Wide eyed fascination, increased amazement, astonishing couturing. These are the terms that invade my mental space when I ponder on the craftmanship that has become Lanre Da Silva Ajayi. In four years, LDA has consistently coutured awe-inpiring wonders via her creations. Ironically, though her collections draw inspiration from the 50's and 60's, LDA's art possess a strong futuristic feel. When you walk into a room or an event, you need not fish for attention in an LDA piece; attention simply clothes you.

At the ARISE FASHION WEEK which was held in South Africa last two weeks, LDA redefined the art of dress making. These inimitable finnese was masterly displayed as LDA painted the intricate elegance of summer in a mixture of bright colours and intricate designs. LDA masterfully paints a picture of elegance redefined, creating unique pieces for unique women of elegance. Even though the fashion week ended a couple of weeks back, the large set of enthralled audience cannot seem to get enough of this collection as her studio at No. 1b, Lanre Da-Silva close, Ikoyi has been flooded with a barraige of orders. 

View these pictures and join the movement of redefined elegance. 

Hey folks, how has the week been for you? Yeah, mine was a blast as well. This weekend is packed full of activities for the quintessential diva, and this time we are going on all the way to the market.

Today on TGIF, we’ve got the most outstanding events for you to look forward to this weekend. “Le Petit Marche”, a unique fashion exhibition which holds every month, holds on Sunday, the 26th of July, at the Gourmet Plaza, Plot 879 Samuel Manuwa Street, Off Ozumba Mbadiwe, V.I. The exhibitors include AMEDE, ACCESORIES PLUS, EDEN, D'HAVEN, CIRCA 64, AIRE, OBSIDIAN, AIMAS, GREY, KOKO, NS 1463, CHILD OF AMOS, LA POOZAH, MARILYN'S PLACE, LA VIVA, VONNE, LAGOS LOOK etc. 

Our very own AMEDE will be displaying her exclusive 2009 collection. Amede’s clothes command attention because they seem to achieve the impossible – beautifully constructed clothing in comfortable fabrics and styles. Her clothes are unmistakably African, with flowing shapes and rich colours, but they are coupled with a modern twist. She adds frills, unusual buttons, beads and sequins, funky high-cut collars, a variety of sleeves and other surprising touches.

ACCESORIES PLUS, the one stop repository for the finest, intricately crafted accessorial pieces will be doing some major sales, offering 50% off all accesories. I am talking everything, bags, necklaces, bangles, purses, bracelets, hair pins, hair accesories etc.

EXQUISITE FASHION PARTY 

Still on Sunday, July 26th, Tewa Onasanya and her team would be hosting the EXQUISITE FASHION PARTY against cancer from 2:00pm - 7:00pm at the African Bar Oriental Hotel, 3 Lekki Road, VI. With just N1000 you also can join the fight against cancer. To pick your tickets, you can call l 01 8987532 or 08098886184 or visit any of the following outlets, 

1.Be There Boutique, 22 Gbemisola Street Off Allen Avenue Ikeja

2.Glee House C125 Ikota shopping complex VGC. 

3.Exquisite office 1607 Omega bank Ave. off Adeola Hopewell Street VI.

4.Make me beauty place 60 Bode Thomas Street Surulere

The last time, we introduced you to Nigeria’s latest entry in the world of Haute Bag couturing – Funmi Adeyeri of REBIRTH. Today however, we view some of Nigeria’s Finest Haute Bag makers. These ladies are steaming, Linda Mesrob, Alima Oyofo, Nadeja Omotosho and Lucy Odim.

Hold your breathe ladies, it’s about to get really spicy!

From Left: Linda, Lucy, Nadeja and Alima.

 

Alima Oyofo: Sexy Piping hot!

For Alima, what started as an experiment at her sister’s factory – Odio Mimonet just about four years ago has morphed into the Brand ‘LilPepperfriend’. The phrase which is derived from her nickname ‘atawewe’ or ‘small pepper’ reflects the vibrancy of the Brand. Lilpepperfriend was established in the summer of 2008 and is synonymous with eclectic one-of- a-kind accessories[bags and Ankara/aso-oke slippers], edgy colours that pop and indeed has been described as art by all lovers of all things cultural and current. At the Vlisco show in Feb. 2009, ‘Lilpepperfriend bags where showcased alongside Odio Mimonet and they served as the perfect complement to the fantastic outfits thus eliciting a standing ovation from the enthralled audience. Alima is a unique artist undefinable by boundaries. Her beauty is matched with her brilliance, her unpredictability matched with a consistency in delivery, all in a small frame bursting forth with life and vivacity.

NADEJDA OMOTOSHO - Creative Analyst

Pretty Financial Analyst, Nadejda Omotosho who is the founder of Aidan-Mo bags has been silently honing her skills with her unusual high fashion pieces. Another vivacious fashion accessory designer, her style of bags is extremely flexible yet sophisticated, adventuorous yet conservative. She glitters with creative skills drawn from a confluence of ingenuity and inspiration. Although Nadia, as she is popularly known, is no longer with Adrian-Mo as the full time CEO, she continually provides full time creative direction for the Brand that began in her living room.

LUCY ODIM – Independent Style

An Independent woman by all standards, Lucy’s courtship with fashion began after she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in French. Lucy’s crave to be independent propelled her to create traditional outfits popularly known as Senegalese which was greeted with rapt attention. With time her growing clientele demanded more and Lucy was thus pressed with creating a suitable accessory to complement her unique designs. Her crave saw her reject the trend of Bag merchants, and she began to churn out her own personal designs. Today D LUNE [Her Brand], showcases versatile works running from leather to the damask, aso-oke and a diverse range of eye catching works of art.

LINDA MESROB – The Stitch Princess

Popularly known as Skin, Linda Mesrob has been ‘Bag’ing’ it for the past four years. The award winning bag maker’s signature style are the bold and the colourful stitches that run through her creative pieces. Another signature of hers is the lavish use of carvings. After leaving the American University of Paris, Linda fell in love with bags rather than clothes. It was then she started to make bags under the label SKIN which has evolved into a high end couture line known as LINDA MESROB COUTURE. She enhances her own style with that of her Clients to evolve the Avant Garde collection most women can’t resist. With an outlet at the Mega Plaza in Victoria Island in Lagos and a display section in Gallery Lafayette in Paris, Linda Mesrob caters to the accessory needs of the average style woman who is desirous of something different from the regular designer bags. She has featured alongside international Brands like Adebayo Jones and Tiffany Amber. Her love for Mohair and other wildlife leather like croc, lizard, snake etc. showcases the roaring label Linda Mesrob.

The beauty range giants, DERMLOGICA, which has in its history accrued a lot of fans and ardent admirers, is poised to launch a new and unique range of beauty products - CLEAN START - in Nigeria come the 28th of July, 2008 at Spectrum Beauty Academy  located at 11, Oduduwa way, G.R.A., Ikeja. CLEAN START was developed following hands-on reasearch by the mother Brand and now this new range prooves to be the solution for teenage health and beauty problems. CLEAN START is  specially made for pre-teens, teens and young adults.  CLEAN START, which is not restricted to treating only break-outs and acne, is designed to help bring skin into balance by getting skin clean, taking on issues, and protection for better-looking skin in the vicious cycle of teenage break-outs.

Penultimate Saturday, at the TERRA KULTURE, admist the glitz and glamour, incessant flutter of paparazzi's cameras [and some really tasty small chops from the burners of Laredo ...lol], we experienced the launch of a very sexy range of killer bags. Yup, Killer Bags. This time the culprit is the 26-year old graduate of the London School of Fashion, Funmi Adeyeri. The event launch which was superbly organised by Ifeoma Williams [way to go girl!] displayed a different form of craftsmanship. These 100% leather bags possessed durability and aesthetic grace to complete the genetic make-up. Trust Nigerians, looking as trendy as ever in glamorous, eye-catching numbers. These pictures tell a bit of the tale.

THE DESIGNER, FUNMI ADEYERI & Some of her Exotic Bags - ELSA, RENEE and ISABEL.