By Tosin Ayinde

Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak, and Nigerians sure know how to do this, yes, they rock! For Lasgidi, which plays home to high-profile fashion designers, tailoring has become a plush, flourishing business. The influx of more educated minds into the business has elevated the status of the craft, making it more fashionable while also attracting global interest.

In this particular order, below are our top five picks – Lagos finest and celebrity fashion designers who tower above many others and have consistently been marketing NIGERIA as a brand, to the rest of the world

1. Atafo

Sitting comfortably on the number 1 spot is Atafo, an offshoot of creativity, global exposure and excellent brand management. Atafo does not just fit in, he stands out in the industry and remains a brand to beat.

After a stellar career as a brand management expert, the suave fashion designer , Mai Atafo has built a premium brand that attracts like a magnet. Atafo launched a signature luxury wedding line, Weddings by Mai that has become a delight of top-notch celebrities who swarm his Lekki, Lagos office to confirm their orders.

On Instagram, Atafo has 91.1k followers, 2,372 following, and 507 posts, while for Facebook, Atafo has 6.5k followers.

2. Yomi Casual

Talk of creativity, Nigerian fashion designers arguably take the lead in Africa. Recall Yomi Casual’s Burnt design which went viral and sparked lots of conversations from style lovers in 2022. The creative design undoubtedly drew inspiration from the avant-garde school of thought.

Omoniyi Makun, who goes by Yomi Casual is a creative fashion designer whose designs have inspired many young fashion designers. High-end customers, in a dashing manner, don Yomi Casual’s clothing line as status symbol. The bespoke fashion designer manages his elder brother, a popular comedian, Ayo Makun’s (popularly known as AY) wardrobe. Recall that AY was rated as one of Nigeria’s top 10 most followed celebrities.

The Design and Clothing Technology graduate, who said in an interview that he became a fashion designer by accident, now exclusively designs for A-list celebrities.

On his Instagram account, Yomi Casual has about 1.4 million followers, 6184 following, and 717 posts. For Facebook, he has 26k followers and 25k likes.

3. Lisa Folawiyo

Lisa Folawiyo is a celebrated fashion designer who is known for her creative fusion of traditional West African fabrics with modern tailoring and beaded embellishments.

The beautiful fashion icon is also revered for promoting the works of young Nigerian fashion designers to the rest of the world. The alumnus of University of Lagos, through her brand, Jewel by Lisa, has elevated the status of traditional African prints by showcasing them to a global audience. Her designs are topnotch and seem to be a niche luxury brand that are targeted at high-end customers.

When it comes to global patronage, Jewel by Lisa remains a brand to beat. The iconic brand is one of the creamiest designs to come out of the Nigerian market and it has continued to attract customers across the globe. Jewel by Lisa has showcased her collections at various international shows across Johannesburg, London, and Paris.

On Instagram, Jewel by Lisa has 134 followers, 561 following, and 2,504 posts while on Facebook it has 1.5 followers.

4. Duro Olowu

Today, Duro Olowu is respected for having his name in the most-priced list of creative designers for former US First Lady, Michelle Obama. And you will agree with me that it takes a brand to stand out for it to be adopted by a respected US high-up. This sterling height puts Duro above others.

The creative fashion designer who has also carved out a name for himself as a BIG FISH in the industry through his stylish, refined, and elegant clothing lines. I hear his designs are described as “Colorful and lively prints combined with seventies classic tailoring.” For me, Duro Oluwu’s design is global and unrivaled. The creative fashion designer has a rich and prominent celebrity clientele some of which include: Uma Thurman and Linda Evangelista, among others.

On Instagram, he has 13k followers and 1087 posts, while on Facebook, he has 4.3k followers.

5. Soares Anthony

Soares Anthony is undoubtedly one of the creamiest in the industry. His is a men’s clothing line, but with a panache.

His designs are self-expressive and they seem to have been inspired by native Nigerian textiles and Japanese tailoring styles, according to the young creative fashion designer. Soares Anthony’s apparels are not only refined, but also depicts elegance and has been mostly described as manly, but modern and trendy.

The stylish designer cut his teeth in tailoring in his cradle. He became the master of the art after years of sketching and doodling. Soares Anthony’s incredible talent is visibly seen in the creative ways he plays with colours to delight his rich clientele. The talented entrepreneur is among the few Nigerian fashion brands that are aggressively changing the narrative about Nigeria as a brand in the global fashion space.

On his Instagram account, Soares Anthony has 17.6 followers, 7486 following, and 359 posts.

These top picks are quintessential brands that are hard to beat and they will all comfortably dominate the fashion space for many years to come.

Tosin Ayinde is the managing editor of meiza.ng.

Meiza Nigeria