22 Established 1961 Lifestyle Fashion Models present creations by Cynthia Abila during the Lagos Fashion Week. — AFP photos Lagos designers champion ‘unapologetically African’ fashion ou have to struggle so hard to make your voice heard, throbbed in the background-the answer to Nigeria’s erratic Fashion designers in Lagos are being courted by inter- style off the pitch. “It’s only just gotten better, I think people that’s why Lagos will always stand out,” model Larry power supply network and a symbol of perseverance in the national tastemakers looking for talent and inspiration at a are starting to see what we have,” said Amaka Osakwe, the “YHector told AFP about Nigeria’s gritty yet unques- face of adversity. “We’re always pushing for something we time when Afrobeat and African fashion are taking the designer behind Maki Oh, one of West Africa’s most celebrat- tionably glamorous megacity Lagos. The statuesque 20-year- haven’t seen before, something that’s out of this world,” Hector United States by storm. The success of Lagos Fashion ed brands. One of Oh’s shirts, a black blouse with polka-dot old dressed in all-white was standing backstage at the Lagos said. “Now we have international people, starlets, celebrities Week, which runs until Saturday, shows the growing ruffled sleeves and lined with the name ‘Oh’ in yellow, made Fashion Week on Friday evening surrounded by a dizzying from Paris, Milan, New York, everyone is coming to see what appetite for African fashion and its invigorating colors, headlines this year after being worn by Lady Gaga on the set array of lush fabrics and gazelle-legged models. A generator Lagos is about.” elaborate prints and standout street style. On Friday, of her blockbuster movie, A Star is Born. “We’ve shown that Moofa’s show gave the audience flowing silk dresses and we have it and we are worldwide contenders,” said Osakwe. layered looks embellished with lace and accessorized with The appeal is undeniable. “The elegance of intricate jaunty white fedoras channeling 70’s funk. African patterns on silk,” gushed Vogue writer Suzy Menkes Ugo Monye’s menswear had the audience roaring in in an Instagram post about an indigo blue Tiffany Amber delight. It was set to a remixed song from the soundtrack of cape by designer Folake Coker. Afrobeats star WizKid, ‘Black Panther’ and was accompanied by live drummers. whose gilded street style exemplifies Lagos, has recently Nigeria has had a bumper fashion year with A-list model done a campaign with Moschino and walked the Dolce and appearances in Lagos and a flamboyant World Cup team that Gabanna runway. enamored fans from all over the world. Industry veteran Naomi Campbell came to Lagos in April to walk the runway. ‘Unapologetically African’ She fell in love with the megacity of some 20 million people, Now the city is emerging as the destination for African whose “hustle” defines an adapt-or-die creativity. “I didn’t designers to show their work. “Lagos has this vibrancy and want to leave,” said Campbell about her Nigeria trip. “I feel energy that is unapologetically African,” said Iona like Africa, as a continent, is on the tip of explosion. It’s the McCreath, a 22-year-old designer from Nairobi, who came next destination,” she said. to show KikoRomeo. “If you can make it in Nigeria, you can make it in Africa.” For some, it feels like finally African fash- Gilded street style ion is being given its due after years of determination and Not long after, Nigeria was once again in the spotlight for entrepreneurial vision. “Of course we built this, the world its sold-out football jersey, a neon green and white zigzag cre- has changed,” said Abrima Erwiah, the co-founder behind ation worn by the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Studio One Eighty Nine, a creative collective split between Nigeria, the youngest team of the tournament, not only had Ghana and New York. “I think we’re exporting culture,” she the coolest kit but also made headlines for their flamboyant said, “it’s very empowering.”— AFP Models present creations by The Dew Collection during the Lagos Fashion Week. Models present creations by Nack on the runway during the Lagos Fashion Week. which he takes around children’s hos- Michael Jackson’s pitals, but is not putting that item up Meghan and Harry royal wedding for auction. The Nov 10 auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, New ‘Bad’ tour jacket York, will also feature electric guitars played by Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, outfits go on show in Windsor Eric Clapton, and U2 band members up for auction The Edge and Bono. The various gui- tars are expected to fetch between eghan Markle’s couture wedding Windsor Castle,” Caroline de Guitaut, ichael Jackson’s black “Bad” $20,000 - $50,000 apiece. dress goes on display at Windsor senior curator of decorative arts at the M Mjacket that the singer wore on Part of the auction proceeds will go Castle on Friday in a new exhibi- Royal Collection Trust, said. his first solo tour is going up to the MusicCares charity arm of tion about her May nuptials to Britain’s Visitors can see the veil’s intricate for auction in November and could Grammy Award organizers the Prince Harry. The white, sleek long-sleeved embroidery up close as well as listen to fetch up to $100,000. Julien’s Auctions Recording Academy that provides gown with a boat neck was designed by the couple talk about preparing for their said on Friday that the jacket, which health and other services to musicians. Clare Waight Keller, the British artistic wedding day through an audio device, Jackson signed on the back with a sil- “It’s tough for musicians and artists director of French fashion house Givenchy which also has a recording of Waight ver permanent marker, was worn today and this auction presents anoth- for the May 19 wedding in Windsor, an Keller describing her work on the bride’s throughout the singer’s “Bad” world er opportunity to give back to the event watched by millions around the dress. “Their Royal Highnesses have been concert tour from 1987-89. The jacket, music community,” Verret said in a world. Markle, now known as the Duchess very involved in the preparation for this with multiple zippers, straps and buck- statement. — Reuters of Sussex, also wore a five-meter (16 ft) exhibition,” de Guitaut said. “They...want- les, is one of the late singer’s most veil decorated with hand-embroidered ed to be interviewed...so that they could iconic costume pieces alongside his flowers which paid tribute to the 53 coun- tell the visitors all about the planning that red and black leather “Thriller” music tries of the Commonwealth, as well as a went into their day.” video jacket that sold for $1.8 million at diamond tiara borrowed from Queen Also on display are the bridesmaid auction in 2011. Elizabeth for her big day. and pageboy outfits worn by Harry’s Jackson has become one of the The full outfit, including Meghan’s niece and nephew, Princess Charlotte most collectible celebrities since his shoes, has been put on display in a large and Prince George. Charlotte’s dress was sudden death in 2009 in Los Angeles glass box alongside an identical version of also designed by Waight Keller while at age 50 from an accidental overdose Prince Harry’s wedding attire, a frockcoat George’s outfit is a miniature replica of of an anesthetic he was using as a uniform of the Household Cavalry, inside Harry’s uniform. “A Royal Wedding: The sleep aid. The “Bad” jacket is being Windsor Castle’s Grand Reception Room Duke and Duchess of Sussex” opens on sold by Texas businessman and phi- - one of the rooms used for the wedding Friday and runs at Windsor Castle until lanthropist Milton Verret along with celebrations. “This is a unique opportuni- January. — Reuters almost 100 other items from his large ty to see these outfits...worn on such a rock ‘n roll memorabilia collection. special day and actually in the surround- Verret also owns the “Thriller” jacket, ings where they were worn here at.