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Style, Drama, Élan On #HeinekenLFDW2015 Runway

By Kemi Amushan and Tobi Awodipe
14 November 2015   |   5:06 am
FROM the Bond-girl collection to the marriage proposal and more, Lagos recently played host to an impressive four-day line-up of fashion designers on the runway, as the Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2015 took over the city and timelines, bringing the spirit of fashion to the African continent in the last week of October.…

Tiffany-Amber-(2)

Orange-Culture-(3)FROM the Bond-girl collection to the marriage proposal and more, Lagos recently played host to an impressive four-day line-up of fashion designers on the runway, as the Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2015 took over the city and timelines, bringing the spirit of fashion to the African continent in the last week of October.

Throughout the course of the week, over 6,000 fashion insiders, including buyers, retailers, local and international press, celebrities, models and special guests made their way through the #HeinekenLFDW2015 doors.

The 5th Year Anniversary Edition kicked-off with the Tiffany Amber Nigeria show, and featured an outstanding line-up of emerging and established designers including Lanre da Silva-Ajayi, Tsemaye Binitie, Washington Roberts, Sophie Zinga, Loza Maleombho, Iamisigo, Eki Orleans, Orange Culture, April by Kunbi, Ade Bakare and a host of others.

One of the major highlights of the week, was the Fashion Business Series held on October 29 and 30, it was a resounding success. This year’s sponsors were Sterling Bank, Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC). The sponsors all made significant commitments to support the fashion industry by providing specific programs and low interest loans for fashion entrepreneurs.

For example, the Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BOI), Rasheed Olaoluwa, discussed how to access the N1 billion fund accessible to both men and women. They also announced they were working with NEPC to create a fashion manufacturing hub so that designers can create large volumes for retail or export. Sterling Bank’s Head of MSME Omolara Akinfolarin also announced they had low interest loans available to fashion entrepreneurs.

In addition to funding for fashion, other topics covered were manufacturing, e-commerce, technology, the fashion value chain and luxury. Speakers included Tunde Kehinde (MD ACE.ng), Toyosi Kolawole (MD Audeo Clothing), Reni Folawiyo (MD Alara), Andrea Iyamah (Founder/MD Andrea Iyamah Swimwear), Mobola Oniboboje (Alithea Capital), Tope Edu (MD Zegna Nigeria), Deola Sagoe, Mai Atafo, Commissioner of Commerce Osun State and many more.

The underlying message of the fashion business series was that it would take a lot of hard work and collaboration to progress the industry.

The #HeinekenLFDW2015 X Retail Exhibition Space was a key engagement hub for guests from day 2-4, which featured a curated expose, profiling the revolutionary work of African fashion creatives in the past five years and interactive booths from Heineken, Fayrouz, Sterling Bank and Maybelline. In addition, various informative creative seminars were facilitated by leading experts in the Nigerian Fashion Industry.

Adding to all the glamour and excitement at #HeinekenLFDW2015, was the Heineken & Veuve Clicquot VIP Lounge which played host to special guests throughout the course of the event.

For its 5th Anniversary, LFDW honoured five select creatives in an award ceremony held on the last day. The recipients of the awards were Mai Atafo – Menswear Designer of the Year, Amaka Osakwe- Womenswear Designer of the Year, Ejiro Amos Tafiri – Outstanding Emerging Designer of the Year (Fashion & Retail), Zainab Ashadu- Accessories Designer of the Year & Kelvin Godson Effange – Model of the Year.

HeinekenLFDW was hosted by StyleHouseFiles, headline sponsored by Heineken and was supported by Maybelline, Fayrouz, Sterling Bank, Bank of Industry, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Veuve Clicquot, South African Airways and Aquafina.

Media partners include Guardian Newspapers, Mania Magazine, BellaNaija.com, Cool FM, Style Vitae, Kamdora, Pulse.NG and Genevieve Magazine.

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