The Studio of Lisa Folawiyo and Her Unwavering Ability to Style African Print

Lisa Folawiyo, a Nigerian fashion designer, is recognized for her vibrant collections that combine traditional West African fabrics with modern tailoring and beaded decorations. Folawiyo has been in the forefront of the wave of Nigerian designers achieving international acclaim for their work since she founded her label in 2005. She had no official training in the field of fashion. In 2005, she launched her own collection, "Lisa Folawiyo," which was formerly known as Jewel by Lisa.

Her creations are made entirely of Ankara textiles, which are vivid wax-resistant coloured fabrics native to West Africa. She has an uncanny ability to elevate traditional African prints above the status quo and make them relevant to a global audience. Beads, sequins, and gems are hand-sewn into her clothes in Nigerian workshops. She credits her success to discovering and sticking to an own aesthetic. Lisa Folawiyo's designs have been published in publications such as Vogue, The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle, as well as on worldwide platforms in Lagos, Johannesburg, London, Paris, Milan, and New York. The J Label and Pretty Precious are two of the brand's several diffusion lines.

Folawiyo won the African Fashion Awards in 2012, after being nominated alongside Maki Oh and Kofi Ansah, two more well-known Nigerian fashion designers. Folawiyo, who has been championed by Vogue Italia, has also collaborated with L'Oréal and held a trunk exhibition on Moda Operandi, Selfridges carries her collection. She has showrooms in Nigeria and New York, and hercollections are sold in the United Kingdom, the United States, SouthAfrica, and Nigeria.