Why Aba Is The Fashion Lover’s Destination

The days when putting on made in Aba products were seen as derogatory are gone. Today, many people, including celebrities, are proud to say that what they are wearing was produced in Aba. The change in attitude is the function of the quality change in the products made in the commercial city that prides itself as the ‘Japan of Africa’ because of the ingenuity, dexterity and creativity of its artisans.

Aba has comparative advantage when it comes to the fashion industry because of the availability of clothing materials and an abundance of Tailors.
Nobody can take it away from Aba that even most of the foot wears and hand bags used in the West African sub-region are produced there. Some people said they decided to patronise made in Aba products when they discovered that most of the designer wears they bought in supermarkets in major cities in Nigeria or supposedly made by the top designers, which they paid exorbitantly for, were actually sewn in Aba.
There is a thriving symbiotic relationship between Designers, Marketers of clothes (mobile tailors) in different parts of the country and Tailors in Aba. As one of the tailors puts it, “We are satisfied with our tag “Local tailors”, as much as we make our money from the business relationship with the Professional Designers and marketers in the fashion Industry. We can identify our products when they are worn by top politicians, celebrities as well as ordinary Nigerians anywhere in the country. As a matter of fact, in Aba we create, design , copy and sew; all these we do because of the experience we have gathered over the decades in the fashion industry.
According to a popular tailor who prefers to be identified by his business name, Asotex Tailors, and has put in over 20 years in the business, they are enjoying a boom in the tailoring industry because of the patronage they are getting from marketers and fashion designers from different parts of the country.

Asotex, who specialises in sewing trousers, Senators’ Safaris and other types of outfits, said he seldom has time to sew for individuals in Aba as most of his customers from outside the state bring in a number of sewing ranging from 10 up to 20 that keep him perpetually busy, pointing to tied up bundles in the workshop which are either to be made to specification or for mass production.

“Under specification, the designers or marketers bring in their clothing materials-mainly costly ones- and leave the different measurements and definite instructions on what they need, and by Gods grace, we sew them to their taste. As for mass production, the materials are not that costly and could be bought anywhere by anybody who fancies it.”

He said that they also give professional advice to some of the marketers who come with measurements that are incorrect because they know from experience these do not meet the normal measurement ratio.
This, he explained, are some common problems of those who are not trained tailors but are into fashion designing business. “Some of them go into offices, take inappropriate measurements of their clients who they have chosen materials for.” This unsolicited advice, coupled with the cheapness of materials in Aba, as well as our comparatively low charges have made Aba the designer wearer’s destination.
Abatex said those who patronise their services are many and come from different parts of the country. “They are either coming to claim the ones that are ready or bringing in fresh ones. It is a daily business depending on what one needs.”

But what baffles every first timer in Aba is the environment where these designer wears are made. For instance, in parts of Akwete street and Etche roads where these tailors cluster, there is nothing to show they can make any reasonable sewing as the sewing machines are ordinary and workshops, mere stalls or in most cases, makeshift stalls in between two buildings. Macbeth was right when he said that “There is no act to find the mind’s construction on the face”. In most of these shops one cannot find a display of the clothes they have sewn to convince an enquirer of the expertise of the tailor he is to trust his expensive materials with. Explaining this, Mr Samuel Ebino, who shares the same workshop with Asotex and a shirt specialist said, “You can’t afford to expose your designs or that of your client to the many copy cats who would copy any design that attracts them and is trendy and mass produce it at your detriment or that of your client whose work is customised.” However, there are many corporate tailors scattered all over the city who are good in the art and equally patronised by the visiting designer and marketers but their charges are said to be higher than those in the market stalls.

Another tailor, Mr Innocent, who has his workshop on Etche Road, said his clientele cuts across the West African sub-region as some Nigerians resident in some of these countries sew the clothes in Aba and take them to cities like Cotonou in Benin Republic where, ironically, our people smuggle them back to Nigeria packed as foreign shirts. He said the expertise of most Aba tailors are derived from the ability of most of them to download foreign designs from the internet and copy them exactly, as well as interpret designs in fashion catalogues. The availability of quality clothing materials, which some few people import, are sold only in Aba and has highly enhanced the sale of these made in Aba clothes, which our clients supply to the high echelon in Abuja or Lagos. Making these clothes would continue to be cheaper in Aba as long as most importers of fabrics are domiciled in Aba. When these materials are imported into the country, they are taken from Lagos to Aba where they are sold in bails or rolls. They are in turn taken to Lagos or other parts of the country where naturally they would be sold at a higher price.

Mr Samuel Ebion, who is a suit specialist said they are always busy; those who have tested and are satisfied with their work were always coming back for more. He admits that their work might not have the same finishing like those of their foreign counterparts because of the sophistication of their equipments and quality of the clothing materials but “we are giving account of ourselves under our circumstances” He said that the suits they make in Aba can compare favourably with the finest ones anywhere in the country but our fees and prices are better,” he boasts. On the price difference between them (in the market) and the corporate tailors in town, he said “they build in their overhead cost, which shoots up their charges but our customers know what they want, so we are not in any competition with them.” Though none of them agreed to disclose their real charges but only gave estimates, they all said that they are always willing to negotiate and are fair enough to continuously draw the patronage and boom they are enjoying.
“Aba is home of fabrics ranging from second hand clothing (Oke), bales and rolls from Asia and Europe. There are materials that look like waste but to the people who know the value, they can turn them into finished products that are attractive to wear,” one of them said

Eyola’s Brand Adds Colour To Fashion Biz

Established in London in 2008, Eyola Fashion House looks beyond the fleeting fashions of the day, forging a new silhouette and a new system of fashion. At the heart of the fashion house is the hallmark of the brand – its 19th century Victorian heritage – serving beyond a design influence to also become the fundamental ingredient behind Eyola’s brand philosophy.

The nineteenth century was an era that championed innovation, flamboyance, art, invention, philosophy, craftsmanship, the birth of haute couture; all of which the Eyola brand evokes. Akin to the evolution of fashion during the 19th century, Eyola takes a stand for a new era of fashion, liberating women from the constraints of the mass production of luxury goods and readjusting fashion’s bi-annual collections by replacing it with more frequent, smaller, eight-piece capsule collections called ‘Octettes’. The Octette, an homage to the figure-8 (hourglass) silhouette created by Victorian corsets, brings a much needed new perspective on fashion in the same vein as fashion pioneers Charles Worth, Paul Poiret, Gabrielle Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli.

Creative Director Eyola trained at renowned fashion houses, including Alexander McQueen, before studying Fashion and Styling at prestigious Italian fashion school Istituto Europeo Di Design where she earned her Master’s degree. Channeling the wealth of skill and craft obtained throughout her educational and vocational journey, Eyola settled on sculpting fabric onto the female form. Eyola – The Products
Each creation by Eyola is handmade in London, transeasonal and either one-of-a-kind or limited edition to a maximum of eight per style.
EYOLA: Specializes in cocktail dresses, evening gowns, formal wear and modern alternatives to traditional wedding attire – from coloured, mini-dress and skirt suit bridal-wear (for all wedding engagements: the engagement announcement to the wedding dinner, ceremony, reception, anniversary) to outfits for the mother of the bride and wedding guests.

An online boutique with a signature style of sharp British tailoring with a modern flair. Introduces women to an interactive shopping experience designing tailored wardrobe staples to their personal specifications which is handcrafted in London and shipped worldwide (including Nigeria and Ghana). Eyola’s Private Showroom, Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa
Eyola’s Private Showroom opened on August 8, 2014. The fashion showroom is the first By Appointment and By Invitation Only fashion destination in Lagos. Members are either exclusively invited or selected via a membership application process. Non-members and members alike are invited to visit the showroom without an appointment during our ‘Open House’ every Friday between 1pm to 4pm. We advise customers to give a courtesy call en route to the showroom so that there are no disappointments.
Eyola’s Awards
’Most Promising Designer of the Year’, Africa Fashion International and Arise Magazine’s Africa Fashion Week, Johannesburg South Africa, 2009.
‘Vogue Talents’, Vogue Italia’s Emerging Designers. Eyola – Daily Times Newspaper Fashion Columnist
Eyola is a resident Fashion Writer at the Daily Times Newspaper {Lagos, Nigeria}. Read her weekly ‘Eyola’s Series of Eight’ column every Tuesdays for Eyola’s perspective on fashion for both fashion lovers and fashion entrepreneurs alike.

It’s Africa Fashion Week

This weekend, Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, will host the second edition of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria from 23rd to 24th of this month. Solomon Elusoji writes that with the activities lined up for this year’s AFWN, fashion aficionado will find no better place to spend the weekend

A tenuous-long stage bathed in warm lights; lanky-chesty models strutting up, down, up down; eccentric-cool designers fretting behind the scenes; jaggy-smooth music streaming from invincible speakers; a perceptive-relaxed audience spotting, critiquing, enjoying, and window-shopping. Good night, fashion show.

No, fashion shows are more than what you see on television or hear in gossipy conversations with people who have never attended one. It is about the bliss of glamour, the eccentricity of style, the chemistry of fabrics, and, yes – the very important one, because money makes the world go round – the business of design. It is about how to strut the what-to-wear, how to know the what-to-wear, and how to grab the what-to-wear before it becomes so ubiquitous you can’t turn a head without saying ‘oh you’ve gotten it too’.

Across the world, fashion is big business. Giorgio Armani is worth over nine billion dollars. Miuccia Prada, over eleven billion in dollars. And these are just some individuals in the game. Of course, this should be no surprise. There are over seven billion people on Planet Earth, and they all need to wear clothes. Right?

In Nigeria – you can extrapolate to Africa – the fashion industry is also gathering pace. For so long, Nigerians depended on foreign designers to dress to those fabulous occasions where brand names are important—something like who are you wearing?. But that started to change around the turn of the century. Now, we have Deola Sagoe and Jewel by Lisa, and several internationally acclaimed ‘fabric-engineers’. They’ve made us so proud that some persons are even claiming the Nigerian fashion industry is worth over $10 billion. Okay, that may not be true – these people don’t have figures to back up their outlandish claims – but something really cool is happening in this space.

The entrepreneurial breeze blowing in the country has seen a lot of small scale fashion designers storm the industry. Although, the business climate is harsh and difficult to operate within, most of these small scale designers have been able to sustain their businesses, break even, and even make sizeable profits.

But, in an economy where not much is being invested into the fashion industry, the opportunities for budding fashion designers to break even are very limited. The reasons range from the dearth of quality platforms to showcase their works, appropriate training and education, to the unavailability of funding, a dead textile industry, unfavourable policies and apathy on the part of government. Despite the multi-faceted problems, though, the industry has a promising future. Remember, there are over 170 million people to dress up.

And this is exactly where Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) comes into the picture – consolidating on the small gains of a budding industry and accelerating its growth by bringing together the major stakeholders in the industry and providing a platform for creativity to sparkle.

“The AFWN was established in 2014 to showcase talented fashion designers who remain largely unknown, for the purpose of strengthening and developing the international competitiveness of Nigeria’s fashion industry,” AFWN’s Head of Public Relations and Marketing, Yetty Ogunnubi told THISDAY.

“The initiative is to support, showcase and promote Nigeria’s most innovative fashion talents in a bid to move Nigerian fashion forward through the development of fashion businesses,” she added.

The main event is scheduled to hold on the 23rd and 24th of this month at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. But what exactly should you be expecting?

This year’s edition is themed “Showcasing Our Cultural Heritage through Fashion”, and in honour of that, the event will feature a photo competition for fashion lovers tagged ‘Evolution of Iro and Buba’. So, there will be lots of flashy-gushy embroidery flying around, aimed at making you swoon, die, go to heaven, come back – there will be no ambulance at the venue – and testify, hopefully.

Moreover, participants in the ‘Evolution of Iro and Buba’ competition, stand a chance to win 2 VIP tickets to the Gala Night and After Show party, tickets to all the shows, fabrics, a designer outfit and a meet and greet with Brand Ambassador, Oreka Godis.

Also, besides the red carpet paparazzi and all the glitz and razzmatazz, there will be an Education in Fashion segment, a fashion management workshop for young designers in collaboration with the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce, and a fundraising for the chosen charity organisation – the Sickle Cell Foundation.

Of course, we know, there are other fashion shows in the country. So, do we need AFWN? Ogunnubi answered brilliantly.
“The Nigerian fashion industry places so much emphasis on promoting the already established designers and little attention is ever paid to the young and upcoming designers who are equally as creative, and if not also as talented. Nigeria has so many undiscovered talents which the AFWN takes pride in unearthing.

“One of the platforms the AFWN is using to discover these creative geniuses in the making, is the NNTD (Nigeria’s Next Top Designer), which is a reality TV show whose primary purpose is to find the hard working, intelligent creatives to give them a platform to encourage, promote and celebrate young fashion designers in Nigeria.

“We give them the opportunity to work with mentors both in the fashion industry and the business world and then propel them into the limelight where they can reach a wider target market, which most probably might not have been possible without our intervention.

“The AFWN concession store, based in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, is also another platform we are using to help push Nigerian fashion designers. We stock designers that have the products but don’t have the space or platform to achieve that. We also have a concession store in London by our sister company, Africa Fashion Week London, in which we are also selling the made in Nigeria brands.”

But, while there is an unusual focus on emerging designers, the Week, since it aims to be the destination platform for showcasing fashion on the continent, also accommodates established and celebrity designers. It is about showcasing the gemstones of the industry.

Some designers that will be at AFWN 2015 include: Elawe Clothing, Massive by Fanny, MC Stell, Zhukkiifaro Design, Belle Array, Doughyeen, Enkaystylings, Nara Cole, Olayinka Clothing, and a host of others. Exhibitors will include: Inagbe Grand Resorts, Healthy Options by Ted, and House of Linen.

“More awareness is being created for the brand, more designers from different African countries and the African Diaspora are participating this year,” Founder of the AFWN, Ronke Ademiluyi enthused.

Ademiluyi, born and schooled in London, is some sorts of fashion enigma. Her Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) is globally renowned, and has become an unparalleled platform for over 2,000 UK and non-UK designers. It was in 2014 she decided to come home and replicate AFWL’s resounding success. And with just the second edition approaching, the Week is stirring the fashion industry, as a good spoon turns a pot of soup.

She has also managed to assemble a brilliant team for this project. For example, AFWN’s creative director, Sola Oyebade, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mahogany International and is a fashion aficionado who has received so many international accolades.
Although the first edition of the Fashion Week was glamorous, AFWN 2015 is definitely bigger and better.

Ademiluyi is expecting “a much bigger audience” with a lot of work having gone into increasing the Week’s promotion and branding. Maverick presenter, Denrele Edun is the red carpet host, and “we will be putting a glamorous end to the fashion week, with Glo ambassadors strutting down the runway.”

“There is certainly more awareness and more up and coming designers are signed on,” AFWN’s global goodwill ambassador and daughter of billionaire, Rasaq Okoya, Ms. Abiola Okoya, told THISDAY. For the red carpet gala night, “it promises to be an exhilarating experience with variety of fun to hold you spell bound,” she said.

Previously, after being announced as the goodwill ambassador, Okoya had been quite delighted. “I am very excited at being honoured as the Global Goodwill Ambassador of such an international event, and also a pleasure working with the founder, Ronke Ademuliyi and the team; it’s an idea whose time has come and I believe it will continue to flourish and gain momentum.

“Creativity, certainly, is not lacking in the African community, but what is needed is a platform for them to showcase their talent, and funding to nurture it, which I believe AFWN will achieve,” she said.

The excitement isn’t just an Okoya monopoly. AFWN’s Brand Ambassador, popular on-air personality, Oreka, chosen after a call was put out, also felt rapturous.

“I am very privileged to have the great honour of being AFWN 2015’s Fashion Brand Ambassador. The creative team behind AFWN left no stone unturned in their mission to bring you the very best in as yet undiscovered fashion designers across Africa. There are lots of surprises in store this year and I look forward to sharing every great moment,” she said after being chosen.

Some of the show’s sponsors include Inagbe Grand Resorts, clothing outfit, Da-Viva, and Zaron cosmetics, who are the Week’s official make-up partners for 2015.

Latest Indian Lace And French Lace Styles In 2015

There were so many owambe (parties) that went on during the weekend, so many gorgeous apparel worn by beautiful women was on display and indeed so many new lace styles. Here are some aso ebi trendy styles from the weekend. # Lace styles Galore
This here, i definitely love , a gorgeous maroon Indian lace sewn into an off shoulder blouse with ribbon like embellishment by the left hand side and two wrappers giving it a definite eastern look. Hence the perfect wedding outfit as it is finished off with traditional beads, a well tied umbrella style Gele and beautifully embellished maroon colored shoe.

This purple yoke lace dress, mixed with satin is beautiful from top to bottom. it is worn with layered sparkling white bead necklace, glittery silver earrings and a silver purse.

This corn cake colored lace six piece dress gives an illusion with the addition of a sheer organza to cover up the plunging neck line, beautifully paired with a maroon Gele, this look is totaled with simple jewelry and a well made up face.

Knowing how to pull off color mix is very important. This off shoulder blouse with a detailed chiffon train in front worn atop a yoke skirt is paired perfectly with an ocean blue gele to give this ensemble a re-define d look.

This beautiful Aso ebi style is a vintage old gold colored lace mixed with purple Indian lace sewn into an off shoulder blouse paired with a yoke sleeted skirt. This look is worn with a beautifully tied Gele and simple asymmetric earrings.

This pink lace four piece strapless flowing dress is paired with a chiffon cape pinned with a brooch. the look is finished off with an Aso oke Gele.

Gorgeous pink long sleeved lace yoke dress with pearl details at the back is paired with a blue purse and sea blue scarf. Definately a way to dazzle in pink.

This wine off shoulder lace flowing dress mixed with ankara print is paired with a wine colored Gele and a butterfly purse with stones.

This peach french sheer lace dress definately flatters the body bringing out the curve and it is paired with a metallic and peache color Gele and metallic ball earrings.

This beautiful flowery print french lace dress is body flattering and its worn with a green Gele and paired with an embellished purse.

Glossy Pants, Zebra Print, Play-Suit For Your Friday Night

Sometimes picking the right outfit to wear for a night out with your man or girlfriends for a ladies night out or whether you are heading to the movies by yourself can be rather exhausting, you could rummage your closet for hours and at the end you might be too tired to go out thereby missing out on the all fun.

Here are some inspiring outfits you should definitely try out #party time.

A black metallic shimmer top with gaps at the sleeve worn with high waist black glossy pants and black heels is a way to rock and roll whether its with your man or a girls night out.

This gorgeous green play-suit with a plunging neckline, worn with a pearl belt, an orange chain purse and louboutin spike heels is the perfect night time wear if you want to hit the club tonight. keep it simple with statement earrings only.

This monochrome ensemble is a black glossy turtle neck sleeveless crop top worn with zebra print high waist skirt with a black band paired with a black channel silver chain bag and white Rome style criss cross sandals. This look would most certainly sparkle under the night light.

This plain easy body flattering black dress worn with playful multiple colored chic chain jewelry and a shredded grey sandal heel is a look that says “keeping it real and simple” its perfect wear for a night out with the girls.

This turtle neck yellow crop top and yellow high waist skirt paired with black killer heels and a black with gold chain bag is definately the best outfit for a night out with the girls.

This hot black ensemble is daring. A crop top with flap pleated hands and gold twisted embroidery paired with high waist black pants and strap pumps is the perfect night time outfit.

7 Fierce Ways To Rock Lady Biba’s Spring Collection

ashion is life, therefore it moves forward and changes pace and we at fashion police would definitely bring you the latest. This spring collection by lady biba is a gorgeous array of outfits for almost all occasions.

This print criss cross semi wrap dress is a perfect dinner time and day time wear. spice it up with a little jewelry and it is re-defined.

This beautiful multiple strip colored print shirt dress paired with a strap heel shoe is totally a casual outfit that you can rock to day time functions like luncheons, or brunch with your friends etc.

This red midi criss cross dress is a stunner as it flatters the lower waist. it is the right outfit for dinner events, date time with your man etc. keeping this dress simple is the key to its beauty but you can mix up colors through a bag, purse or shoe to add flavor. Also bracelets would definitely go a long way.

This chiffon print jumpsuit definitely has a lot of potential, paired with blazers, pump and a simple neck piece it becomes an outfit for work, pair with statement jewelry killer sandal heel it becomes dinner time outfit, tone it down with minimal jewelry and sandals or flat and it becomes day time wear. like i always say ” you can never go wrong with jumpsuit”.

This wool dress is definitely a stunner as it is a perfect work outfit for the day and paired with longer pant trousers it would definitely put your swag on another level at an event.

This strip halo cut out dress with gold button details is the perfect work outfit and it can definitely be worn with endless type colored shoes.

This beige and blue dress with a neck that is in between a peter pan neck and a cowl neck is a gorgeous outfit you can wear to work. instead of a black pump heel you can spice it up with red or blue patent pumps.

Why We Prefer Trousers To Skirts – FCT Ladies

Some ladies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said on Friday said that they were more comfortable in trousers than in skirts.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who spoke to some ladies in the FCT said that trousers were more comfortable to wear.

Mrs Jane Akachi, the Manager of Psalm Boutiques located at Wuse 2 said that she looked smarter in trousers than in skirts or gowns.

“I recall that I was at Banex Plaza during the last explosion but as soon as the explosive went off I was able to run very fast,’’ she said.

“My husband also prefers I wear trousers to skirts and he always admires me more whenever I am putting them on, he said it brings out my curves,’’ she said.

Akachi said that nothing could make her stop wearing trousers even when she grew old.

Miss Diana Ojuar, a student of University of Abuja said that she wore trousers for security reasons and for attraction.

“I like putting on trousers because at times I go for night classes and come back late and at that time, I will run till I get to my room.

“I also wear it to look good and attractive to my admirers,’’ Ojuar said.

She said that her fat legs discouraged her from putting on skirts.

“I have fat legs and skirts make me look funny but trousers cover that for me,’’ she said.

Nkechi Anthony, a civil servant said that she wore trousers most times to protect her skin.

“When I look at my legs, I feel so proud because they look really fresh; it is the help of trousers.

“I do not like to expose my legs to harsh weather conditions, so the best thing for me is to use trousers to cover them.

“Again, when I am sitting down, I don’t have to watch myself or care if my legs are closed or not,’’ Anthony said. (NAN)

4 Lessons A Tight Pair Of Jeans Taught Me

Young woman trying on jeans in front of mirror, low angle view

The craziest thing happened to me recently. I decided to wear a new pair of jeans I ordered online to work but alas, they wouldn’t zip or button. I decided to solicit the help of dear mama and after working as a team for 10 minutes she accepted defeat and said ‘Peculiar, I can’t button this, it’s just too tight, look at how your butt looks in it’. I replied that I couldn’t just not wear my new jeans. I loved the rips on them and a reflection of how my bum looked was more motivation. Geez, my squats were effective! I had to wear the jeans and thus began the struggle to zip and button the jeans. I lay on my bed, stretched, tucked my tummy in, etc. and then the button pulled off; but I was not to be deterred. I simply cut a button from an old dress and decided to sew it on. Then I couldn’t find my sewing kit.
Well, let’s just say I managed to zip the trousers and solve the button dilemma by using a belt with a big buckle head and so I left for work and managed to be early by barely 5 minutes. My drama with my jeans actually taught me a few lessons about dreams and how to achieve them. I’d like to share them with you.
Before you replicate what others have done, do your research
I saw the jeans online on a model and decided they would be the right size. After all I’m a size 8; but I got the surprise of my life when I tried them on. I couldn’t even return them. The time frame for returning them had passed. (I was so confident they’d fit, I didn’t even try them on).
You need a team to help you
Mama was just the team mate I needed at the beginning. You should have seen the concentration on her face and the way she kept saying. ‘Hold the jeans firmly’, ‘tuck your tummy in’.
Sometimes you gotta go the distance alone
Just as dear mama got tired and left. Sometimes in the walk to achieving our goals, people we hoped to help us may get tired and leave us alone. But you have to keep believing and thriving.
Be resourceful and think of alternatives
Before you decide to do steps 1-4, ask yourself if it’s worth it. After all the struggle (even breaking a nail in the process), only one person at work complimented me on the jeans. Imagine!
I must confess that I really had no lessons to teach y’all. I just wanted to share this story and still come across as deep and philosophical.
So dears, have you ever had to buy clothes a size too small only to force yourself into it the next day or hang it in your closet as motivation to get rid of those pounds? I’d like to hear your force fit stories.

Blind artist create stunning paintings

Texas-based artist John Bramblitt perceives the world and everything in it through colour. His paintings are stunningly vivid, bursting with colour and texture but ironically, Bramblitt is blind. The 37-year-old has been suffering epileptic seizures since the age of two. As he grew older, the seizures became more and more frequent. His vision gradually began to deteriorate – at first it would become blurry and then eventually clear up. But with time, it cleared up less after each episode, and by 2001 he had become completely blind. Bramblitt was at his lowest when something changed – a year after he became completely blind, he decided to bring colours back into his life. So he picked up a bottle of glue and began to draw outlines that he could feel after the glue dried. Bramblitt starts by forming a picture in his mind and then uses fabric paint to produce outlines that can be felt with his fingers. The braille on the tubes of paint help him identify colours, but over time, he has learned how to recognise them by touch. So he uses this technique to mix shades and fill them into the outlines. Bramblitt’s work has received several honours and media attention over the past decades. His first drawings were misshapen and clumsy, but just the fact that he could connect lines and curves gave him hope. Since then, he has spent countless hours practicing and mastering the art of painting without sight. And he got really good at it – paintings that once took him 14 hours to complete were now coming to him faster. His concentration and focus increased, and his work became bolder and more vivid. His works soon became a medium for him to express how he perceived colours and shapes.

BEST OF NIGERIAN FASHION "natives"

100 Latest Lace Styles & Colours for Women (Nigerian & African Fashion)

Pawpaw Debunks Wedding Tales

Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme popularly known as Pawpaw, has denied reports making the rounds that he might be getting married soon.
He has since debunked this saying that he won’t be walking down the aisle anytime soon. Pawpaw was quoted saying, “Na lie! There’s no such thing; they are just rumours.”
The Mirror Boy actor has been previously linked with Ghanaian actress, Nana Ama McBrown, and London-based model, Brenda Gowon, rumoured to have dumped the actor in 2008 for unknown reasons.
His acting partner, Chinedu Ikedieze, a.k.a Aki, has been married since December 2011.

The Uniquness Of Ankara

One thing that makes ankara the choice fabric of the fashion – conscious is that it comes in handy for a number of designs – laid-back, chic, evening wear, office wear, dinner wear, etc.
All you have to do is get your style and design right and you’ll hit the right note!

Jumpsuits Still In Vogue

Jumpsuits are still in vogue: classier and more beautiful designs. The appeal of jumpsuits is simple. They are easy to wear; they are an embodiment of all-in-one fashion and come in a variety of cuts and styles, which can take a lady from formal to casual, moderately conservative with a flair for fun and sexy.
Designers sought to give it a contemporary flair, creating new, styles, colours, texture and cuts to flatter and appeal to most ladies.

Emmanuel Ikubese, 25, Wins Mr Nigeria 2015

A 25-year-old actor, Emmanuel Ikubese, was on Saturday night crowned “Mr Nigeria 2014’’ at an event held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ikubese also got a car, a modelling contract and N1 million prize money.
The winner would also get the chance to represent Nigeria at the “Mr World’’ contest in the Netherlands later this year.
Ikubese defeated 19 other contestants to emerge winner of the annual contest, organised by the Silverbird Group.
The event featured stage appearances in different outfits and performances by the 20 contestants.
The contestants appeared on stage in different attires and gave different artistic performances before being reduced to 10
The hosts then took them through a question and answer routine before they were again reduced by half, where Ikubese emerged as winner.
Austine Igwilo and Michael Amilo clinched the first and second-runner up positions respectively.
The winner of the contest told NAN that he would use his position as Mr Nigeria to be a good role model and to inspire millions of youths and encourage them to chase their dreams.
He said “I am currently part of a campaign against HIV/AIDS and I will also do my own projects.
“One of them is the fight against domestic violence because I have come across a lot of such violence in the news in recent times.
“The case of the man who stabbed his wife 72 times got to me and I decided to take it up. We are Africans and we are honourable men and beating our women is never a sign of our strength.’’
Ikubese added that “I want to get us talking about God-given innate African qualities again and encourage our men to be real men.’’
The Mr Nigeria 2014, who studied International Relations at the United States International University, Nairobi, Kenya, hails from Kwale in Delta State. (NAN)

Most Beautiful Models In Nigeria To Showcase African Fashions

African fashions are largely making bold statement around the world which would be attributed to the unique creativity and attractive design concepts. Some of these latest concepts are set to be witnessed in a model contest tagged ” A CLASH OF FASHION and BEAUTY”
The choreographed show will reveal world’s latest fashions and leading designers from African continent celebrated by each contestant on stage while showcasing and promoting Africa’s culture and Nigeria’s lifestyle to the rest of the world in an honest and fair competition
The model contest where the winner represents Nigeria at Best Model International contest in Albania later this year is a platform for national achievement and international
recognitions.
Speaking to Endowed Africa Television and other media organisations recently in Abuja, the head of Event and Promotion Alex Nwankwo said this is beyond a pageant contest but a fashion model show which is aimed at promoting African fashion, discovering model’s talent and celebrating Nigeria’s beauty‎. The director of Endowed Africa Television Mr Samaila Vangawa reiterated their committement to project the event across the participation countries through different networks and online videos.
The event which will be staged in Abuja in March will parade 37 contestants who will clash on runway adorning the creative attires of African top fashion designers and Nigeria’s famous couture

Spring/Summer 2015 Ready-To-Wear

The Beauty Of Eyebrow

Just as the shape of a mustache can drastically change the appearance of a man’s face, the shape of the eyebrows affects the appearance of the eyes. In many ways, the overall appearance of the eye area is defined by the arch, length and thickness of the eyebrow. A lot of Nigerian ladies are in the trend of having perfectly shaped eyebrows which enhances their beauty. LEADERSHIP Weekend’s CHALYA DUL spoke to a beautician, Ann Enebe, who gave tips and views on how to achieve a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
Ann says in order to achieve a perfectly shaped eyebrow the shape of the eyebrow is correct when the beginning of the brow is aligned with the center of the nostril and the arch falls over the back third of the eye. She went further to give us some essential tips to a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
Use an eyebrow pencil or powder that matches the colour of your own eyebrows. Exception: If you have pale or blonde eyebrows, you’ll need to use a colour that’s one or two shades deeper than your natural brow colour—this prevents blonde brows from looking washed out, especially when other eye makeup is worn.
Brush the brow up with a brow comb or toothbrush.
Whether you are using a pencil or powder, follow the basic shape of the existing brow
Apply the colour by filling in the shape of the brow between the hairs where needed.
As much as possible, work only with the hair that is there. The idea is to shade rather than draw on eyebrows.
Fill in only at the front or underneath the brow, or through the brow itself.
Do not place your brow colour, whether it is pencil or powder, more than one-quarter inch away from where the natural hair growth stops. This would accentuate the fact that there is no brow there in the first place.
Do not forget that eyebrow colour should look shaded and soft, not like a straight, hard line.
When applying brow gel, brush the color through the brow in much the same fashion as you apply mascara to the eyelashes. Brush the wand through your brows, being careful not to get the product on the skin and not to leave the brows standing straight up. It will probably take you a few applications to get the hang of it.
Talking to some ladies, they gave reasons they enjoy a perfectly shaped eyebrow.
Daharatu said: “when I have my eyebrow shaped, it gives me a completely different and classy look. It makes me look very different from my everyday look. While Ama said it makes a huge difference to my look; each time I want to look really pretty and fly I ensure I have a perfectly carved eyebrow.”
In Nneka’s view, ”sometimes I get tired of carving and shaping my eyebrow, but then when I decide to let it grow without carving, it gets really bushy. So most times, I carve my eyebrow to make them look organised and neat and it keeps me looking pretty too.”

Grazee Stitches Dazzles At Nigerian Fashion Week 2014

The Nigerian Fashion Week which is one of Nigeria’s most respected fashion exhibition platforms, has come and gone, but everyone who witnessed the event will not forget in a hurry the glitz and glamour that lit up show , especially the participation of Spanish designers Agatha Ruiz De La Prada, of the famous Prada family. One of the most talked about aspect of the show was the eclectic display of vibrant colours and designs from many established and emerging Nigerian designers including talented Abuja based designer, Grazee Stitches.

Grazee Stitches, a fashion line known for its simple and stylish style tries to blend in Western style into African designs. “Because I’m coming from a corporate world, I’m trying to encourage indigenous, African fabrics to be incorporated into corporate fashion. I want a situation whereby we can wear our own African fabrics to the office and our bosses will not think we are out of place,” Grace Ibironke Ojo, the creative Director/CEO of Grazee Stitches explains what influences the unique designs being churn out by her
emerging fashion line.

At this year’s Nigerian Fashion Week, Grazee Stitches wowed the crowd with her unique and creative designs tailored around the theme of this year’s event “Going Green”, making sure her designs and fabrics emphasized on that even as hundrends of guests and fashion afficionados both from home and internationally got stunned.

She speaks more about her participation; “At this year’s NFW, I showcased what people can wear in the corporate world, what they can wear to evening outing and just everyday casual wears all with the Ankara fabrics. I just generally tried to express my talent and creativity with the African Fabric.” An enthusiastic Grace continues; “It’s awesome. It’s great to be in the midst of so many other designers and you’ll see so much competition in the industry but for me, it’s not about competition; it’s about self-expression. It’s an eye-opener for me because I’ve been challenged and also seen that I can do better. I’ve been encouraged because so many people walked up to me to appreciate my designs and I got very eye-opening feed-backs. It’s a good stepping point for me and I realised I’m on the right track.”

As 2015 beckons, it’s no doubt that Grazee Stitches is here to take her rightful position in the burgeoning Nigerian Fashion industry, and the already established international stage as well. Grace Ibironke Ojo, who finished her first degree and second degree at Bayero University, Kano and went on to bag her third degree at the National Open University of Nigeria, is from Ekiti state. She hinted us a little on parts of her plans for 2015; “By God’s grace next year I hope to showcase my designs at the African Reception in Paris. I look forward to that.”

Difference Between Day And Night Time Make Up

Makeup can either be simple or it can be difficult. It all depends on how much you know about makeup and its application techniques. The more you know the easier it will be to achieve a great makeup look on your own. If you’re new at the whole makeup art, then it is important to learn as much as you can in order to avoid common makeup mistakes. Knowing the difference between day and evening makeup is an important piece of information that every newbie should know.
It’s pretty easy to say that there are numerous types of makeup looks out there, but what may not be as obvious is the fact that there is actually a time and a place for certain makeup looks. You may have heard of the terms “day makeup” and “night makeup” but probably don’t know what the difference is. One common mistake many women make is confusing the two types of makeup looks. Some women believe that night makeup is just a matter of piling on more makeup on top of the makeup they wore during the day. This couldn’t be more wrong, not to mention bad for your skin.

Day Look
Rule 1: Less is more. It’s worth considering laying off the eyeliner a bit, and focusing more on staying light and fresh. It’s younger, cuter, and (to be honest) doesn’t look like you’re trying too hard to cover up your real face!
Rule 2: Perfectly groomed brows. A girl doesn’t need nearly as much liner when she has perfectly shaped brows– it frames your face and is truly seductive without being as noticeable.
Rule 3: A little mascara equals a lot of femininity. A little mascara goes a long way with a daytime look. It polishes the look and adds that touch of femininity that will draw any man in.
Night Look
Rule 1: Say hello to liner. Be a little more generous with the liner in the night time look. It’s more dramatic and makes your eyes stand out in a crowd.
Rule 2: Play with colour. Use a little pop of a sophisticated shade that really caters to your eye colour. It’s fun, unique, and it accents your naturally beautiful features.Rule 3: Smoke it out: Use a deeper shade in the crease of the eye and smudge it out to reach the length of the line of the eyebrow. This dramatic smoky effect, when paired with lighter shades on the lid and highlights just below the brow makes for a picture perfect night look.
With practice you’ll be able to find just the right day and night makeup looks that work with your skin tone. Be sure to choose colours that complement each other and suit the location you plan on being at.

Ankara Fashion Design Stylish Appearance

Beautifully designed Ankara fashion wear has really taken the stage of fashion cloth in in African, it has even extended to other part of the world by the African living abroad.
There are lots of Ankara fashion styles with stylish appearance out there that you can decide to go for and make it your own design. To help you out in your selection, we have been able to pick out the best among them all, so that it will be easy for you to select the Ankara fashion design you ever wanted.

We hope you will find them interesting just as we found them beautiful and stylish enough to consider them to appear in our post here today.

Feel Relax and enjoy them as much as we do.

Here comes the Ankara Fashion styles with beautiful outfit.

How do you see them? Feel free to comment on the Ankara Fashion Design With Stylish Appearance using the facebook comment below and don’t forget to click the Facebook like button to help us share these Ankara fashion design post.

How to Delight Your Partner with Sexy Lingerie this Christmas?

Whether you are in ongoing relationship or just started new one, Christmas seems to be the best time of the year to give something special to your wife or lover. The gift of some hot Christmas lingerie sounds perfect to grab your partner’s love and attention. If you are confused as to which one to buy, this article will help you get your choice in the right direction.

Every woman wants to be felt special by her partner. Hence, you should consider something that would make her feel special. If you have been in a long relationship and having children, your wife may not have been feeling as sexy as she used to. This Christmas, give her special piece of lingerie that will let her know that you still find her attractive and you would like her to continue wearing sexy lingerie. If you are in newer relationship, you can buy her sexy underwear and earn Brownie points. Buying something hot for her to wear will surely bring smile on her face, every time she will open her underwear drawer and find that special lingerie. It will always remind her that you are a caring and loving partner.

Before you buy anything, take time to look around different stylish designs rather than panic buying at the last moment. A better option would be buying babydoll lingerie from Abc Underwear that will make her feel delicate and cute as a baby. You need to buy something that exudes your love for her and not something that is tarty. Avoid choosing a combination of red and black color. She might not appreciate it and might turn her off. Buying tarty lingerie will have to spend time just in the drawer.

Another option is to check out what kind of lingerie her favorite celebrity wears. Surely, she would love to wear something similar to her favorite celebrity clothes. By giving her similar lingerie as that of a celebrity, it will make her think thoughtful and caring about you. It will indicate that you pay careful attention to what she likes. Do not miss a chance to make her feel like a celebrity of your life.

How to Delight Your Partner with Sexy Lingerie this Christmas

To avoid the ruining of the special moment, you need to peek at your partner’s lingerie drawer to figure out what size undergarments does she wear. The worst mistake that most of the men make is buying bigger lingerie than their partner’s size. Making such mistake may make your wife think it in a wrong way. Women do not like her partner to think they got bigger than before. So be confirmed with the size before you buy.

Besides the size, you also need to consider what kind of shape and design your wife likes. While buying such gift, do not buy something that is not her cup of tea. Also, decide your budget and stick to it. It is often a good idea to browse the internet to determine what kinds of things are available within your budget. Some websites like ABCUnderwear.com offers a huge variety of undergarments at reasonable price. A physical retail shop might not have as much variety as online stores have, and they might be expensive.

Once you have chosen lingerie or a couple of them, add a special touch by wrapping up the gift with additional things like a bottle of champagne or simply a hand-written card. Write a short message regarding what purpose the gift holds and what it signifies. This will surely make her feel much more special.

Rocking Yellow

Yellow is the colour of sunshine and has been the trending colour lately. Yellow is an edgy and elegant colour and suits any skin type.
Wearing a yellow dress is always an eye catcher; regardless of the occassion you are wearing the dress to, the colour is sure to get you loads of attention!
Wearing a yellow top/blouse is one of the classiest ways to wear the hue. The colour yellow looks great in almost any colour combination.
If there’s one celebrity that knows how to rock the colour yellow, it’s Tiwa Savage. She flawlessly pulls off the colour every time!
Check out some celebrities who dare to go yellow.
Thinking of flowing with the tide? Go ahead and upgrade your wardrobe with a touch of yellow!

Latest Nigerian Ankara Styles and Fashion Design

Nigerian fashion has grown overtime beyond what was estimated 10 years ago and the growth is in no way slowing down and new fashion trends keeps coming out every now and then. One clothing material stands out of all the clothing materials used for designing these entire fashion outfits. It’s the Ankara styles, in this post you will find the latest Nigerian Ankara styles presenting trending everywhere within and outside the country.

Not much story or explanation here, just take a look for yourself and judge, decide which one you think is good enough and that you can wear to anywhere, home, work, church and so on. I will be waiting for you at the end of the latest Nigerian Ankara styles and fashion clothing. Don’t forget to let us hear your view using the comment form of Facebook form below, we love to hear from you because that will boost our moral in bringing to you more Ankara styles that are trending in the country.

Score these 14 great pairs of flats for less than $20 each Indulge your feet in holiday comfort without sacrificing style — or breaking the bank! Grab each of these great flats, in styles from chic to playful, for under $20 a pair.

1. Ballet Flats in Cream ($18 at Forever 21)

Ballet Flats in Cream ($17.80 at Forever 21)

Two-tone quilting gives these ballet flats an expensive air, conjuring up a designer look at a steal.

2. Loafers in Black and Floral ($15 at H&M)

The vibrant floral pattern of these loafers adds a notice-me element to basic black or denim.

3. CL by Laundry Gem Stone Ballet Flat in Black ($20 at DSW)

Pow! The substantial-sized faux gemstones on these flats pack a seriously sparkly punch.

4. Scarlett Velvet Flats in Navy ($20 at Delia’s)

The soft velvet and jewel tone of this shoe begs for heavy rotation during holiday party season.

5. Kim Chi Blue Elastic Cross-Strap Flats in Black ($19 at Urban Outfitters)

Give new meaning to “ballet flat” with this chic pair that evokes dancers' toe shoes.

6. Xhilaration Lana d’Orsay Flats in Blush ($20 at Target)

The d’Orsay style is a flattering wardrobe staple that will never go out of style, and the blush tone is a nice wardrobe counterpoint to all those basic black pairs in the closet.