Lanre da Silva

Lanre da Silva Ajayi
Born Lanre da Silva
1978
Nationality Nigerian
Occupation Fashion Designer
Known for Metallics fibres and lace, Mid-20th century and Victorian era-inspired style
Website http://www.lanredasilvaajayi.com/

Lanre da Silva (born 1978) is a Lagos-based fashion designer considered to be one of Nigeria's leading couturiers. Launched in 2005, her eponymous label includes couture, ready-to-wear, jewelry and hairpieces.[1][2][3] Da Silva's collections often incorporate metallic fabrics, lace and African patterns, while referencing the 1940s or 1800s.[4] The Africa Fashion Guide recognizes her as having "... created a name for herself in high fashion in Nigeria."[5]

Early life and education

Upon high school graduation in Nigeria, da Silva moved to the United Kingdom to continue her studies. For her undergraduate degree, she majored in business administration at Coventry University. She obtained a master's degree in Finance from the University of Leicester.[6] Da Silva is married with children and has two siblings. Their father is Sir Leo Babarinde Da Silva, a former Secretary to the Lagos State Government.[7]

Career

In 2011, da Silva presented her collection at New York Fashion Week, where it was described as combining "... the archetypal bright, warm colours of her homeland with refined ladylike silhouettes inspired by Italian architecture".[8] Seen as an African luxury brand, her clothing line has been sold at Dolce & Gabbana's "Concept Spiga 2" store in Milan.[9] In 2012, she was one of two designers asked to join the United Nations "Fashion Development Project" which helps supports her continent's luxury industry.[10] That same year her label was featured in the magazine L'Uomo Vogue in an issue called «Re-branding Africa».[11]

In 2012, Italian Vogue wrote a piece on da Silva, mentioning that she has a "... great following in Africa, where her designs are widely recognized thanks to the media and celebrities that support her."[12] In 2014, she was mentioned once more in Vogue Italia, where the designer spoke about meeting the magazine's editor Franca Sozzani, who got her collection noticed and stocked at online fashion retailer yoox.com [13] Da Silva's designs have also been featured in Vogue Black and Arise Magazine.[14][15]

Da Silva's clothes have been described as groundbreaking in their use of traditional African prints.[16] She is recognized for re-interpreting and modernizing traditional motifs, making them an important part of her designs.[17][18] In 2017, da Silva was asked to create outfits for the 2017 look book of Vlisco, an African fabrics and textiles manufacturer.[19]

In 2014, her "Rock Delight" collection was presented at the "Vogue Talents" fashion show in Milan, Italy.[20] The designer was inspired by the colours and lines of Olumo Rock, a popular tourist destination located in Nigeria. Her clothes have also been seen at shows such as the 2008 Thisday Africa Rising Festival in London, the 2009 Arise Africa Fashion Festival in South Africa, the 2009 New York Couture Fashion Week and the 2011 Arise Magazine Fashion Week in Lagos.[6] In 2018, da Silva returned to the Arise Africa Fashion Festival where her collection was described as being elegant and accented by metallic gold colours [21][22][23] British supermodel Naomi Campbell opened the show wearing one of da Silva's outfits.[24][25][26]

Creating what she calls wearable art, da Silva collaborated with artist Ayoola Gbolahan for her 2017 collection. Rich in details, the clothes are described as embodying an artistic imagery : "Art and fashion are successfully united in this collection with bold hand-painted images on solid colors."[27] That same year she was nominated for an Eloy Award, a Nigerian event celebrating female achievement.[28][29] In 2016, the designer graced the cover of the Nigerian publication Complete Fashion Magazine.[30]

When starting out as a designer, da Silva found the Nigerian infrastructure to be a challenge.[3] It was difficult for her to find experienced tailors and quality zippers. However, the industry has grown since then, with investments coming in from government and corporations.[3] Lagos is now emerging as the fashion epicentre of the African continent.[31]

References

  1. ↑ Shaw, Jacqueline (2011). Fashion Africa. AFG Pub. p. 155.
  2. ↑ "Search results". 4 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
  3. 1 2 3 "#MAKEITHAPPEN: LANRE DASILVA AJAYI - Elle South Africa". elle.co.za. 22 August 2017.
  4. ↑ http://hu.euronews.com/2018/04/03/naomi-campbell-a-nigeriai-divathet-sztarja
  5. ↑ "Lanre Da Silva Ajayi Debuts S/S 2013 Collection 'Butterfly Kisses' In Dolce & Gabbana Spiga2 Concept Store In Milan, Italy". 20 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  6. 1 2 "People often mistake me for a man –Lanre Da Silva". punchng.com.
  7. ↑ Wemimo, Esho. "Lanre DaSilva Ajayi: See stunning resemblance between herself and sister". pulse.ng.
  8. ↑ "African designer ruins her big moment with a runway tumble at New York Fashion Week". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Dinnie, Keith (2015). Nation Branding Concepts, Issues, Practice (2nd ed.). London: Routledge. p. 263.
  10. ↑ https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=Q9gVBgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA204&dq=lanre%20da%20silva&pg=PA204#v=onepage&q=lanre%20da%20silv&f=false
  11. ↑ Mix, Pulse. "SNEAK PREVIEW INTO LANRE DA SILVA-AJAYI, LDA"S FASHION WORLD". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "Lanre Da Silva Ajayi - Vogue.it". Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  13. ↑ http://www.vogue.it/en/talents/contests-and-more/2014/09/lanre-da-silva-ajayi
  14. ↑ "A Look into The Elegant And Vibrant Style of Fashion Designer Lanre DaSilva Ajayi - Style Rave". www.stylerave.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  15. ↑ "Si è cercato lanre - Vogue.it". Vogue.it. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  16. ↑ Gott, Suzanne; Loughran, Kristyne S.; Quick, Betsy D.; Rabine, Leslie W. (10 April 2018). "African-Print Fashion Now!: A Story of Taste, Globalization, and Style". Fowler Museum at UCLA. Retrieved 10 April 2018 – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ https://www.africanprintinfashion.com/2014/06/colour-storm-by-lanre-da-silva-ajayi.html
  18. ↑ http://www.pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/ankara-why-the-african-print-remains-the-coolest-id6204396.html
  19. ↑ https://www.bellanaija.com/2017/08/asiyami-vlisco-lookbook-lanre-dasilva/
  20. ↑ "Your First Look! Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi's "Rock Delight" Collection Debut at Vogue Talents 2014 in Italy - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  21. ↑ Editor, Online (1 April 2018). "Lanre Da-Silva, Abaya, About that Curvy Life Open ARISE Fashion Week - THISDAYLIVE". thisdaylive.com.
  22. ↑ https://guardian.ng/life/style/trends-from-arise-fashion-week-2018/
  23. ↑ http://fr.euronews.com/2018/04/03/lagos-honore-la-mode-africaine
  24. ↑ "Nigeria Fashion Week: Model Naomi Campbell walks the ramp for Lanre Da Silva Ajayi". indianexpress.com. 2 April 2018.
  25. ↑ "Nigeria's Arise Fashion Week". euronews.com. 3 April 2018.
  26. ↑ http://www.corriere.it/foto-gallery/moda/news/18_aprile_04/naomi-campbell-sfila-lagos-vorrei-vogue-africa-163281c6-3820-11e8-8e5f-085098492e12.shtml?refresh_ce-cp
  27. ↑ "Womenswear Designer Lanre DaSilva Ajayi unveils a New Collection for S/S 2017 called "Artistic Statement" - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com.
  28. ↑ https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/11/04/eloy-awards-announces-2017-influencers/
  29. ↑ http://eloyawards.com/
  30. ↑ "#CFCoverStars: Lanre DaSilva Ajayi & the Okunoren Twins Sparkle for Complete Fashion's October Edition - BellaNaija". www.bellanaija.com.
  31. ↑ https://www.vogue.com/article/fashion-insider-guide-lagos-nigeria
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