The Nigerian fashion industry review 2012
The Fashion highs and lows in 2012.
The Nigerian fashion industry, still a toddler, compared to
the fashion industries of several nations world wide, recorded unprecedented
strides in terms of mega exposure globally and creativity this year. From the
Iteun Basi astonishing Eko design series, Kiki Kamaru ‘something different’
designs, Lanre Da Silva/ Eki Orleans ‘butterflies’ series, Nkwo ‘wide African’
themed designs, to Iconic Ivanity beautiful beaded Ankara treasures; the
Nigerian fashion designers has this year, sewn magic fused with functionality
and called it wearable art. 
With the on-going global fashion fascination with all things
African, Nigerian designers in 2012, enjoyed global patronage, as top popular
fashion and music celebrities, such as Rihanna, Alisha Keys, Carrie Underwood, Keira
Knightley, Solange Knowles, Thandie Newton Agbani Derego, Oluchi Orlando,
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ke$ha amngst
others, were spotted wearing divine creations from Duro Olowu, Tsemaye Benite,
Jewel by Lisa, Michael Agwunobi‘s Bridget Awosika, Tiffany Amber, Maki O,
Meena, and lots of super talented Nigerian designers based both home and
aboard.
In terms of global exposure, the Nigerian fashion
industry especially her designers,
enjoyed major fashion sunshine, as selected Nigerian designers and their
creations were showcased at the most prestigious and populated
spots/stores/centers around the world. For instance the Nigerian pop up
store at Selfridges currently running till January 2013, courtesy Ndani
in collaboration with GTBank/ Stylehouse Files and Tiffany Amber “Peter Pan”
Jackets Debut on Leading Retail Site Yoox.com, amongst others.
The January visits of Vogue Italia’s editor Franca
Sozzani to Nigeria wearing the famous Tiffany Amber peter pan jacket
heralded the vogue cum Nigerian designers, love affair and collaboration which
have resulted in several partnership and features on Nigerian fashion on the
black vogue.
Arise magazine hosting of the five African icons, which
consists of three Nigerian designers, Tsemaye Benite, Tiffany Amber and Maki O,
at the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week, was another stage
where the global spotlight was on Nigeria fashion. The benefits, includes the
influx of international buyers, partnerships, collaborations and showcase
opportunities been made available daily to the thousands of designers involved
in the complex fashion structure. To
accurately capture the growth of the industry and record the high moments would
take more paper space than we have available. Suffix to say the year 2012, was
a good year in terms of global recognition and creativity for the fashion
industry. 
Unfortunately to whom much is given, much more is expected!
This seems to be the current case with the fashion industry, as fashion lovers
both in Nigeria and aboard grow displeased daily, at what they term as ‘exorbitant
prices’ charged by the designers for their creative products. The outrage seems
to have increased with the Ndani Nigerian pop up store at Selfridge London. It
seems, most of the finishing’s on the style products of our beloved top
designers are not up to par, compared with their international colleagues,
while the prices is more than at par. Listening to the aggrieved fashion
lovers, eager to support and promote the industry but dissatisfied, it seems
the crux of the matter isn't necessary about the prices but more about the quality
and finishing in relation to fixed price.
In a fast growing industry, quality and detail consciousness
can sometimes be sacrificed along the
way but emphasis must be made, that without price and quality control measure ,
put in place and adhered to rigidly, the Nigerian industry spot in the the
fashion sunlight would be like that of a shooting star, that blaze forth in all
it glory briefly, but fades fast.
EVENTS THAT SHAPED AND SHOWCASED NIGERIAN FASHION GLOBALLY
I 2012
Arise Magazine Fashion week Lagos 2012 (Nduka Obaigbena)
MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2012
Nigerian Fashion week 2012
Vlisco fashion shows
Ndani projects
Style Housefiles
Elite Model Look 2012
Music Meet Runway 2012
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