by Chinazam Ikechi-Uko.
The Met Gala, whose exhibition was themed Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, had Nigerians up in arms, swearing that Nigerian designers could do better. Well, only a week after the Met Gala, our designers were presented with the opportunity to showcase their couture skills. Although well-tailored suits were not popular on the red carpet, with voluminous trains and buxom silhouettes, Nigerian designers took the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards [AMVCA] theme, Mother Earth, to the next level.
THE INNOVATIVE PIECES OF THE AMVCA:
For years, Safety Pins have been trying to infiltrate the fashion industry, with their zenith being featured as accessories in Versace collections. However, for the eleventh edition of the AMVCA, the designer Tiannah’s Place Empire redefined what a safety pin is as she used a million pins to create the illusion of a dress. The attire worn by Queen Mercy Atang had an array of gold and silver painted accents closely attached. A closer look and every single piece, excluding the corset and gele, was a bunch of safety pins. Now, did the look match the theme? Yes, because it was golden… and it had gold roses on the gele.
Another designer who upped her game was the renowned Veekee James. Veekee James is a name that has become synonymous with commercial fashion in Nigeria, as she is a permanent fixture on red carpets and weddings. Never one to miss a red carpet, Veekee James teamed up with the star actress, Osas Ighodaro.
In an Instagram post, Veekee James expressed that the moss-like appliqué on Ighodaro’s dress was originally from a green towel. The dress screamed Mother Earth with mushrooms sprouting out. The standout part was the large branches growing from Ighodaro’s back.
While Ighodaro and Veekee James have a documented history of collaborating, she wasn’t James’ sole muse for the night. Filmmaker and actress Mercy Aigbe turned up in an eclectic piece by the designer. The theme was Mother Earth, but Aigbe chose the Greek mythology angle for inspiration. Her dress connected both firmaments related to Nyx and Gaia. With a large moon attached to her flank and hip, the dress with a solar-reference bust was hard to miss. The solar references end at the waist, and what falls underneath, a shimmery black fabric with stars placed on it.
Veekee James made artistic innovations, but designer Jewoola Adenike Racheal introduced scientific ones. Racheal collaborated with Metal Bender Studios for the look. In a white ensemble, Nana Akua Addo took breaths as the metal wide suspenders, attached to her waist, began to move. It was a stunning sight.
Now, not every unique interpretation of the theme was met with praise. One of these was the banana dress worn by Papaya_ex, designed by Esther Igono. Papaya had already been in fashion pugatory for her look at Priscilla Ojo’s wedding. Some of that sentiment resurfaced when she turned up in a banana while eating a banana on the red carpet. Papaya might not be making fashion heaven any time soon. Nevertheless, she was on theme.
All publicity is still publicity, and the attention Papaya’s look brought to the designer Igono made it easier to find her second client of the night, Faith Morey. Morey wore a sparkling dress with a mermaid silhouette and a dramatic neckline.
Jemima Osunde was sculpted in a glossy black and silver dress. The pattern on the dress where reminiscent of the top of the Chrysler building from its side. The dress was designed by AMBAOSA. Now, there are no clues explaining how it ties to the theme.
AMBAOSA equally made two dresses for A-list actress, Idia Aisien’s AMVCA looks. One was a white drop waist dress with rose sleeves. The second dress was a lot darker, in a light black dress with fire graphics on its bust and hem.
The last look on our innovative list is Mercy Eke’s starry piece. Designer Amy Aghomi used bead-like pieces to give the dress a raindrop frozen in mid-air look.
THE COVERT SWAROVSKI ADVERT.
Another intriguing thing about red carpets is that they are a marketing scheme. In the Western hemisphere, models are internationally sent to red carpets with the plan to answer the question, Who are you wearing?
This year’s AMVCA featured six red carpet looks with Swarovski collaborations. Ranging from bland to corseted, stars like Nengi, Deyemi, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, Nini, Adeola C. Adeyemi, and Michelle Io accessorised their outfits with Swarovski crystals.
THE YEMI SHOYEMI PROPAGANDA (I AM BUYING IT)
Yemi Shoyemi is an eponymous label which gained fame for its bridal designs. In 2024, Yemi Shoyemi reintroduced itself as a brand. It expanded its range from bridal to other aspects of womenswear, including eveningwear.
Toni Tones, Angel Anosike, and Seyitan Atigarin showed up in different Yemi Shoyemi looks.
Toni Tones wore a custom piece, and Atigarin wore the SOLEIL NOIR look from the latest collection. A few days before the AMVCA, Atigarin was spotted in the SAFARI BLOOM look from the same collection. Angel Anosike worked a gold custom two-piece for her AMVCA debut. Were they all on theme, not all, but with garments named Safari Bloom and Soleil Noir, the collection relates to Mother Earth.
The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards showcased the incredible creativity of Nigerian designers as they interpreted the theme of Mother Earth in unique ways. With unique textiles and dramatic silhouettes, the red carpet was a celebrative display of fashion that sparked conversation and highlighted Africa’s artistic potential.
There were questionable looks, however, the variety showcased the industry’s growth and its burgeoning presence on the global stage. The AMVCA challenged the notion that African designers are not as creatively full as their Western counterparts. At the moment, many of the designers who dressed the AMVCA attendees do not have the prestige expected of a Met Gala designer. But their innovative designs and eccentric looks prove that the talent is here.
