10 years after the birth of the Lagos-based brand, Grey Projects, it is time to say goodbye as the brand announced a final sale before stopping operations on the 2nd of July 2019.
GREY was founded by Rukky Ladoja, Obi Obi and Tola Ayanwale who started the brand to bridge a gap in the Nigerian fashion industry. There was a need for easily accessible, trendy and affordable ready-to-wear clothes and that’s exactly the role the brand was created to play. This they did well as Grey Projects was loved both in and out of the country. The brand’s mantra always remained “where design meets functionality.”
In June 2018, the Commonwealth decided to take an active stance in the Nigerian fashion industry to help make it even better. At this time, GREY’s Creative Director, Rukky Ladoja was nominated to represent the Commonwealth Fashion Council as a ‘Youth Fashion Leader’ at a workshop geared towards empowering fellow youth leaders in conversation with British leaders and royalty.
Rukky’s designs for GREY were best known for their bold, colourful and fun prints. They were trendy, affordable and indeed functional, which may explain the brand’s popularity across Lagos’ distinct social classes. The brand’s passion for collaborations led to designing collections and pieces with other fashion designers, artists, textile and footwear designers.
Speaking about the GREY woman, Rukky described her as “a confident woman who is always on the cutting edge. She is drawn to classic silhouettes and fabrics but is ultimately seeking freedom and lightness in her everyday wardrobe.”
Come June 30th, for reasons not yet shared, the brand will close its doors to the very women they served in the past decade but its legacy and the vital role it played in the evolution of Nigerian fashion is etched in history.
Here’s wishing the GREY group the best in what comes next.
Photo credit: IG | Greyprojects
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