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Imane Ayissi Brings Couture Discipline and African Craft to GTCO Fashion Week

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At GTCO Fashion Week in Lagos, Imane Ayissi presented a collection that confirmed his position as one of the few designers able to merge African textile traditions with the precision of Paris couture. His showing focused on structure and craftsmanship rather than spectacle or sentimentality.

Guzangs – Instagram

Ayissi, who built his career in Paris while maintaining deep ties to Cameroon, brought materials rich in identity: hand-woven Kenté from Ghana, Faso Danfani from Burkina Faso, and bark cloth adapted for structure and durability. Instead of using them as decoration, he transformed them into tailored jackets, sculpted gowns, and sharply constructed skirts. The results were deliberate and disciplined, pushing traditional fabrics into new technical territory.

Guzangs – Instagram

The tones moved between earthy neutrals and bold reds and fuchsias, drawn from natural dyes. Raffia appeared in layers, not as an accent but as reinforcement, used to strengthen seams and give garments form. It showed that innovation can emerge directly from heritage, not from outside interpretation.

Guzangs – Instagram

Ayissi’s past as a model and dancer remains visible in how his clothes are designed to allow posture and flexibility. A structured white gown referenced the kaba but avoided costume exaggeration. A double-layer Kenté blazer combined authority with ease, proving that refinement does not rely on European fabric traditions alone.

Guzangs – Instagram

His presence at GTCO Fashion Week carried significance beyond the runway. Few African designers are part of the official Paris Haute Couture calendar, and Ayissi’s inclusion there has made him a reference point for designers navigating between indigenous craft and global recognition. His Lagos show strengthened that conversation, demonstrating that African couture now stands at the center of fashion’s global narrative.

Rather than trading in language about “bridging cultures” or “celebrating heritage,” Ayissi showed clarity of method and respect for process. His work in Lagos was not about symbolism; it was about standard. He demonstrated that precision and cultural grounding can coexist without compromise.

Fashion

Bvlgari Honors Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as Global Icon in ‘Carrying Culture’ Campaign

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Ethan James Green

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie appears in the new “Carrying Culture” campaign by Bvlgari. The campaign was photographed by Ethan James Green and styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. In the images, Adichie is presented as one of the five global figures chosen for the project, bringing her voice as a writer into Bvlgari’s cultural campaign.

In the campaign photographs, Adichie appears in a white off‑the‑shoulder gown with clean lines. The dress has a clean, smooth surface. Her hair is styled in long braids pulled back from her face.

Ethan James Green

The campaign’s focus is a sculptural circular gold clutch from Bvlgari’s Icons Minaudière collection, which holds a miniature book representing each Global Icon’s personal connection to culture.

The pendant is not only for decoration. It can be opened to reveal a small round insert with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie written on it. In one of the campaign images, Adichie holds the small disc close to her face after taking it out of the pendant, showing the detail that connects the piece directly to her name.

She complements the look with stacked gold bracelets and slim rings on her fingers.

In a video shared alongside the campaign images, Adichie alternates between bright smiles and calm, thoughtful expressions, occasionally leaning forward in thoughtful poses. She says:

“I write realistic fiction. I write the kind of fiction that I hope will give someone who reads it a hundred years from now an idea of how we live today. I don’t think that novels should be ideologically correct because life is not ideologically correct. Life is messy. But I think novels should strive for emotional truth.”

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Tems Says ‘It’s White O’ Clock’ at the 2026 BRITS Awards

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Photo credit: Instagram

Tems attended the 2026 BRITS Awards in a head-to-toe white look on 28 February. She didn’t just light up the red carpet; she also presented the International Artist of the Year award to Spanish pop star Rosalía.

The outfit balanced simplicity with dramatic detailing on the corset, with delicate lace trims and visible textural details, and a bandeau neckline. Off-shoulder sleeves added volume and extended outward, contrasting the fitted bodice, while the lower half flowed into layered lace with a front split, giving the dress a soft, graceful shape.

Photo credit: Instagram

The all-white choice seemed deliberate. White often represents purity and virtue. For Tems, who has risen from a Nigerian star to a world music force, the colour felt symbolic. It reflected a new beginning and maturity. She did not rely on heavy colours or vibrant outfits. Instead, she allowed defined fabric and tailoring to speak.

Her hairstyle gave cultural weight to her look. It was styled by Dunsin Wright, where she wore three pigtail-thick braided woven loops, styled neatly to elevate her outfit. This hairstyle draws from distant African braiding traditions. The braids are seen as minimalist and protective, but for this look, they are expressive. On a global stage like the BRIT Awards, this choice subtly affirmed her Nigerian identity. It was a sight of her roots even in equipped fashion spaces.

James Kelly

Her makeup balanced it all with her dress. Deep ombre red glossy lips and defined smokey wing eyes added richness, preventing the white ensemble from feeling washed out. Statement earrings completed the look, adding sparkle without distraction.

Tems’ all-white look reflects the woman she has grown into. From Lagos to international stages as this one, she is fully aware of her place in the industry and mirrored her journey in a minimalistic all-white dress. It defined her authenticity and quiet power.

 

 

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Fashion

Jorts Are Back! Oyindamola Shows How to Style Them with a Blazer

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Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram

Oyindamola Eyitayo Idowu revisits the jorts trend in her latest Instagram post, captioned “Here to Ruffle Your Feathers.” The combination pairs mid-length denim shorts with a fitted cropped top and an oversized blazer with defined shoulders, giving the throwback staple a more tailored finish.

Jorts are frequently seen as hard to style. However, by combining them with tailored pieces and accessories, she challenges that perception. She has indeed ruffled feathers with such a shift from what many view as overly casual and laid-back into something bold.

Photo credit: Instagram

The outfit shows balance. She combines soft blue mid-length denim shorts with a fitted white cropped top that defines her waist. Over the top, she adds an oversized black blazer with defined shoulders and a loose fit. This blazer quickly changes the casual throwback into a sharp, structured outfit.

On her feet, she wears white pointed stilettos. A structured cream handbag and slim black sunglasses complete the fit, while her glossy, blunt bob neatly frames her face. The setting is simple and modern, allowing the outfit to shine. The jorts provide comfort and flexibility, while the blazer and heels add structure. As the founder of JAN DEUX, she extends her brand’s vision through her visual representation.

Photo credit: Instagram

Knowing that denim is universally accessible, the blazer and heels add a structured finish to the jorts, turning a casual look into a confident, elegant appearance. The caption was meant to stir things up, showing that a mother can be fashionable and an entrepreneur can deliberately embrace trends.

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