By Chinazam Ikechi-Uko.
With a new song drop, back-to-back performances, an album in the works, a new sigil which has been compared to the bat signal, and a new aesthetic. Rema has had a busy 2024 but music is one of many industries he has been running laps around. He finally has fashion in the bag too.
Benin Boy, Pride Of Benin, and Rave lord. Since his debut in 2019, Rema has been meticulous about his style. His debut music video– Dumebi was practically an advert for Waffles And Cream as a focal character in the video wore its tie-dye T-shirt. With his faded locs, silver jewellery, and chest bags; Rema came out swinging and the Nigerian fashion industry took notes.
He could be spotted in established home magazines such as Style Magazine (ThisDay), Life Magazine (Guardian) and GTCO fashion weekend magazine. 5 years later, Rema has taken over the globe, with his hit song Calm Down having over a billion streams. It has won international awards such as the MTV VMAs for Best Afrobeats Video, Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song, and MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Afrobeats.
Now, the world has caught the Raver flu and the governing fashion industry has set their eyes on him. 2024 marks a big year for him as he returns for another Haute Couture fashion week. In 2023, he tested the waters with the Balenciaga show, this year, he is back and exploring more shows. Here Rema takes on fashion week, the shows he attended and what he wore around the streets of Paris.
Rema kicked off his Haute Couture Fashion Week at the unveiling of the latest Louis Vuitton collection by Pharrell. Pharrell who has had his eyes on diversifying the luxury market invited an array of stylish African artistes to sit front row at the event. Household names such as Tems, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Adekunle Gold, Mr Eazi and Uncle Waffles were also in attendance. Rema wore a Canadian suit paired with a varsity jacket and his signature neckpiece.
A necklace whose pendant is inspired by his debut album– Raves and Roses. Zikoko reported that it is worth over 200 million naira and is made with over one kilogram of solid gold, 60 carats of colourless diamonds, and nearly 90 carats of coloured diamonds.
The next stop for Rema was the AWGE show. AWGE by ASAP Rocky, which according to Urban Dictionary stands for ASAP Worldwide Global Entertainment, is a creative collective by the rapper who says that the first rule of the collective is to never reveal what AWGE means. Well, Rema joins the number of people who get to learn about AWGE up close as he sat front row as the brand made its Paris debut. The collection which was titled “American Sabotage” explored the use of ghetto expressionism. Rema tackled this theme as he showed up in an avant-garde look.
Finishing his Paris experience at Kenzo– a French luxury fashion house known for its fusion of Parisian chic and Japanese influences. The Rema and Kenzo partnership dates back to his 2023 EP, Ravage. Kenzo was one of the choice brands for the DND music video. Rema adorned an eclectic attire as he wore what appeared to be a skouser (a cross between a skirt and a trouser), a statement t-shirt with the year 1970 written on it (Kenzo’s founding year), and a varsity jacket. However, his hoop earrings stole the show as it proved he is experimental with his style.
In between his fashion week appearances, Rema attended fashion parties and posed for magazines.
Rema’s look for AWGE Paris debut has become an internet sensation as it was photographed by various high fashion magazines. GQ added him to their list as one of the best-dressed people in Paris.
Many would say that the best parts about fashion week are the after-parties and from the looks of it, Rema would not disagree. He was spotted looking fashionable at a couple of them. 2024 marks Rema’s official fashion show hopping and we can’t wait to see what next the industry has for him. What were your favourite Rema looks and what brands should he work with next?