The Curation: 5 Emerging Nigerian Womenswear Brands on Connect
Since its inception in 2018, the desire to represent and showcase the creativity and talent of up-and-coming designers from Africa’s burgeoning fashion industry has been at the center of The Folklore’s mission.
With a purpose to highlight the next frontier of designer brands from Africa, the diaspora and other markets within Latin America and Southeast Asia, our wholesale platform The Folklore Connect is designed to enhance the visibility of these growing brands on the global stage.
For retailers looking to diversify the offerings in their boutiques or department stores, The Folklore Connect is the place to discover and shop new designers from regions such as Nigeria, a place whose fashion scene is at the forefront of Africa’s growing profile on the global stage.
Each week, The Folklore Connect adds up to 20 diverse designers to its roster, exposing them to a new base of potential retail buyers and consumers across the globe, through conscious commerce solutions and technology.
We are thrilled to introduce five ready-to-wear womenswear lines from Nigeria that are available on our wholesale platform. Whether experimenting with proportion and reimagining classics for a modern audience, these innovative brands push boundaries and write their own design language for the modern era.
01. Oríré
In just a little over a year since it was founded in June 2021 by Oríré Aleshinloye, womenswear label Oríré has established itself as a contemporary brand that is committed to artisanal craftsmanship and conscious production. From cocktail dresses to coordinating separates that express artistic flair and femininity, Oríré’s designs are produced in small runs at its Lagos-based studio, using sustainable fabrics such as recycled wool, crepe and silk.
The brand also offers a made-to-order service, providing flexibility and custom fits for clients and reducing excess waste at the same time. Oríré’s ethos is built on creativity, quality, innovation and social responsibility.
02. Rendoll Lagos
The brainchild of Reni Kekere-Ekun, Rendoll Lagos was established in June 2019 in Nigeria as a contemporary fashion label for women of all shapes and sizes. The brand’s visual code is defined by kaleidoscopic marble prints and plissé fabrics rendered in dresses and coordinating sets in bold, statement colors that aim to imbue the wearer with a dose of confidence.
Existing at the intersection of luxury and affordability, Rendoll Lagos is built on the foundation of considered design that emphasizes body positivity and comfort without compromising on style.
03. Nola Black
Arinola Olowoporoku established Nola Black in 2017 to highlight “complex emotion and the ever-evolving global perspective of progressive African women.” Edginess, modernism and individualism define the brand’s design ethos, which are displayed in the collections featuring a range of styles, including patterned mesh two-piece sets, floral embellished dresses and cut-out tops.
Employing slow fashion and sustainable production processes, Nola Black’s stated mission is to promote a culture of conscious consumption that counters fast fashion with intentional, elegant designs that are created with longevity in mind.
04. FIA Factory
Founded in 2015 by Funke Asinobi-Ola, Ijeoma Jibunoh and Abisose Ola, FIA Factory is a Lagos-based label whose pieces are defined by playful patterns with a slight edge. The design trio take inspiration from contemporary African prints and traditional dress, designing with the trendy, eclectic woman in mind.
One of FIA’s signature designs is the Poof dress, which gets its name from its voluminous sleeves and oversized silhouette. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Monalisa Chinda, and Angela Simmons are just some of the names that have donned garments created by the brand.
05. Nyosi Brand
Founded by Vanessa Iloenyosi in 2017, Lagos-based ready-to-wear brand Nyosi is committed to dressing the everyday woman. From printed dresses to embroidered shirting, Iloenyosi’s designs display her contemporary take on casualwear. Iloenyosi works with a range of natural materials, such as tie-dye, chiffons and silks to create her easily wearable, stylish pieces that celebrate femininity and self-expression. Drawing from the lived experience of daily life in Lagos, the designer infuses her pieces with the city’s vibrant nature, reflected in her colorful matching sets and floral dresses.
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