to wear it to public schools and government offices. There is still a lot of debate about what type of Muslim women’s clothing is perceived to be most appropriate, and it seems that the debate will continue to go on for many years to come. This begs the question; ‘Just how restrictive is the Muslim dress code?’

Critics of the Muslim veiling tradition argue that women do not wear the veil by choice, and they are often forced to cover their heads and bodies. In contrast, many daughters of Muslim immigrants in the West argue that the veil symbolizes devotion and piety and that veiling is their own choice. To them, it is a question of religious identity and self-expression.

Whatever the opinions are on religious dress codes and their political interpretations, it doesn’t change the definition of fashion as aforementioned. It is unique, self-fulfilling, and may be a part of someone’s identity. Just like art, fashion does not have to be liked by everyone, it is an expression of one’s tastes.

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VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

DOWNTOWN ZODIAC

4 Ways To Wear It Like

A SCORPIO

ELEMENT: WATER ZODIAC SYMBOL: SCORPION (MYTHOLOGY) FALL: MOON DURATION: OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 22

A

s we speedily approach the precipice of the year, we must feather the brakes and serenade ourselves in the scenery of the Scorpio constellation. One of the most intense star signs of them all responsible for bringing us Anna Wintour, and Nigerian fashion designer Mai Atafo, October’s very own, Julia Roberts and Drake.

Ruled by Pluto, this water sign is extremely clairvoyant and intuitive. Much like their spirit animal; a Scorpion that lies patiently for its prey, Scorpios are meticulous and always toiling for perfection. In their corner, they have some of the most fashionable and creative people in the world.

To them, life is a game of chess and these celestial arachnids are always one step ahead, plotting and orchestrating the final winning move right from the word ‘go.’(That must explain why Drake’s outros always slap the hardest.) But you might be wondering, what all this has to do with slaying like a Scorpio. Well, you’re about to find out.

Ohimai Atafo

Ruched Silk Mini Dress DOLCE AND GABBANA

Have Something Sultry Ballsy, mysterious, controlling, these words are the seasonings of this very sensual zodiac. They are very comfortable in their skin and in them sits the V12 engine of sex drives. Paired with their intense loyalty, you have found the right partner and companion.

To pull it off like a Scorpio, things like strapless tops, thigh-high slits, mini-skirts and deep V neck dresses are the best directions to take off to.

Timeless Pieces Scorpios are fiercely loyal and give a new astrology meaning to ride or die. Their stick-by-you-no-matter-what mentality makes them one of the most loyal of all the signs and it’s not strange at all.

Choosing The Right Colour When shopping for the right clothes as a Scorpio, you need not focus so much on the style of a dress: rather, making sure it’s the right colour goes a long way. As a sign that thrives so much on energies, a colour shade can impact how you go about your day; so relax and take your time but I bet you knew that.

Cardigan BALMAIN

This sign’s impeccable taste and intuitiveness allow them to see more where everyone sees less. That’s why they are fashion umpires.

They are concealed observers, which means they orbit towards colours like, black, burnt orange and beige to suit moods when they don’t want to be seen.

Gathered Front Glitter Gown ALEXANDRE VAUTHIER

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Being highly sexual beings, crimson red or blood red are for times when their energies are surging, raging and crackling in the air like lightning. On those days, heads would turn in ways they shouldn’t and trust a Scorpio to bask in it (dramatically, of course.)

The modus operandi of this sign bidding time, analysing and watching is what makes them choose the right partners, friends and in this case, clothes. Having a pair of ageless clothing would mean you wouldn’t have to spend money revamping your wardrobe to keep up with the ever-shifting tides of fashion.

Get Suited Up “You are the leaders of tomorrow.” This quote that has (and is still) being washed, rinsed and Double-Breasted repeated by educators.

Cashmere-Blend Suit You didn’t know Scorpios Jacket BOTTEGA VENETA stand a better chance of being world leaders, did you?

This water sign make phenomenal leaders because of their constant strive for perfection.

And what better way to look like a leaders than dressing in a power suit?

EmbellishedBuckle Pumps SOPHIA WEBSTER Rosalind Crystal Sandals SOPHIA WEBSTER

Shelton Silk-Twill Suit Jacket TOM FORD

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

DOWNTOWN CONFIDENTIAL

Sheer

Necessities

BY TILEWA KAZEEM

C

lothes, we all love them and we all have them, but can we all agree that they look a lot better when they are aesthetically scattered on the stairs leading up to the master bedroom, after an episode of an explosively spontaneous shagathon, that has left both parties spent, out of breath and sweaty? If you don’t, then you’re probably having boring old-people sex, scheduled for Thursday night and most likely tagged as “copulation” or “consummation” on both your calendars. If that’s your reality, that’s ok too as long as that’s what both of you are into.

But from what my newfound relationship with Cosmo, two and a half seasons of Sex Education (the third season wasn’t as interesting to me hence the half) and a PornHub membership have taught me, sex shouldn’t be tied down or hinged by routines making it very monotonous. It should be edgy, intriguing and fun but that’s kinda hard since it’s just one blood-filled appendage slowly slid or rapidly thrust into a wet warmth of a hole.

Thankfully, a few wardrobe upgrades would remedy those lacklustre bedroom performances. Reading this, your mind might picture lingerie with straps and high heel stilettos which are not entirely off-brand. But there’s more to reinvigorating your sex life than Victoria Secret underwear and a pair of Louboutins.

Yes, enrobing yourself with a pair of La Perla underwear would add a little sizzle to your sex life but when it comes to sex you don’t want to be a one-trick pony. What happens when you don’t get your hands on lingerie or worse your partner gets bored? You’ll be back to Thursday night missionary, only this time with lingerie.

As much as I hate to admit it, the majority of the male species often give in to their primal instincts. When something doesn’t entertain us we look for the next best thing that does which in this case, is another woman.

Let me let you in on a little secret, it takes as little as his tee-shirt... preferably a thin fabric or see-through, your unshackled breasts (featuring your erect nipples) and panties or not, to warm up his flag pole even before touching him. In no time, you’re

arched over the kitchen counter receiving some strokes and these are not the kind that involves a spanking cane. However, it could be too if that’s what you’re into.

If you were to ask a man or your partner why my gender loves breasts so much, none of them would be able to give you a definite answer. Do you know why? Because I don’t, but I could take a wild guess and answer, ‘its softness.’ Unlike most men, women have very tender skin and when married with soft fabrics like silk or satin they are irresistible.

Reminding him just how supple your skin is with such textures would get his little man at attention.

Getting in bed with loose-fitted silk pyjamas draped over your body while you let his fingers slowly travel over your curves would feel like he’s touching you without really touching you. But a quick disclaimer; I’ll advise you to invest in a bunch of these fabrics. I wouldn’t be responsible for the damage caused when he goes berserk and aggressively rips it off your body.

The weekend is for watching the game so you’d most likely find yourself floating around the house but I have two fashion items that would get him up off that couch and inside you. I can’t help but feel like I’m letting my kind down by divulging sensitive information but in retrospect, I’m doing us a favour.

A boob tape is the first thing. Very useful if you need to wear an outfit that shows more than enough of your breasts but is equally

Illustration by Victor Asowata

useful and highly sexy when paired with a fishnet. It’s not about revealing everything, it’s about knowing how to cover everything and still make a man feel like he’s seen everything. This fashion item is like owning a blank UNO card, only your own imagination sets the limit of what you do with your blank card!

Ladies, hurdle up and pay attention. Gents, you too can learn a little something as well. As you bubble towards the climax of this article, it is important to note that for you to pull this off, there must or better yet, should be some level of trust between you and your partner for this to work effectively. And another thing worth noting ladies, and it might well be the most important, is Confidence. A coquettish woman may attract men in bed, but a nervous wreck who feels awkward and uncomfortable won’t (did you laugh after you read the last part, did you chuckle? We both know we’d sleep with you regardless but don’t tell anyone I said that.)

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VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER Image by Kola Oshalusi For Insigna Media

HARNESSING THE POWER OF YOUTH CULTURE

Here’s how Lagos Fashion Week inspired a decade of fashion innovation

“

BY DAVID NWACHUKWU

We’re building and we’re going to get there. Well done guys!” Those were some of Omoyemi Akerele’s reassuring words to unsure but determined 2013 fashion week interns while they scurried across the street with clothing racks from Eko Hotel to Oceanview restaurant where the tents for the shows were being constructed. For a lot of them, this marked their first “big fashion gig” in an industry bright with potential, where they all felt like they were a part of an incredible shift. It was still unclear to most of them on that first day what the result would be but the validation from the founder and her hands-on spirit swept across the team on all levels. That frenetic energy is also what kept the annual showcase going, successfully, for another eight years.

The team was mostly young, from the brilliant production heads to the eager volunteers, which in some way, was a foreshadowing of what the founder already knew: youth culture can change things. They weren’t just taking part in creating a show but unknowingly building an integral

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part of the Nigerian fashion ecosystem that exists today. Fast forward to 2021, where Akerele has taken a subtle step back from this season’s PR cycle, the spirit of L​agos ​F​ashion ​W​eek (LFW)​is unmistakable, still helping emerging talent find their feet within a daunting global fashion ecosystem, just like it did in 2013. In hindsight, it’s difficult imagining a fashion industry without the steady, consistent train of Style House Files’ annual showcase.

Beginnings

For those of us who have been watching since it was LFDW–the D is for design if you’re new to this– we’ve seen the annual showcase grow from a niche mecca of fashion purveyors into an international institution in its own right. Fashion critic and Studio Imo designer Edwin Okolo remarks: “It was always an institution, there was such a vacuum in the industry before the first season of LFW, that it was immediately apparent that this was a game-changer.” Indeed it was, inspiring a hungry, younger generation in its wake. Lagos Fashion Week opened up conversations for the potential and possibilities that existed within the garment sector: from innovative retail pop-ups like the storied Ndani Christmas Sale at Selfridges to key partnerships that saw Nigerian brands receive increased visibility in the global fashion sphere. With Woven Threads, initially launched in 2012, Lagos Fashion Week reached beyond being solely a catwalk and instead began to delve deeper into spotlighting the tools

needed for industry growth. The team began to push fresh ideas: from forward-thinking presentations to seminars involving national stakeholders, it marked a clear shift in what it meant for the industry.

A Broadened Scope by The Mid 2010s

In its continued exploration of growth concepts for fashion’s future, L​agos ​F​ashion ​W​eek ​ partnered with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. The strides in manufacturing, collaboration, and trade that Lagos Fashion Week invested in, opened up avenues for multi-generational involvement in the technical, artisanal, and media-related aspects of the industry. In 2015, Omoyemi Akerele told Ventures Africa, “We want to exist in an industry that functions properly, where there’s manufacturing, retail, textile availability, electricity, funding, and the designers have what they need. Let’s just keep going.”

The results have been manifested in older women, teenagers, skilled artisans all being able to participate and grow. The emphasis on initiatives like the X-Retail, Fashion Focus Talks, and Style House Files Trains not only amplified career opportunities available to young creative Nigerians but also involved the unification of varied fashion communities across the continent. There was also a key push for the growth of the West African market

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER Lagos Fashion Week was originally the name that we wanted ​for​ the platform; it’s what we had registered…

Eventually, we came round to it and decided to change the brand from Lagos Fashion and Design Week, to Lagos Fashion Week. We ​were originally going to incorporate design as an element but over the years we realised that it wasn’t something that was front burner so it was​ imperative that we moved to​​ Lagos Fashion Week…” …Omoyemi Akerele Careers & Community

Kesiena and Eku by Lagos Street Style

with the Fashion Focus prize expanding to include designers from other countries within the region. A move that sparked conversations about increased trade within the ECOWAS.

Street Style & People

Echoing the global wave of fashion capitals around the world, street style photography became a huge draw for this Lagos fashion mecca. While the excitement of the new season collections remained steadfast, the peacocking outside of the shows became an even bigger draw for a young generation of fashion enthusiasts big on self-expression. From stylists to influencers and even designers themselves, each person was keen on putting their most stylish foot forward, in the hopes of being papped for global fashion glossies like Vogue and Dazed.

Beyond the rush of being photographed, which meant you had great taste, street style popularity also gave a window into the trends that weren’t always on the fashion week runways.

Unconventional ideas were birthed by fashion innovators who refused to conform to industry ideals. This narrative grew further with the rise of social media.

The Rise of Social Media and Its Impact on Fashion Week

Social media’s impact on fashion as a whole was inescapable in the mid-2010s. The rise of the social media model became a new order. While in some cases it helped shine a light on overlooked talents around the world, in others it highlighted just how inequality and nepotism seep into every sector. Take for instance the reality show star to the supermodel pipeline and influencer fashion lines. From New York to Milan, front row dynamics and fashion critique were momentarily sidelined. For Lagos Fashion Week, it avoided veering into this territory completely thanks to the varying projects and initiatives beyond the gloss of runway shows. While journalism veterans rightfully felt slighted by the changes echoing across the industry, social media’s dominance helped bring light to fashion week side events, including the fashion focus talks and the retail exhibitions.

In doing its part to grow the Nigerian fashion ecosystem, numerous careers were launched here. The Fashion Focus Fund, which evolved from an award for young designers at the decade’s start, is what helped boost designers like Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Iamisigo, Meena, Emmy Kasbit, Orange Culture, and Kenneth Ize– the latter two going on to become shortlisted for the prestigious global LVMH Prize. The fund became the ultimate goal for many young designers across the country, and even more so for models, where it marked visibility and the sign of a career breakthrough.

Supermodel Mayowa Nicholas muses ‘’During my first year as a model I did Lagos Fashion Week and it was a great experience, especially for new models, it gives a great platform to launch African models and designers to the map. It makes me so proud that we have a huge platform like this in Nigeria that celebrates us in a beautiful way.”

Within the Lagos Fashion Week team, it’s offered many ways to grow and flourish on the job. With each theme telling a different story to push the narrative forward. Winston Sylvans, Inhouse Audio/Visual Coordinator for the shows quips, “For me, it’s made me pay closer attention to detail, how to marry sound and visuals to tell a story and I like to think that has helped me in the films I’ve made and will make.” Andrea Obienu, In-house Production Manager remembers the early years “....our 3rd year, it was absolute mayhem, seriously!

But I loved it. For starters, our core team were all young women and even though there were so many hurdles, it was just such a fantastic experience. I know most people come to fashion week for the fashion but when you work in production, it’s really about the people, and that year everyone was on fire!”

Lady Vodka (L) by Lagos Street Style

Maki Oh Models Backstage by Iju Asonibe

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VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

COVER Omoyemi Akerele

The Team By Kola Oshalusi For Insigna Media

This season is a hybrid of in-person events, digital events, and offsite shows that have been carefully curated to ensure that the creators within our community are comfortable with their approach to showcase this season. For the first time, we have an unprecedented number of brands that want to show offsite; they are opting for a more personalised showcase which shows growth. Fashion Business series remains digital this season. We are looking forward to this new format and we hope you are too.” … Omoyemi Akerele

The Founder & The Vision

The concept of Lagos Fashion Week is a highly remarkable one, a major part of Omoyemi Akerele’s vision for the African fashion industry.

Professionally trained as a lawyer with years of practice under her belt, she’d always been drawn to creative industries. Her keen interest in the garment sector can be traced back to her fashion beginnings as a fashion editor and stylist, working with her then partner Bola Balogun to create super stylish looks for magazines like True Love and a clientele of women who wanted to elevate their personal style. Dissatisfied with the glamor aspect of the fashion industry, Omoyemi reached beyond image consulting and launched her business development agency Style House Files, a company interested in the growth of the country’s fashion economy through cutting-edge initiatives and programs. One of the first major projects was Lagos Fashion & Design Week, coming at a crucial point in time, where the industry needed more platforms to spotlight budding talent. Just like Arise Fashion Week before, it championed design titans but she also made a point to highlight the next generation of design talent through the young designer’s fashion fund. This move earned her a spot on the Business of Fashion 500 list of fashion innovators across the world.

The past decade has seen her witness ups and downs, as the challenges of building a concept like Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria are oh so present. On the lessons learnt from past fashion week cycles, the founder says, “We’ve learnt so many lessons over the years and for us the most important thing is to know that it is a journey, to take each day as it comes​,​ and before you know it, the challenges that seem insurmountable become less of a burden, and you can keep going-that’s the most important thing. It’s not the pressure on​the way to one’s destination​;​it’s the agility with which you respond, and having the support of your​family,​ team-your colleagues​-​and your community helps.”

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When the name changed from Lagos Fashion & Design Week to simply Lagos Fashion Week, it was a clear stab at positioning the city as a viable fashion capital, a move met with positive responses from global fashion business analysts like BOF and Vogue. On this name change, she states “Lagos Fashion Week was originally the name that we wanted ​ for​ the platform; it’s what we had registered but at the time, it wasn’t exactly sexy to register your company and the website is .ng. Eventually, we came round to it and decided to change the brand from Lagos Fashion and Design Week, to Lagos Fashion Week. We w ​ ere originally going to incorporate design as an element but over the years we realised that it wasn’t something that was front burner so it was ​imperative that we moved to​​Lagos Fashion Week and opt for .ng.”

Looking to the future, Lagos Fashion Week is particular about pushing for a more sustainable next decade of fashion.

Regarding what they will be doing differently this year, Omoyemi describes the current mood as,“ What works best for all.. This season is

Image by Kola Oshalusi For Insigna Media

a hybrid of in-person events, digital events, and offsite shows that have been carefully curated to ensure that the creators within our community are comfortable with their approach to showcase this season. For the first time, we have an unprecedented number of brands that want to show offsite; they are opting for a more personalised showcase which shows growth.

Fashion Business series remains digital this season.

We are looking forward to this new format and we hope you are too.”

The Future Of Lagos Fashion Week & Lagos Fashion

The COVID-19 pandemic greatly shifted the tide and changed the dynamics of the industry as a global collective. 2020 saw LFW move towards digital fashion events and hosted discussions that tackled fashion’s future. One thing that stuck out? A greater emphasis on restructuring the sector to become more sustainable and more calls for the democratization of fashion to shine a light on overlooked, young talent with their finger on the pulse. Recent initiatives like the Green Access Fund are clear indicators of the work the organisation intends to do, which is to walk the talk and encourage younger brands to think ethically in their operations. To usher in the new decade, the institution has called on creatives to showcase their art in alternative formats like film and interactive displays in addition to the standard catwalk schedule. The move has been seen as a clear response to the exhaustion of runway shows and the politics of who gets “FROW’. Interestingly, LFW had already experimented with intimate fashion presentations in the late 2010s to great success, making 2021’s pandemic safety measures feel like a natural progression.

So how exactly will this famed entity carry on in an uncertain digital age of fashion and its call for circularity? In words pieced together from the interns, designers, editors, stylists, and showrunners who make up our ecosystem: The strength of a community built on innovation and resilience can never be broken. Indeed.

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BY BOLUWATIFE ADESINA Movie Review:

OF MY FAVORITE COSTUMED FILMS

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Apple Music)

Scan this with your camera to access the playlist (Spotify)

Playlist for the week

In a fashion-themed edition of Downtown, I thought to play along by focusing on an oft-underrated aspect of making any film: The costume design. The garments a character wears can make them almost immortal. Think of Darth Vader or Dorothy from Wizard of Oz and the all-black wardrobe worn by the Sith Lord and the gleaming red of Dorothy’s shoes come to mind. I’ll be highlighting 5 films that have amazing costume designs.

Batman Begins (2005)

Designer: Lindy Hemming To show us what you can really do with a few million and a social conscience, Bruce Wayne (with help from Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox) produces the best ever batsuit – and lets the audience into the secrets of the process.

Featuring temperature regulators, weapondeflecting armour, and a memory cloth cape, Bruce keeps multiple versions of the suit in stock (talk about a wardrobe) and it later evolves to become more flexible.

Christian Bale wasn’t the only one in the trilogy with an impressive costume; who could forget Cillian Murphy’s terrifying Scarecrow mask, Heath Ledger’s shambolic Joker, or Bane’s alien-esque mask? Anne Hathway’s Catwoman costume may be stunning and pseudo-realistic but lovers of more fancy dress will always have a soft spot for the whimsical hand-stitched version worn

by Michelle Pfieffer in Batman Returns.

from some kind of fairy tale. The five main colours used were red, pink, yellow, gold, and violet. The most-used fabric in the film was felt. Canonero said in an interview that felt was mostly used for making military uniforms, so it was supposed to make the most demanding and attentive viewers feel like something bad was coming.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Designer: Judianna Makovsky While the downtrodden district folk wear drab clothes which wouldn’t have looked out of place during the depression, the frivolous inhabitants of the Capitol just love dressing up.

With Elizabeth Banks in a puffed-up magenta monstrosity, a sparkly-suited and blue-haired Stanley Tucci, and wildly colourful crowds, it’s as if a town of people are living under the rule of Lady Gaga. Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta represent their lowly coal-mining district in flaming black suits, and Katniss twirling in a dress that ripples with fire turns her into a crowd favourite. (The obsession with appearance and eagerness to watch others suffer for entertainment’s sake will be familiar to viewers of celebrity reality shows.)

Bryson Tiller - Sorrows

CKay_ Joeboy_ Kuami Eugene - love nwantiti (ah ah ah) [feat. Joeboy & Kuami Eugene] [Remix]

J Dilla - Don’t Cry

Masego_ Don Toliver - Mystery Lady

Joeboy - Alcohol

J’ray - Wake Up

Jessie Ware - Remember Where You Are 1

Lil Nas X_ Doja Cat - SCOOP (feat. Doja Cat)

Rina Sawayama - Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)

Netflix Watch of the Week

Love Death and Robots Season 2

Mad Max: Fury Road, 2015

Costume designer — Jenny Beavan Interestingly, aside from the Oscar for Best Costume Design they won, the movie got awards in 5 other categories including Best Makeup. All the characters are dressed in postapocalyptic fashion, mainly in worn-out leather, dirt, and other accessories.

The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014

Costume designer — Milena Canonero Because this movie took place in an ironic utopia, the costumes’ colours were made to look like they were

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Designer: Catherine Martin Baz Luhrman’s vision of 1920s New York piles on the glitz and uses styles from the entire decade, creating a hyperreal fantasy of high-end couture and runway fashions that look like an Erté card brought to life. Each character has a personalised wardrobe: Myrtle is always flashy, Jordan prefers sporty, elegant daywear, and Daisy reeks of money in tasteful-but-insipidly-pale outfits.

Love, Death & Robots was a very pleasant surprise when it was released in 2019. The 18​-​episode animated anthology series was reviewed well and quickly amassed a strong fan base. Over two years later and the second serving has arrived.

It was a bit of a letdown to hear that season two would only feature eight episodes after eighteen were

generously given in season one. You definitely are left wanting more after season two but that craving will soon be fed with the arrival of season 3 in 2022.

Just like season one, the animation is incredible. Starring Michael B Jordan, Life Hutch‘s animation was simply outstanding. The Snow In The Desert episode also featured more photorealistic animation, which really popped in the desert landscapes. As well as season one, there were many different animation styles featured throughout the eight episodes which allowed for a varied experience as you travel through the season.

Nothing in season two reached the heights of season one’s Zima Blue which was an amazing

Tame Impala - Mind Mischief example of both out-of-thisworld storytelling and incredible animation. While that is present in season two, there aren’t many standouts, but the collection is pretty solid all round. The sometimes mind-bending sci-fi and creative elements continue and are one of the reasons for the show’s success.

What is left behind in season one is the nudity, which may have been to allow for younger individuals to delve into the series. What does continue however is the gore and explicit language that was everpresent in the initial season.

Season 2 of Love, Death and Robots was another NSFW collection of terrific shorts that will make you think, ​it will also​amaze, stun, make you laugh and is a mustwatch for any lovers of season 1.

Season 2 of Love,​Death & Robots is now streaming on Netflix.

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VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BEAUTY

BEAUTY

ON THE RUNWAY COLOURED EYELINERS When it comes to makeup, the eyes are the focal point. It’s no wonder why make-up artists from Milan, Paris, and London took eye makeup overboard.

Whilst black liners may look amazing on everyone and very easy to pull off, colourful liners took it to a whole new level.

From neon to orange, white, or peach, models walked the runway with coloured liners drawn from the inner rim of their eyes to the lower lash line for a sleek look. The focus was on 24 Hours Waterproof the eyes only, while the rest of Eyeliner DIOR the face was natural or simple... the barest minimum, so as not to distract us from the stunning coloured winged eyeliners.

Since the pandemic, we have seen that eye makeup sales have gone through the roof, and it’s no surprise. Think about it, that’s basically all you see if you are wearing a face mask.

BY TILEWA KAZEEM & SOPHIA EDISI

L

agos Fashion Week is a platform that promotes Africa’s creativity and diversity in fashion. This is that time of the year where fashion designers showcase their latest collections, and who best to bring the look to life than the glam team. The ones that wave their magic beauty wands to create the best makeup for the shows. In the past, we have seen captivating colours and innovative hair. Today, we can’t help but wonder what beauty looks we will see on the runway this year. In honour of Lagos Fashion Week, we have curated a few looks from past shows at home and abroad.

CONTRASTING COLOURED SHADOWS Picking the right eyeshadow can be tricky even for an expert. Choose colours based on how you want to express yourself.

For you to achieve this look, you must have in mind that your mascara, eyeliners, and brow pencil, do not have to match your eye shadow.

The makeup artists at the various fashion week shows experimented with colours and you can recreate the looks at home if you are bold enough to pull it off.

Brightening-Brick BOBBI BROWN

Tips:

Layer cream products or primer underneath before applying your eyeshadow.

This helps the top layer to show more and keep the products in place.

Apply your eye makeup first before your foundation, to avoid excess fall out from your eyeshadow pigment.

Use a separate clean eyeshadow brush for each colour to avoid a dull appearance.

Model from Milan Fashion Week In ColourPop Eyeshadow

Tattoo Eye Liner MAYBELLINE Jumbo Eye Pencil NYX

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Line Art Matte Eyeliner L.A. GIRL

Eye Shadow Yves Saint Laurent

Eye Shadow TOM FORD

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

BEAUTY STUDS Studded sparkling gems were not left out as this was another creative way to draw attention to the makeup on the runway. The rhinestones and metallic studs below a model’s eyes create an illusion of soft yet edgy vibes. The gems are of different sizes, shapes, and colours.

The models were decorated with light-reflecting rhinestones and studs that brightened up the under-eye area for extra emphasis.

Studs can be used on any part of the face especially over your winged eyeliner. Just the right quantity will leave your makeup looking daring and fabulous.

Model from Lagos Fashion Week 2019 Braided Ponytail

Model from Paris Fashion Week With Orange Sequin on Her Lips

Model From Lagos Fashion Week 2019 in Braids Decorated With Colourful Beads

HAIRSTYLE Makeup Pearls

Lagos Fashion Week surely did serve us with some hair inspiration that defined Nigerian beauty for women over the years.

From sleek and creative ponytails of different lengths to colourful crochet hairstyles, afros, and braids decorated with beads, the most memorable hairdos have graced the runway. This year, we hope to see more astonishing styles that would leave us booking appointments with our hairstylist.

Model From Lagos Fashion Week 2019 in Blonde Crochet Ponytail Model from Paris Fashion Week Wearing Silver Rhinestones

Model from Lagos Fashion week on Color Crochet Afro

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VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FEATURE

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FASHION INFLUENCERS SAYING ABOUT

LAGOS FASHION WEEK 2021?

Models From New York Fashion Week

BY BLESSING MUKORHO

F

ashion Weeks have become a staple event in various fashion industries all over the world. They influence trends for current and upcoming fashion seasons.

During fashion week, fashion designers and brands showcase their latest collections in runway fashion shows to key players in the fashion industry.

Over the years, fashion week has become the most anticipated fashion event every year, with prominent fashion weeks held in Paris, Milan, London and New York. Nigeria soon followed suit as a platform that connects consumers and designers in the Nigerian and African fashion industry with the rest of the world.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, health restrictions

Lagos Fashion Week

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were set in place by governments globally that limited large gatherings and public events. For the fashion industry, this meant that most Fashion Weeks were either restricted to virtual presentations or cancelled. The Lagos Fashion Week was not exempted.

Despite being unable to come together last year, the Lagos Fashion Week is now back. Models, designers and fashion houses have been neckdeep in work for this year’s show. With the most anticipated fashion event just around the corner, we asked your favourite fashion influencers what to look forward to this year.

Creative writer and professional model, Elizabeth Usen, who will be walking for Andrea Iyamah, is excited for what this year’s fashion week holds.

Speaking on general designs, Usen expects that most designers took advantage of the 2020 lockdown guardrails to evolve and incorporate

Elizabeth Usen

what the international industry has to offer. She is sure the designers are a lot better and stronger.

Usen is also very excited to be walking for Andrea Iyamah this year, as she has looked up to Iyamah for a while.

“I love how versatile she is, and how her designs are very unique. She embraces different body sizes, and you know, it’s like she’s able to bring people together in a way.” Usen says.

More specifically, Usen speaks on loving the colour tones Iyamah uses in her designs. “She’s just all for the sexiness, the elegance, the natural beauty. I love everything she stands for and I couldn’t

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

THEWILL DOWNTOWN

FEATURE

Andrea Iyamah’s Models be more excited to have been lucky enough to be walking for her this year.” Usen concludes.

Award-winning fashion stylist and Chief Style Editor at Xtrastyle Magazine, Providence Ozichukwu (popularly known as Chief Ozic) also tells us what to expect.

“This year’s fashion week is definitely going to take after global looks and designs, but also be very daring and African at the same time,” says Ozichukwu. He adds that the week will entail various futuristic designs, cuts and forms.

“You will find some designers trying to blend in looks across avant-garde to high fashion to alté to contemporary styles and designs,” Ozichukwu adds.

According to him, we should expect this year’s fashion show to be one where designers show off the versatility and depth of their vision.

Professional model, Davou Pwajok, who will be walking this year’s show, hopes to walk for Orange Culture and Sisiano.

“For me, walking for

Andrea Iyamah

these designers will be overwhelming. I’ve been a fan of both brands, and respect that they have a very strong brand image that focuses on sophistication, highclass, high quality and innovation.” Pwajok says.

Speaking on this year’s theme, “The Future Starts Now”, Pwajok believes that this is the proper term for what is coming, especially as this year’s show marks the tenth anniversary of the Lagos Fashion Week.

“I believe this is going to come with a lot of spark.”

He adds.

Pwajok looks forwards to a lot of print this year.

“Prints are everywhere this season, from floral to African. I also look towards what the new debuting designers have for us this year.” Pwajok concludes.

He also thinks we should expect a lot of class, more in-depth runway presentations and fluidity on the runway.

Anticipating a packed show this season, your favourite fashion influencers have not only told us what to expect this year but assure us that this year’s fashion week will be nothing short of groundbreaking, especially as designers unlock new levels to their potentials. With collections from Bloke, Lagos Space Programme, Tjwho, and a host of others, we truly look forward to rich shows.

Davou Pwajok

Models From Orange Culture

Mark Cocksedge’s Most Stunning Masks of 2020

Lagos Space Programme

Providence Ozichukwu

Rick Owens’ Runway On Fire

Autumn Kieko’s Afro-Futurism Inspired Series

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THEWILL DOWNTOWN

VOL 1 NO.37 • OCTOBER 24 – OCTOBER 30, 2021

SÓRÓSOKE DOWNTOWN

TIWA PEARL

What is one thing Davido, Wizkid, Burna boy, Rema, and a plethora of other famous Nigerian musical acts have in common apart from award-winning records? Chibuike Tiwaramuzo (or as she is popularly known, Tiwa Pearl) is a dancer and choreographer who has loved dance right from when she took her first steps.

DOWNTOWN writer, Tilewa Kazeem had a chat with her, about what life as a dancer is like in Nigeria and how much impact fashion has had on dance, and how being a professional dancer has helped her

What’s it like being a female dancer in Nigeria?

Being a female dancer in Nigeria has its pros and cons. As a female in dance, you get more jobs. In music videos, they use girls more than boys because of how it would appeal to viewers and their fans in general. Also, in cases where I have to shoot a personal dance video outside let’s say, somewhere like Lagos Island, because I’m a girl we don’t get hassled too much by street thugs. Whereas if it were a guy it would be a different case. Most times, I just settle them and they’ll let me shoot. To be honest, the cons outweigh the pros.

What are some of these cons?

As a female brand with a significant following and fanbase, it is really hard to become a household name. A guy has a better chance of attaining a huge level of fame and popularity in dance than a female.

Why do you think that’s the case?

In Nigeria, there are more male artists than there are females and that gives them the upper hand because of relatability. I’ve been in a situation where it’s either the manager wants to have something sexual with me, and if it’s not the manager it’s the artist or the producer or the director that wants you. I don’t have to do that neither will I do that. What makes the whole thing sad is, society already expects us to do those things and that already puts us at a disadvantage.

I choose to disassociate myself from that misogynistic narrative. That’s why there are not many of us because people are scared; they don’t want their names soiled just to get their clout up. I’m not ready to rush into anything that would get lorded over me in the future, I’m happy and content with my progress.

Does this narrative affect earnings? Do males get paid more compared to females?

No, the payment is equal. Although if you’re a brand you’re likely to get paid more than a regular dancer.

In light of how provocative dance can be, especially in its fashion, did your parents ever object or tell you to cover up?

My dad had a hard time with my choice as a dancer. My mum always believed I could take care of myself so she had no issues with it at all. In terms of fashion in dance, I’d say not really. I stopped staying with my parents when I was 18 years old and that was the period I started wearing revealing clothes. Growing up, I dressed like a boy.

Baggy pants, oversized shirts, and I got cautioned not to dress like a boy because I wasn’t a boy. But I didn’t care, I was a dancer and those clothes made me feel comfortable.

Despite the struggles and obstacles of overcoming the misogynistic views of fashion, Nigerian youth culture has gained some acceptance in this regard. As a young woman within a field that allows expression through fashion, how has it impacted you?

I have positively benefited from this.

Now, nobody cares about what you wear, unlike in decades past when everyone felt entitled to comment on what and how women dressed. I’m not saying in Nigeria, as women, we are free to dress up how we want but personally, I have been forced to grow a thick skin. I go out to dance and I get catcalls all the time. As a dancer, it’s my reality. Listening to or addressing what people have to say about my fashion would be detrimental to my art. I have to wear what makes me completely comfortable and I make sure I do. It is sad as a woman, that

we pay attention to what people say (even when we don’t want to) so much that it affects us or the expression of our craft.

Inasmuch as I don’t concern myself with what people say, I can’t be fully expressive with my fashion in Nigeria.

For example, there are certain clothes I want to wear but that ‘what will society say’ will make me start second-guessing myself and although I still end up wearing them, I make sure the taxi takes me directly to where I’m going and I wear them at night, not during the day. I’m not going to sugarcoat it by saying it’s been easy or anything like that but dance has helped me deal with it better.

Would you say the rapid growth of fashion in Nigeria has influenced dance?

Yes, it has. If not for fashion, dance, as well as dancers, wouldn’t be free and expressive. I told you growing up, big clothes were our identity and that identity already belonged to the male gender.

As a dancer, you can’t twerk in baggy pants, the essence of the dance would be lost. But as fashion in dance evolved women were able to feel comfortable enough in their clothes and identity.

As a young creative, how scary is it to know that innocuous fashion choices could lead to harassment and profiling?

Knowing that being fashion inclined, means that you are automatically susceptible to harassment is very scary and just tragic. I remember one time, I was going for a dance rehearsal, I wore baggy clothing, a hat with no wig on. On my way, I got stopped by a policeman because

Images by Victor Eddeh IG @eddehjr

he thought I was a man. Another day, I wore a cross strapped blouse and short skirt, the whole hot girl ensemble, and again, I got stopped by the police and while he was searching me he kept muttering “ You for no wear cloth, you suppose to come out naked” I just sat there perplexed and stunned.

It’s worrisome to think that as fast as fashion keeps moving, creatives are still getting harassed by officers of the law.

You can’t even dye your hair. Imagine that.

We’ve been forced to live in constant fear.

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