• Style is elegance personified
By Christy Anyanwu
Ade Bakare, founder, Ade Bakare Couture London, is a testimony that men can succeed while engaged in what many would regard as a woman’s world.
Many African first ladies find his designs comfortable and elegant, hence the patronage.
In this interview with Saturday Sun, he takes us into his world as a fashion designer, the ups and downs of the profession and his unique selling points, among other issues.
Would you say that men are not as stylish as women?
Men are just as stylish, but women are more fortunate as regards clothes they can wear, both female and male influences, though the barriers are becoming slightly blurred now.
What is the state of fashion business in Nigeria with regard to the state of the economy?
Fashion, like the music industry, is making great strides in the country. The current desire for Adire, Asò oke, Akwete and other African textiles is a testimony to this. Lots of people request for indigenous fabrics abroad. Hopefully, this is creating jobs in textile and manufacturing. The government should ensure they support local industries and place high tariffs on foreign fabrics.
What is style to you?
Style is elegance personified.
Why did you decide to go into women’s fashion?
Creativity in fashion can be expressed more through women’s wear. They can wear almost
anything and the society accepts. Women are more adventurous and are quick to embrace new styles.
How lucrative is the women’s fashion business?
Women all over the world love clothes. Despite the fact that shops are filled with styles and designs, women would still go to designers to have something made specifically or even buy fabrics and find dressmakers to create a vision of what they desire. This endless pursuit of the new creates a huge industry. The demand is always there.
How would you describe the Nigeria fashion industry?
The Nigerian fashion industry is very vibrant and developing at a fast pace. It is great to see people are taking the time to study fashion design and no longer see it as a hobby. There is a
growing industry of designers, pattern cutters and manufacturers now, lots of fashion weeks and workshops for people to show their collections and develop their knowledge.
Tell us why you also work with Aso Oke fabric I love indigenous fabrics. I feel it’s very important to research and develop what we have in Nigeria and Africa. I was recently commissioned by the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu to write a book on Aso Oke. This brought about more awareness of the fabric, its origin, method of making, styles and developments. The First Lady of Oyo State, Mrs Makinde also gave us some contact details of weavers in Iseyin that we are presenting this summer for the 2024 collection in Bamako in May and London in June.
How small did you start? And why is your brand tagged Ade Bakare London?
Ade Bakare Couture was started in 1991 through a loan from the Prince of Wales (now King Charles) Youth Business Trust (PYBT), a foundation set up to encourage young entrepreneurs with good ideas. Ade Bakare Couture is based in London with branches in Nigeria, on Muri Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
What were the initial challenges that you faced?
In business, you will always have challenges like finance, experience, skilled workers and premises, among other issues. But with tenacity and focus with prayers, you gradually begin to surmount these obstacles. Endurance is key. It’s been said: “The greatest art is endurance.”
How do you tackle competition?
Competition in any industry is good. It makes one more creative. But the key is to focus and develop what you design and not look at others. Gradually you will begin to create your own styles. Versace has a different look from Valentino, as Dior has a different look from Chanel
Have you done fashion shows outside Nigeria?
We have been fortunate to have done shows in various fashion weeks across the world and most especially Africa. We have been invited to shows in Bamako, Mali and looking forward to it.
What inspires your designs?
I take inspiration from what I see around me. It could be architecture, gardens, people, countries, etc. But I prefer to have a theme, like the Masai tribe in Kenya we designed in 2016, or the
Wonyosi collection in 2019 (which is currently being shown at the J K Randle Museum, Onikan, Lagos). It makes your collection more cohesive when you have a theme and people can appreciate the designs easily since they have a reference point.
What makes your designs unique?
Over the years, we have designed and developed ideas that people have come to associate with us. Like the high neck sweep coats, silk hooded kaftans, embellished capes, flowing boubous, line dresses with puff sleeves to mention a few. We also designed our own signature fabrics in
Adire. All this gives us a look that clients can quickly identify with.