Just because creative people, especially in the fashion industry love to explore and stay thirsting for more, a handful of celebrity/editorial stylists end up establishing a second and some times third career in fashion. Their rich exposure to the various elements of fashion gives them an upper hand in understanding how to incorporate trends, brand positioning and how to adequately present their collection in a way that easily connects with buyers and consumers. Today we are spotlighting 6 influential fashion stylists who have debuted their clothing line within the last couple of years.
Ezinne Chinkata
Celebrity/Editorial Stylist, Fashion Editor, Fashion Retailer and Designer – Zinkata
Super stylist to the stars (Omotola Jolade Ekeinde, Dakore Egbuson and Monalisa Chinda) and to a handful of commercial brands, fashion labels, magazine editorials, Ezinne Chinkata who recently debuted her fashion line Zinkata with a capsule collection is one of the most influential names on the Nigerian fashion scene. With a resume that covers almost all the major areas of fashion, an unforgettable style editorial for Bellanaija and one of fashion’s most remarkable covers with Tonto Dike on WOW magazine, Ezinne is pretty much familiar with this terrain and we expect to see her flourish with the newly launched label.
Adebayo Oke Lawal
Celebrity/Editorial Stylist, Fashion Editor, and Designer – Orange Culture
Having styled high profiled names like Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Dolapo Oni and Waje, the brain behind the quirky fashion forward gender blurring label “Orange Culture” started out his career in fashion with his partner Bubu Ogisi juggling being an editorial stylist who had stints with brands like Arise Magazine Fashion Week and the MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week and head designer at Onyx and Pearl before starting out his own movement of Quirks in 2011. Adebayo has grown his brand on the home and international scene after being shortlisted as one of LVMH’s (Louis Vuitton, Moet and Hennessy) brands worth investing in and being a staple name at the Menswear week in South Africa. Orange Culture by Adebayo Oke Lawal is currently one of the most successful contemporary fashion brands in Nigeria.
Jide Adedeji
Celebrity Stylist, Celebrity Makeup Artist, Designer – J Reason
Jide Adedeji kicked off his fashion career as a freelance model, fashion stylist and makeup artist with Sleek cosmetics before branching out into designing his own line of clothing popularly known as J Reason. Jide who still works in the capacity of Head Stylist at African Fashion Week Nigeria, Ovation Television and Music Meets Runway has his design philosophy tied to street wear but still caters to men and women with bespoke cravings.
Bubu Ogisi
Celebrity Stylist and Designer – IAMISIGO
Having worked with names like Rita Dominic, Asa, Funke Bucknor Obruthe and Eku Edewor, Bubu Ogisi started out her styling career with Adebayo Oke Lawal before venturing full time into fashion designing. Bubu debuted her label IAMISIGO in 2011, making her first appearance at that years Lagos Fashion and Design Week. The Stylist/Designer has become one of the most relevant designers of this new generation.
Tokyo James
Editor, Stylist and Designer – Tokyo James
His impeccable styling and editorial stint at ROUGH and MADE Magazine will tell the creative depth of Tokyo James. The Stylist/Editor who relocated to Nigeria flagged his first menswear collection that garnered amazing reviews last year and made his debut appearance at the South Africa Menswear Week this year. Tokyo he has worked with brands like Hugo Boss, Issey Miyake, Polo Avenue and Lagos Fashion and Design Week.
Ian Audifferen
Stylist, Designer – TZAR
Ian Audifferen who started out his fashion journey with Lisa Folawiyo and WOW Magazine as an assistant fashion stylist has risen through the ranks to become one of fashion’s interesting personalities. The young designer who delved into the business of fashion designing launched out his label, TZAR in 2013 with a retro narrative that focused on print shirts. The label has since grown from just a fashion label to a wardrobe staple for cool kids.
