LAGOS TURNS UP THE HEAT AT ARISE FASHION WEEK!!!
"THERE NEEDS TO BE AN AFRICAN VOGUE. IT'S TIME."
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-- Naomi Campbell
ARISE Fashion Week [AFW] 2018 gained Africa the recognition it deserves, when it comes to the creative industry.
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With notable attendees, such as supermodel Naomi Campbell, Imaan Hammam, Ozwald Boateng and Skepta, like any fashion week, this created a buzz that made it all the way to the Vogue office.
This is the first ARISE fashion week in the past six years and it is safe to say it came back with a bang!!!
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Think sheer silk dresses sprinkled with gold dust, the overdose of shapes and prints as well as voluminous dresses that were made just for the elite.
It came as a shock to most when super model, Naomi Campbell graced the catwalk wearing Lanre Da Silva Ajayi's golden age fringe dress. This dress is the definition of luxury; it epitomises glamour in all its glory.
With a fringe tassel bottom detail that has a swoosh to every movement Naomi made as she strutted down the runway, it captured every gaze in that space.
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As the gaze shifts from her feet and toward her torso, the eyes instantly capture the dreamy sheer detailed top with a gold dust settle touch, leaving the dress to make its' own statement.
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Campbell looked fierce, nailing that resting bitch face with a side of sass. Make-up naturally accentuated her cheek bones, leaving the shimmering gold eyeshadow to speak volumes.
With Ozwald Boateng, gender boundaries were broken, leaving the audience in a state of perpetual realisation and celebration.
His collection gave us colour blocking hacks, with futuristic prints that resulted in iconic silhouettes.
Ozwald Boateng represented or rather depicted the Afro-Parisian creative-- pairing a slim-fitted Burgundy suit with a fluffy cream beret, completed with silver hoop earrings big enough to fit an arm and a leg.
If the nostalgic ensembles displayed by Ozwald Boateng was not your cup of tea, pieces from Gavin Rajan were a representation of the African creative spirit.
This collection draws on colours, the black female in all its glory and a touch of the primitive aesthetic when looking at the make-up.
The models each had their faces painted with lines across their cheeks, exuding a dominant and fierce spirit.
While the faces say "GET OUT OF MY WAY", the collection screamed royalty -- from the intricate detailing of the beaded dresses to the seductive black lace dresses, Rajah explores the art of seduction in his collection. This gave his female models all the power, the control.
Another collection that embodied the African spirit was that of Sunny Rose, by Chidi Nwankwo. This designer creates a fusion of the glamorous 50's and the unapologetic 2000's.
With a running monochromatic theme, this was brought to life through bold stripes and kaleidoscopic visuals.
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While the 50's glamour showed the more feminine side of the women of Africa, we had looks that said "I AM NOT YOUR BABE".
The collection featured power jumpsuits that outlined that hour-glass waist of the models with a bold contrast of prints that gave off an enviable demeanour to the models' attitudes.
AFW'18 showed that Africa as a continent is on the tip of explosion and contrary to the beliefs that the continent is a 'fad' or a little village in its' own world, I can confidently report that after experiencing the culture rich overdose of ARISE Fashion Week, Africa is a continent worth more credit than it is given.