2015 has been a great year for African fashion. These are the names that stunned us in 2015 with their work and talent and geared to take on 2016.
MODELS
Uju Marshall
No model has stayed relevant and as in demand as Uju Marshall. With a stellar year behind her, walking 32 shows at the 2015 Fashion and Design Week and several critically received editorial campaigns to her name including the coveted Union Bank rebrand campaign, Uju has many debating that she can lay claim to the title of Nigeria’s first homegrown super model.
Seun Logan
Current muse for menswear brand T.I Nathan, Seun Logan was a revelation at the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week, walking in most of the menswear shows. He quickly followed this with editorials for Style Mania. 2016 will be quite a year for Seun Logan as he is already one of the top 10 finalists for the Music Meets Runway model search, where a win will catapult him into relevance.
Toyin Oyeneye
Signed with Ice Models South Africa, Toyin has already landed a coveted GQ Style SA cover and fronted campaigns for Adidas. As he returns to South Africa in 2016 to model and study, we expect him to work his way to supermodel status.
Ninioma Anosike
Ninioma has been quiet since she left Nigeria in 2014. On the heels of her win at the 2013 Elite Model Look Nigeria competition, she moved to New York, signed with internationally revered Ford Models and landed a campaign for MAC cosmetics, phenomenal considering how rarely the brand fronts campaigns with models of colour. Anosike is the best shape of her life, and ready to become a first grade model in 2016
Olamide Ogundele
More commonly known her instagram avatar, Krusha_Lamar, Ogundele has had a stellar debut year. The dark horse who came out of nowhere to front the coveted editorial campaign for the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week, following the footprints of Uju Marshall. With editorials in print and for brands filling her portfolio, Ogundele is poised to turn all the buzz into success.
Queen Onyemaechi
Winner of the 2014 Nigerian Next Top Model, Onyemaechi has walked in Nigeria, South Africa and Europe and fronted campaigns for CYNIM and Spotlight Spectre. Already anointed by Vogue Italia as the only Africa based global model to watch in 2016, Onyemaechi is ready to turn that prophesy into a success story.
Nikki Anyasi
Anyasi won the 2014 Music Meets Runway campaign in 2014 and parlayed that into a flourishing career in 2014, writing a column for lifestyle e-zine StyleVitae while she worked in print and runway. Distinguished by her now iconic afro, Nikki is perfect poised to soar or sink.
PHOTOGRAPHERS
TY Bello
2015 was Toyin Sokefun Bello’s comeback year. After a few years sojourning in the US, Toyin returned to her Nigerian studios, focusing for the better part of the year on portrait photography. She was spotted at LFDW 2015 in October, taking in the shows, sparking hopes that she was going to return to fashion photography. Then she did, in December 2015, with an editorial with Nollywood’s queen Genevieve Nnaji. It was magic, we are still in awe.
Lakin Ogunbanwo
Reclusive photographer Lakin Ogunbanwo came out of hiding to pad his portfolio with shoots for Naatal Media, Maki Oh and the Lagos Fashion and Design Week. As he explores his art and hones his style through private shoots and public exhibitions, 2016 might be the year we see Lakin shed his mystery and embrace the mythos of gifted eccentricity that has grown around him.
Babatunde Mason
Babatunde Mason started shooting with his father’s camera in 2012 as part of the three man collective over at Blackfabulousity.com. Come 2015, Tunde Mason has transitioned from enthusiastic amateur to real contender, working with established brands like Grey Projects, Tiffany Amber, Grey Velvet and a cover for Ignite magazine. With his eye for portraits and his unique take on photography, we contend he will get even bigger in 2016
Seye Isikalu
Creating his niche in fashion portraiture, Seye Isikalu has created a name for himself, photographing many international celebrites including Rita Ora, A$ap Rocky and Ciara. He has also made his name in Nigerian fashion photography in 2015, working on Blanck Digital’s homeland issue that featured covers with Zainab Balogun, Tiwa Savage, Bankole Wellington and Tolu Oniru.
Ade Okelarin
Through his photography studio Ade Asiko, Okelarin has bulldozed through the Nigerian fashion industry, working on covers for Pride Magazine Nigeria, Blanck Digital, Wow Magazine, FAB magazine and New African Woman. With that many covers in 2014- 2015 we know we will see more of him in 2016.
Jerrie Rotimi
Jerrie Rotimi’s niche is in editorial photography, shooting campaigns for T.I. Nathan, high street brand ANL by Annie Leash, Bellanaija, Sisiano and Tzar Studios. With work for satellite fashion channel Spice TV Africa in his portfolio, Rotimi has enough talent to become a major player in 2016
Aham Ibeleme
Aham’s 2015 portfolio includes campaign shoots for menswear brands Taryor Gabriels, Josh Amor, Kimono and Timbrel; emerging designers Keem Harun, Nuraniya Studios and MeMeGo, editorials for Vanguard Allure with Sylvia Nduka, Genevieve Magazine with Tolu Oniru and Zen magazine with Dj Cuppy. 2016 can only get bigger.
Tope Horpload
Tope Horpload is in high demand. Tipped to shoot the campaign for the 5th anniversary of fashion showcase Music Meets Runway, his work for them was the finale for a year that included ad campaigns for high street brands Elan Red and Shop Maju, designer labels T.I. Nathan and Iconic Invanity and editorials for Today’s Woman and Vanguard Life.
DESIGNERS
Adeju Thompson
Adeju Thompson made a splash in 2014 as part of that year’s Lagos Fashion and Design Fashion Focus programme. With his unique aesthetic of marrying contemporary punk and street wear designs with inspiration from Lagos, his city of residence, he has thrilled with his subsequent collection System Error and was featured in 2014 as the artist in focus at the Stranger Salon. With a number of projects under his sleeve, critical acclaim and small but fiercely loyal client base, 2016 is the year of Adeju Thompson.
Gozel Green
Sylvia and Olivia Enekwe ended the year with a stocking deal with new fashion retail brand Zazaii, a clientele that includes fashion influencer Omoyemi Akerele, nominations from the Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards and two new collections. The only way is up for these sisters.
Maki Oh
Amaka Osakwe has conquered the world from Lagos with her immutable voice and her keen eye for design. In 2015 her collection Arodan, debuted exclusively on Vogue, the first Nigerian Designer based in Nigeria to achieve this. Finally setting roots in Lagos by opening her first studio in Lekki, Maki Oh is ready to consolidate her position at top rung in 2016
Maxivive
Papa Oyeyemi’s Maxivive made headway at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week showcase with his Harmattan collection ‘Arodan’ proving once and for all that he deserved his place at the showcase’s fashion incubator programme the year before. With a diffusion line MXVV and plans for concessions, the choices Papa makes will be very interesting to watch in 2016.
Orange Culture
Premier menswear brand Orange Culture was part of Nigeria’s delegation to the 2015 International Fashion Showcase, was invited to show at premier menswear trade show Pitti Uomo under the Ethical Fashion Initiative, released two collections that featured collaborations with O’Eclat, TreeFairfax and Shem Paronelli. In late 2015 he announced not one but two diffusion labels, Orange by Orange Culture a sister brand to Orange Culture, and O.C by Orange Culture, a streetwear brand. With that many channels for expression we cannot wait to see where Bayo Oke Lawal takes his brand.
Papa Oppong
Papa Oppong, creative director behind eponymous line Papa Oppong has had a roller coaster year. He graduated from the Radford University, showing ‘Poison’ a ten look collection as part of his graduation requirements. Shortly after it was announced that Oppong had been chosen to join the DC Fashion Incubator programme alongside veterans like Tsemaye Binitie. Graduating in 2016 and already creating a graduation collection that references and celebrates the market women of Kumasi, Papa’s work is ready for the big leagues.
Tsemaye Binitie
Tsemaye Binitie was chosen in 2015 as one of two international designers chosen to participate in the 2015 DC Fashion Incubator programme alongside Ghanaian Papa Oppong. Known for his minimalism and intricate cuts, Tsemaye debuted a new direction with his show at the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week, one we hope to see him consolidate in 2016.
Meena
Uju Offiah’s Meena has been the critically acclaimed underdog of the Lagos Fashion Design Week circuit. Inexplicably not winning her year, during her turn in the showcase’s fashion incubator programme and garnering praise each subsequent year without it translating to commercial success. In 2015 Offiah debuted her most accessible collection yet, one we hope to see open her up to new demographics in the coming year.
Sindiso Khumalo
Known for her minimalist silhouettes, her references to classic art and pop culture in her clothing and her eye for colour, South African designer Sindiso Khumalo is the Meena of South African fashion. Finally garnering critical buzz, we look forward to seeing Khumalo get the respect she deserves in 2016.
Ejiro Amos Tafiri
It took her three years, but Ejiro Amos Tafiri has taken her eponymous brand from suspected vanity project to bonafide runaway success. Embraced by all demographics of women for her flattering cuts and her understanding of the unique needs of women of colour, E.A.T’s Spring 16 collection inspired by religious imagery shattered any doubts that she is rock solid design wise.
Ituen Basi
Ituen Basi chose not to show at the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week and she hasn’t debuted a collection this year either, but she negotiated a concessionary deal with new fashion retailer MeiDei and is currently still stocked at Grey Velvet and Temple Muse. With all the retail channels sorted, the pressure is now on Ituen to deliver a new collection, and we know she will.
HIGH STREET BRANDS
MeiDei
Risen from the splinters of now defunct retail brand L’Espace, Wonuola Odunsi Okoye’s MeiDei has quickly gained prominence, signing major concessionary deals with brands like 24 accessories and apparel, Ada by Alter Ego, Ituen Basi, Osyby, Meena and Eve and Tribe. We watch to see how these partnerships will play out in the new Year.
Zazaii
The other new retail to rise from the ashes of L’Espace, Isoken Ogiemwonyi’s Zazaii came out the hatch running, with concession deals with Purple Lagos, Things Nigerians Love, Lady Biba, Funke Adepoju, Sanusi Lagos, Nuraniya Studios, Ethnik by Tunde Owolabi, DZYN, Kamokini, Andreah Iyamah, Dapmod and Obsidian Way.
Twenty Six
Skirt brand, Twenty Six has grown from retailing only knee length circle skirts via Instagram to a fully fledged lifestyle, offering accessories, skirts, dresses and a children’s line. With the launch of their e-commerce site and partnerships with the Nik-Nak store. Twenty Six might be our ethical answer to Nasty Gal.
Grey Projects
Changing tack, Grey Projects have scaled down on GREY, the high fashion line and focused entirely on high street, debuting a collection at the 2015 Lagos Fashion and Design Week that was edgy as it was wearable. We watch to see what directions Nigeria’s first high concept high street brand will experiment with in 2016.
STYLISTS
Tokyo James
Tokyo James has had a busy year. Consolidating his position as editor of Made Magazine with several high profile covers, including Patoranking and 2face Idibia, Seyi Shay and Waje. He’s also had to his credit, editorials in Citizen’s Magazine Uk, Tiffany Amber’s ss15 look book, The House of Tara Colorburst campaign that earned him a Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards nomination.
Bubu Ogisi
Super stylist Bubu Ogisi has worked with everyone from Mania magazine and 53 Extra, Nigerian singers Asa and Seyi Shay to the Nigerian delegation to the International Fashion Showcase in London. With campaigns like The Rebahia Spring 2015 collection and the Lagos Fashion and Design Week’s editorial campaign, her new flagship store and her forays into interior design, her trajectory over the year will be interesting to watch.
Jane Michael Ekanem
Jane Michael Ekanem has made her name with her styling work for the MTN Project Fame, her collaborations with music juggernaut Yemi Alade and her extensive portfolio in the music and fashion industries. She is most revered for her work with Bolanle Olukanni, turning her into a true style icon in 2015. A true crossover stylist, Jane Michael Ekanem’s triumphant return to high fashion styling will be one of the highlights of 2016.
Mag Payne
Fashion stylist Adepena has revamped his image since we first saw him debut as a model for T.I. Nathan, he stayed with the brand, helping craft their image into what it is today. 2015 saw him branch out, taking a styling commission for Star Gist and a couple of other independent shoots. 2016 will be the year we see him go mainstream.
Damilola Oke
Award winning stylist Damilola Oke under her brand Fierce And Modish can be thanked for the style trajectory of singer Waje, presenter Folu Storms and Cobhams Asuquo and Zainab Balogun. She has also done extensive styling work for brands like Gozel Green, Onalaja and Emisara. Oke has already begun to expand her services, creating a menswear styling arm for Fierce and Modish. It will be interesting to see where she takes this.
The ILLUSTRATORS
Okhai Aigbe
Okhai Aigbe’s illustrations are vivid and pop-culture influenced, relying heavily on digital manipulation as well as traditional illustration methods. In the last two years he has done extensive work for the brand Toju Foyeh, illustrating many of their important private commissions.
Yega
Yega might seem an obscure name, but her work is not. In 2015 Yega was the only Nigerian fashion illustrator invited to illustrate at Paris and New York Summer Fashion Weeks, an event so rare for a young freelance that many still do not believe it happened. But Yega’s work, primarily done in traditional methods using water colours and pencil is world class.
Francis Sule
Sule, an alum of the first Fayrouz L’Original fashion competition is slowly building a brand for himself with his illustrations, which focus more on fashion portraiture than illustration. But with his keen eye for colour and his undeniable talent, 2016 could be the year he repositions himself as a serious contender for best illustrator.
Papa Oppong.
Appearing twice in this list is Ghanaian designer and illustrator Papa Oppong, already a top flight illustrator who has caught the attention of international celebrities Rihanna, Beyonce, Rosario Dawson and Amber Rose, Oppong’s illustrations formed the basis of his Summer 15 collection ‘Poison’ proving that illustration need not necessarily end on the page.
ACCESSORIES DESIGNERS
Ethnik by Tunde Owolabi
Tunde Owolabi’s Aso-Oke based shoe and bag brand has become popular after a collaboration with fashion lable IAMISIGO and stocking deals with retailer Zazaii. With retailing sorted and a high profile collaboration raising his fashion profile 2016 could be the year he cashes in.
Shem Paronelli
With collaborations with Orange Culture, Kenneth Ize and Lisa Folawiyo and a nomination from the Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards Shem Ezemma’s Shem Paronelli is arguably the most relevant accessories brand. We look to see how he will leverage these collaborations in the new year.
O’Eclat (nominee for independent bag maker awards)
O’Eclat has been nominated for several international awards, most recently the 2015 independent handbag makers award. She ends the year with a collaboration with menswear brand Orange Culture, a departure from her usual fare of women’s bags.
The Bloggers
Mide Coker
Mide Coker started 2015 with an endorsment as a brand ambassador for fabrics giant Woodin. Taking a step back from fashion blogging to focus on Law School in 2015, the fashion photographer, stylist and blogger has recently graduated and has thrown herself back into personal style blogging, with a renewed focus on fashion photography.
Cassie Daves
Cassandra Ikegbune took a step back from modelling in 2015 to focus on her education. One of Nigeria’s most recognizable bloggers, Cassie graduated in late 2015 and has since returned to fashion, walking for select brands at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week and organizing a bloggers offline event with bloggers Berry Dakara and Tuke Morgan. 2016 will be interesting as she contemplates a return to modelling and fashion in general.
OmogeMura
Deola Adebiyi’s Omogemura rehauled in 2015, expanding from fashion journalism to focus more on beauty and lifestyle. Now a prominent beauty blogger, Omogemura’s summer editorial was the only indpendent summer editorial released in 2015. We watch to see what she does in 2016.
Akin Faminu
Akin is easily Nigeria’s most popular male fashion blogger, partnering with respected media sites like Bella Naija, StyleVitae and Vanguard Allure. Faminu is a strong promoter of emerging designers and we hope to see strategic collaborations from him in 2016.
TheStyleHQ
The Style HQ is the passion project of Bolaji Animashaun, creative director behind the Jaguar Lagos Fashion Awards. Over the year, the site has gone from fringe curator of luxury fashion to the authority on luxury in Nigeria, organizing their first offline event at the Oasis Med Spa in partnership with brands like Ituen Basi, Raya Jewellery, CLAN and Caven Etomi. With a new stylelist in 2016 and collaborations with several fashion brands, the StyleHQ can only get bigger.
DeeMako
Adesola Mako of Dee Mako has had a busy year, organizing not one but two offline lifestyle events for the blogger community and its readership. Along with her collaborations with Byge Couture and the Iconola brand, the Deemako brand is pushing indigenous fashion one post at a time.
INFLUENCERS
Bolajo Fawehimi
A former model, Bolajo Fawehimi launched her own agency, Few Models in early 2015, and over the course of the year has managed to scout and sign several of 2015 first faces including Olamide Ogundele and Emmanuel Ahwieh. She has recently launched Few Teen, a subsidiary of her agency and continues to model and mentor.
Omoyemi Akerele
Dubbed the gate keeper of Nigerian fashion in 2014 and honoured as part of international magazine Business of Fashion’s top 500 global influencers, Mrs Akerele’s work with the Style House Files and the Lagos Fashion and Design Week is groundbreaking. She has expressed big hopes for 2016 and we at the Other Style wait eagerly to see how she achieves them.