At ADJOAA we love to celebrate our brands and their latest achievements. Last month a host of brands that we proudly partner with on ADJOAA.COM showed their latest collections during Lagos Fashion Week. Take a look these sustainable brands that balance heritage, craftsmanship and sustainability that can be found on ADJOAA.
The Côte d’Ivoire-based brand founded by Aristide Loua in 2017 celebrates African fashion with an ethical approach and appreciation for tailoring. Since the beginning, the brand has been working with local craftsmen to push for a more responsible production and consumption. The brand features wax prints and woven fabrics. Founder Aristide draws her inspiration from multiple sources, especially colour, culture, and poetry.
(Photos Courtesy of: Kente Gentlemen Instagram, look 5/30)
(Photo Courtesy of: Kente Gentlemen Instagram, look 11/30)
In the SS25 collection Rêves d'Été (summer dreams,) warm pastel colour of tropical sceneries met western African sensations. Soft linens gave the classic tailored silhouette a more laid back feel. The conscious choice of using soft fabrics made the garments wearable for both formal occasions and casual meet-ups, increasing the versatility and sell-ability of the collection. Compared to the previous season with bright and contrasting colours, the new collection presented itself in an overall more approachable manner, like a soothing embrace from the summer breeze. Ever since the global pandemic, people around the globe have been embracing comfort when it comes to fashion choice and this trend still seems to be strong and steady in the upcoming season. Hence the Rêves d’Été collection was, intentionally or not, in line with the market need.
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Shop the Ella Green and Purple Coat
Samiat Salami started her Oya Abeo journey, marrying the old Nigerian textile tradition with her dashing creativities. The brand features a vibrant colour palette and the heritage of African batik fabrics. With Samiat’s commitment to produce by hand, Oya Abeo can be considered as one of the precursors of sustainable African fashion.
The latest collection of Oya Abeo featured a continuation of the brand’s iconic Nigerian prints in earthy metallic tones. Nature-inspired prints across the garments brought us a cool breeze in the hot African summer air. Despite the toned down colours, the collection was far from dull, with the maxi or flared dresses and the expressive patterns across the body. reat for those who are looking for impressive but not too overly bright statement pieces for the summer holiday. For our northern hemisphere audiences, the colours of the pieces are wearable in early autumn when it is still warm, especially at the moment when the seasonal transition is blurred due to climate changes.
For our sustainable-minded people, Oya Abeo, ADJOAA’s partner brand, was selected as the one of the finalists for the Green Access at Lagos fashion week, thanks to the brand’s commitment to produce sustainably. Bravo Oya Abeo!
(Photos Courtesy of: Oya Abeo Instagram, pc: @insignaonline)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Shop Spring Greens Cotton Corset Top & Wrap Skirt
Shop Hibiscus Madamoiselle Linen Dress
Be it street-casual, elegant, or comfy home style, Cute Saint have it all. Young but promising, this 2020 brand introduces genderlessness to the African fashion scene, and on top of that, they are sustainable. A pre-order business model is adopted to reduce the waste. The brand teams up with experienced local craftsmen, and together they narrate the unexplored African stories.
Cute saint’s fashion runway show for the latest collection Rhythm of Time was almost as fun as a party. We’ve got a mixture of different styles in the collection, from street-inspired wide-legged trousers and jackets (almost reminding one of the Congo dandies of Les Sapeurs) to more the serious-looking pencil skirt with an asymmetrical hem design…The collection could be seen as an exhibition of African pride: vibrant contrasting colours, oversized jacket silhouette reflecting local African trends…Together they uttered an African story of confidence and elegance.
(Photos Courtesy of: Lagos Fashion Week)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Shop Branco Drawstring on Sleeve Cotton Shirt
Founded by Omafume Niemogha in 2018, this ethical fashion brand pays homage to southern Nigerian heritage by incorporating local traditions and artisan skills in their designs. The daring use of colour and the creative draping give the traditional southern Nigerian textiles a modern twist, diversifying African fashion to another level.
Titled Jiggy Space Club, the latest SS25 collection showcased a series of garments of dreaminess and playfulness while carrying on with the bold use of colour that has been part of the brand’s genes. Pieces like the doodled maxi dress and the fringed dress could definitely add a touch of childlike humour to one’s wardrobe. The collection was balanced in terms of sellability. Silhouette-wise, most of the pieces in the collection were market-friendly and easy to style.
A few of the items are attention-grabbing (like the dress with animal bra tops, a fun interpretation of kawaiiness with an African twist) and set the brand apart from other designers in the fashion week. With the brand's commitment to promote cultural sustainability, it is not hard to see Pepper Row attracting a larger international audience soon.
(From Pepper Row Instagram pc:@kolaoshalusi @insignaonline @bellanaijastyle)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Shop Nata Multicoloured Draped Top and Skirt Set
Loza Maléombho and her namesake fashion brand has surely gathered some international sensations with over 70 thousand followers on Instagram. Launched in New York, the brand reflects the designer’s African cultural background with her unique aesthetic and ambition she acquired from her childhood experiences growing up in Africa and the States. On her instagram page, the founder/designer calls herself a ‘multipotentialite + alchemist’. She surely is one with her powers to turn fabrics into magic.
During the SS25 Lagos Fashion week, the brand impressed the crowd with her collaboration with Viva Jet, presenting uniforms for the cabin crews and a series of pieces for various occasions. The collection broke the boundary between 2D and 3D with the intricate origami-isc designs and architectural elements, achieved through skilful draping and cutting. The unexpected combinations of different materials in a number of the garments also made the SS25 Loza Maléombho collection especially note-worthy. Overall, one would say the designer did not forsake creativity in favour of market sell-ability.
(Photo Courtesy of: Lagos Fashion Week)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Shop Fah Reg Plus White Leather Platform Sandal
Shop PVC Cross Front with Handcrafted Cotton Fringe
When it comes to African high fashion, Boyedoe should definitely be mentioned. The brand pride themselves on their Afro-luxury identity and the way they infuse sophistication with African aesthetic. For Boedoe, luxury does not equate wastefulness. Deconstruction, construction and upcycling can be spotted in the past Boyedoe designs, done in a true sustainable fashion manner.
During the Lagos Fashion Week, Boyedoe continued to exhibit the brand’s commitment to promote sustainable African high fashion. In the SS25 ‘Rebuild and Ruins’ Collection, denim patchworks and layering elevated denims and jackets to another level of sophistication. Meanwhile, fringed trimmings along the seams and sleeves, wide-shouldered silhouette and oversized coats in the collections generated a sense of freedom and power. Once again, Boyedoe proved with their designs that environmental consciousness is luxury in its own way.
(Photos Courtesy of: BellaNaija / Kaolaoshalusi / insignaonline)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now: 
Shop Busumuru Cropped Jacket & Kantinka Pants
When artistry meets cultural heritage and unmatched creativity, we’ve got Maliko. This Lagos sustainable footwear and accessories brand are anything but unremarkable. Whether it is the vivid choice of colour or the jolly decorative elements, Maliko integrates them well into the designs, turning footwear and bags into stages for celebration.
The latest collection carried on with their established legacy, showing sleek leather slip-ons and elongated handbags in a series of colours, from homey neutral, earthy, to neon-bright. The shoes and accessories were perfect for days when one decides to go minimal with their clothes choices but still want to make a subtle fashion statement. Of course, the iconic handcrafted African shoe soles could not be missed either. For those interested in the craftsmanship behind the Maliko shoes, we recommend going to their Instagram pages to check out the short reel demonstrating the making process.
(Photos Courtesy of: Lagos Fashion Week Website)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Shop Onike Basket High Sole Sandal
Shop Chi Sandals with Leather Upper and Lining
On the brand instagram, Ajabeng do not hesitate to call themselves ‘pride of Ghana’ and rightfully so. While many people associate African designs with vibrant use of colour. The brand breaks the stereotype by introducing the idea of African minimalism to the world. Unisex, sustainable, post-colonial, experimental, supportive of young talents…the list of words to describe the brand goes on and on. The buzz generated by the brand has reached a wide audience and earned the brand international recognition.
The newest collection, dubbed Heritage in Motion, was the locus of everything Ajabeng represented so far. While minimalism and unisex remain at the core of the design spirit, the new series introduced Ghanaian weaving techniques to contemporary simplicity, making pieces of garments that are truly timeless.
In the global fashion market, there are plenty of brands carrying minimalist designs, so it appears this brand might have chosen a hard battle to fight. Yet across LFW, Ajabeng’s minimalist gender-neutral collection actually made them stand out. Their designs were in accordance with the ongoing trend of quiet luxury, low key promoting African craftsmanship in the details. In terms of the silhouette, we especially love the V-shaped collar designs, round buttons and big patch pockets in several looks. These simple twists in designs elevated the looks from minimal to minimal sophistication. In a way, Ajabeng broke the stereotypical African design and set themselves up for a bigger global market.
(Photo Courtesy of: Ajabeng official website)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
Here goes another Lagos-based womenswear brand we love at Adjoaa. M.O produces wearable and smart fashion pieces for women who embrace a modern lifestyle. The founder of the brand, Mo Augusto, as a female entrepreneur and a mum, understands her audiences well. Upon observing a lack of fashion items for black and brown women in the market, she launched the brand in 2019. If one is looking for over-the-top designs to stand out, M.O.T may not be the right place, but if one wants something practical but interesting, M.O.T will not disappoint.
What’s more, M.O.T adopted a production model that supports small batch production, hence allowing the waste to be minimised(a reassuring sign for the sustainability conscious crowd).
M.O.T’s latest collection adopted a subtle colour scheme, subtle but not boring. Details such as the fringed seams and striped fabric embellishments gave the collection a sense of fun and innocence. Yoruba Aso Oke were widely used in the collection, showing us the brand’s commitment to promote cultural sustainability. Denim blue and mustard yellow are highly wearable throughout all seasons and popular outside the African market. Such a brilliant way to introduce African craftsmanship!
(Photo Courtesy of: M.O.T)
Here are a few of our favourite pieces you can find on ADJOAA.com now:
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