Lisa Folawiyo – a Nigerian fashion designer is best known for incorporating traditional West African textiles with modern tailoring techniques laying emphasis on beading and sequin trim. She started her innovative use of Ankara and traditional African fabric through her eponymous label in 2005, formerly known as ‘Jewel by Lisa’.
As a forerunner of Nigeria fashion designers, Lisa Folawiyo is already achieving the international recognition she deserves for her work. With showrooms in Nigeria and New York, its hard to believe that Lisa had no formal fashion training – in fact she was trained as a lawyer. Lisa attributes her success to finding and sticking to this unusual aesthetic. The designer pays homage to her line of Ankara textiles in her pieces, crafted by a tea of expert local artisans who take up to 240 hours creating a single hand embellished piece.
Her collections have also been stocked in the Myers and Selfridge departmental stores. Also in Fashion weeks – London, Paris, Milan, Johannesburg and New York aside the Lagos Fashion Week and many more
Prizes
2012: African Fashion Award nominated alongside Maki OH and Kofi Ansah
2014: One of the eight emerging talents by WWD Women’s Wear Daily
2015: Featured in the BOF (Business of Fashion) 500
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