MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week Begins In Style

The 2012 Lagos Fashion and Design Week, kicks off tonight, but organizers and partners met with the press this morning to discuss the event and what it is about. Present were Omoyemi Akerele, the Creative Director / Founder of the Lagos Fashion and Design Week; Michael Wagner, the Brand Manager of Porsche Nigeria; and Bridget Chukwumah, the Head of Retail, for Research in Motion, West Africa.
Omoyemi Akerele, started off by introducing the event, and some of the objectives of the Week. She pointed that there are many challenges in the fashion industry in Nigeria, and they intend to work with partners like the British Council to develop the Nigerian fashion industry. She pointed to the contribution of RIM, Blackberry makers and to Porsche as the “logistic and lifestyle partners, and a luxury brand for the fashion industry in Nigeria”

She spoke of MTN Communications, the title sponsor, and their commitment to helping
fashion and design develop in the country, by the partnership and the other efforts. She talked about first event in the schedule, a cocktail, titled, The Future. The event will award a winner for Young Designer of the Year, from a set of finalists – after a nationwide application and contest.
At tonight’s event also, one of the designers, Jewel by Lisa, will unveil blackberry cases made for the 9900 phone. Omoyemi Akerele said the winner will have the opportunity to participate next year at the international fashion week in London, and will be able to participate in a subtraction cutting master class section, and will have collection go to stores.
She talked about the Nigerian fashion industry – answering questions – and pointed to absence of what we can be really called Nigerian materials. She also addressed that a dress maker is different from a fashion designer, saying the former makes dresses for people – individually, while the latter, does a collection, to be sold for the public.

Michael Wagner, the brand manager for Porsche Nigeria, said Porsche is “happy to be associated with young designers” and happy to jointly promote them. The Lagos Fashion and Design Week will come to an end on Saturday and will feature Matthew Williamson, an international fashion designer.