As part of renewed efforts and commitment to Nigerian creativity, the French Embassy in Nigeria has officially launched the Lagos X Paris Fashion and Design Accelerator Programme, which is geared towards supporting 10 high-potential Nigerian brands within the design and fashion ecosystem.
The one-year programme will provide mentorship, nurture creativity, reinforce business literacy and help the creatives and their teams navigate the French and global fashion industry.
Speaking with The Guardian at the Lagos launch event, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, expressed her delight at finally kickstarting the programme after obtaining funding to support cultural entrepreneurs in different sectors including fashion, design, dance, animation and video games, aimed at helping them improve their businesses.
The Accelerator will comprise physical tailored one-on-one courses on a broad range of subjects, with actual deliverables and tools, monthly mentorship sessions, high-level masterclasses, direct and indirect grant, investment readiness module with pitching sessions to investors and support to participate at a French event in 2024.
For Fashion, Lagos Space Programme, TJWHO Design, OBIDA, EKI KERE, ELEXIAY and Waffles and cream Limited were picked while MALIKO and Ethnic Africa were picked for accessories. OMI Collective and Aga Design and Culture limited were picked for design.
“We are convinced that there is so much talent in Nigeria and it is important that they get help to be known globally. There are different aspects to this programme; the first is the accelerator which we received 128 applicants for and had to scale down to 10. Hopefully, by the end of this year, they will start showing their creations in fashion shows in Paris.”
One of the awardees, Adeju Thompson, who is this year’s winner and first African ever to win the international Wool Mark Prize, says he won as a result of his hard work and tenacity. “I don’t have any problem with my creativity or company but if I decide to keep on working in Nigeria, I think it is nice to learn how the systems work properly and how to navigate them successfully. I need the mentorship in navigating the Nigerian business landscape and this programme would help in that regard.”
For Tunde Owolabi of Ethnik Africa, another awardee, he said he has always been fascinated by aso-oke and the Yoruba culture in its entirety, which has inspired his work. “After I left advertising, I wondered what I could do with my love for the culture and aso-oke came to mind. I want it to be accessible to everyone and not just something we wear for weddings and dump after. I want younger people to be attracted to it and come to love it as I do. I also thought about sustainability because if we don’t wear it, the weavers will find themselves out of work.”
Owolabi makes everyday items from aso-oke, including sneakers, bags, blankets, clothing, throw pillows and so on.
“The last eight years have been amazing and a lot of people don’t believe what we can make from aso-oke. We source the fabric from Iseyin, Oyo State and Ilorin in Kwara State,” he revealed.
The official launch of this initiative held in Paris with 15 people from Nigeria attending.
Source: The Guardian
