Dressed To Impress In Nigeria's Finest Womenswear Labels
If you have been searching for what to wear or add to your wardrobe—in this log, I spotlight some homegrown fashion brands catering to the girls.
“Oh, how I love being a woman,” and it is me being flat-out obsessed with clothes on the female physique (well, among other factors). In my eyes, a woman in a good outfit will always exude confidence and overflow with youthful exuberance. Hold on, I have something for you…
Oh, how I love being a woman
Dancing colors and singing patterns
Scarves that flutter in warm breeze
Heels that click on coal-tarred streets
Soft silk that caresses skin
Ripped jeans that whisper rebellion
Crisp blazer lines that could slay.
Oh, how a dress could change my mood.
How a bold lip would start my party!
Welcome back from Valentine’s, lovers of fashion! We are still basking in the month of love, and to my girls: Galentine’s could be any day in February, so today, the 23rd, is ours! This could be a convenient introduction to the women’s month of March as well. You agree, no?
We know Nigeria’s fashion scene to be a powerhouse of creativity, where tradition and modernity blend seamlessly to create styles that captivate both local and global audiences. Within this landscape, the women’s arm stands out as a wealth of talented designers driving the industry forward with bold vision and cultural depth.
These are more than clothing labels. Long-established names like Lisa Folawiyo and emerging ones like Aṣọ Nigeria are storytellers, cultural ambassadors, and amplifiers of ethical and sustainable practices. They are innovators shaping not only African style, but the entirety of fashion as we know it.
Nigerian womenswear transcends mere fashion to empower women, renew faith, inspire, and spark joy through bold, colorful, and sensational garments that honor every version of the female body. It is exactly what Fisayo Longe, founder and CEO of Kai Collective, meant by ‘art saves lives’ in one of her newsletters for Many Mentors. The style scene thrives across seasons and celebrates opulent designs that reject minimalism, embodying a community ethos of unapologetic self-expression and grandeur that commands attention and admiration.
This is what it means to be a woman in full expression, and now you’ll be exploring some brands and pieces that feel like home. ⬇️
🖇️Lisa Folawiyo — The Art of Luxury Prints
Founded by Nigerian designer Lisa Folawiyo some good 20 years ago, this self-titled line has garnered international acclaim for its peculiar mix-and-match technique with hot colors, prints, and textures. Folawiyo is known to take major inspiration from the tribes, cultures, customs, and practices of her Nigerian (heavily Yoruba, Igbo, and Fulani tribes) heritage, and her brand’s DNA leans towards elevating our familiar West African textiles, largely Ankara, into luxurious and contemporary pieces. Each garment is meticulously handcrafted by local artisans, with some pieces requiring over 800 hours of hand-beading and embellishment.
Yes, the fashion house was birthed from Ankara print, but materials like vintage lace and Akwete are equally utilized to construct wears that are ideal for any occasion, anywhere in the world. Looking into her existing designs, you can almost touch the embrace of passion, skills, spunk, knowledge, and forward-thinking. The pieces are synonymous with ‘strong yet cool,’ a beautiful oddness that I love. They tell rich stories, celebrate community, emotions, and culture, and bring joy to femininity. All these, and a lot more, are why we continue to celebrate LF and why their craftsmanship attracts such global clientele, from Lupita Nyong'o to Issa Rae, Ayesha Curry, Solange Knowles, etc.
Folawiyo's designs have graced the pages of leading fashion publications like Vogue and have been showcased at various Fashion Weeks. And speaking of fashion week, the brand’s poolside SS25 show in Lagos was one of my highlights from the season. The sport-inspired assemblage was among the few that completely nailed me to the cross. The stripes mimicking racetracks? The beaded hexagonal football bags? The pink pitch dress?? Excuse me?! The fashion enthusiast in me was left for dead. I was speechless.
🖇️Atafo — Timeless Tailoring with a Modern Edge
We all know Mai Atafo for his nearly two-decade-long iconic bridal and menswear collections, but it would be criminal not to acknowledge his expertise in high-end womenswear. The Atafo brand has always shown love to the girls, and the girls likewise, from his bridal couture garnering customers and muses like Adesua Etomi-Wellington, Linda Ejiofor, and Lala Akindoju, to his tailored suits, gowns, agbadas, and more, as a go-to for women like Alex Asogwa, Mo Abudu, Eki Ogunbor, Toke Makinwa, Temi Otedola, and Debbie Beeko. The brand sees customers from various continents and all walks of life.
Atafo’s signature aesthetic, defined by clean lines, sophisticated silhouettes, and razor-sharp tailoring, caters to women who embrace a contemporary edge with African motifs and western influence. This is where you come for red carpet looks and power dressing, especially with the suits. Listen, all their grey-colored suits showcased at Uyo Fashion Week back in 2023, especially the three-piece skirt suit, will forever be etched in my memory. The pinstriped navy blue suits from the SS25 season too.
Atafo also indulges in evening wear for the ladies, which he says are inspired by menswear tuxedos and suits, as well as everyday clothing like denims and khakis. It’s a playground in there, and I love it so much.
🖇️Hertunba — A Cultural Renaissance
With the one-liner description and the pieces in the collage above, you can already tell that this is a well of cultural legacy, which, of course, happens to appeal to today’s fashion-conscious consumers. My fellow Nigerians may have also broken down the brand’s nomenclature. But if you are yet to clock it, it is a fusion of “Her” and “Otunba,” a Yoruba title for a revered chief. Are you starting to get the concept?
Five years in, and Florentina Agu and her pandemic baby have managed to iterate African sophistication, textile manipulation, upcycling, fair labor for artisans, and pieces that represent curiosity, comfort, confidence, control, regality, and playfulness—all on the front lines of the fashion ecosystem. A lot of their kaftans and dresses are made from or with 100% locally farmed cotton, upcycled Aso-oke, linen Akwete and Itive fabrics, Ekpiri seeds, Adire dyeing technique, and are inspired by the designer’s Igbo upbringing of cultural dancers, native chalk marks, and so on.
One of the many core historical collections in the brand’s existence, The Women Before Us, paid homage to the powerful women who shaped the legacy of the Benin kingdom, like Queen Idia, the first queen to go to war in the kingdom’s century-long life. The collection reimagined what these female icons would wear if they lived in our current world. How iconic!!!
🖇️Desirée Iyama — Wardrobe Vibrance
Eight years in the market, and Desirée continues to champion sexiness and body positivity. Just like the founder rightly put, “The brand was born out of a quest to satisfy the woman who perceives fashion as an intrinsic expression of her existence.” Yes, yes, and yes! Their joyful clothes are what dreams are made of. They are very colorful, feminine, fun, timeless, tender, and functional. I could go on and on. It just has this power to transform whoever, wherever.
Again, storytelling is at the heart of it. One of my fantasies for the future is to participate in their women features or be invited to the dinners and brunches. They have introduced me to a long list of powerful women, and I would really love to exist in the same perimeter as them. But until then, keep reading the things I write!
🖇️Aṣọ Nigeria — Striking Outlines and Unconventional Shapes
Congratulations are in order as Aṣọ recently launched their first physical space in Lagos, Nigeria. I have pretty much preached the gospel of Aṣọ since the inception of this publication, you know, back when it was KOL’s Log, my personal newsletter, and I really don’t see me getting tired except the brand gives me a reason to, which in all honesty looks highly impossible.
Anyway, this new kid on the block is slowly taking over the womenswear scene in Nigeria with long, steady, and impressive strides just within two years of existence. Can you believe that? For a brand that just got here, especially in a well-populated and established industry, it has the design aesthetic and elegance of a brand that has been around for well over 5 years. This is what commitment looks like.
Aanuoluwa Ajide-Daniels, together with his label, have implanted their fangs in storytelling and are tediously building a loyal community, which is an important tool for staying successful in whatever niche, time, and age. Yes, they cater to women, men, and the non-binary, but 80% of their designs and clientele lean toward women, and rightfully so.
Right now, all the Gen Z and millennial women are queuing for Aso! I’m talking regular muses like Henrietta Itepu (she might just as well be the face of the brand with how quick and well she turned me into a believer), Allysyn Audu, Teminikan, Saskay, etc., and one-time shoppers like Veekee James, Ayra Starr, Jola Ayeye, and so on. We have been religiously served delicious proportions, volume, enticing colors, fabulous embellishments, blurred gender lines, and futuristic pieces that are to die for.
🖇️Andrea Iyamah — Resort Wear Reimagined
Loads of dual-tone colors, drapings, and ruffles later, Andrea Iyamah is deservedly credited with redefining resort wear with her vibrant, culturally inspired designs, full of warmth, fluidity, and fierceness. The designer pays tribute to native African designs, presenting us with a range of swimwear and ready-to-wear pieces that feature bold colors, unique patterns, flattering silhouettes, and eye-catching cuts.
Having spanned more than a decade, this eponymous house gathers an extraordinary assembly of inspiring and fashion-forward women from all over the globe, especially since it operates out of corporate offices in Canada and Lagos. It also runs production hubs in Lagos and Kenya, with emerging companies in Egypt and Rwanda. The trademark has forged brand extensions that range from fashion accessories to interior design and even hospitality, turning into an empire right before our eyes!
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There are a lot more women’s clothing companies in the country than time would permit me to dissect, but I see every one of you and appreciate what you are doing for the girls and our fashion ecosphere. So for now, I adore you Banke Kuku, Wanni Fuga, Pepper Row, Tiffany Amber, Oríré, Eki Kéré, M.O.T, Cynthia Abila, Kadiju, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, and all my bad b******! And in summary, WEAR NIGERIAN!
See you in 5 days for our 2nd volume of Recent Favorites! ←I can't even believe this. But till then, we will be highlighting Nigerian-owned women clothing brands on our notes tab on Substack. Tune in!
Until next time, loggers! 💚
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