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Michelle Obama wears Duro Oluwu
August 30, 2010 Filed under howie wang
(Telegraph)
Michelle Obama adds another designer to her United Nations fashion portfolio.
President Obama and wife Michelle leaving a restaurant in Martha’s Vineyard, whilst on their summer holidays
America’s First Lady Michelle Obama’s holiday wardrobe this year includes a vibrant, patchwork, folkloric dress by the London-based Nigerian designer, Duro Olowu. The dress, a funky, layered, smock-style, features at least five different silk prints.
Mrs Obama was photographed wearing the dress while out for dinner this week, with her husband, in Martha’s Vineyard. She has previously worn Duro Olowu’s designs in 2008 and 2009, and has long been a ‘collector’ of the newest and most eclectic brands on Planet Fashion, assembling a United Nations-style wardrobe since her husband was elected. Her fashion portfolio includes designs by the Taiwan-born Jason Wu; Thakoon Panichgul, who was born in Thailand; the Chilean-born, Maria Cornejo; Narciso Rodriguez, the only son of Cuban immigrants; London’s Erdem Moralioglu, who is of Turkish-Canadian descent; the Manhattan-based Naeem Khan, who was born in Mumbai; and the London-based Glaswegian, Jonathan Saunders, along with mainstream brands such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Oscar de la Renta.
America’s First Lady Michelle Obama’s holiday wardrobe this year includes a vibrant, patchwork, folkloric dress by the London-based Nigerian designer, Duro Olowu. The dress, a funky, layered, smock-style, features at least five different silk prints.
Mrs Obama was photographed wearing the dress while out for dinner this week, with her husband, in Martha’s Vineyard. She has previously worn Duro Olowu’s designs in 2008 and 2009, and has long been a ‘collector’ of the newest and most eclectic brands on Planet Fashion, assembling a United Nations-style wardrobe since her husband was elected. Her fashion portfolio includes designs by the Taiwan-born Jason Wu; Thakoon Panichgul, who was born in Thailand; the Chilean-born, Maria Cornejo; Narciso Rodriguez, the only son of Cuban immigrants; London’s Erdem Moralioglu, who is of Turkish-Canadian descent; the Manhattan-based Naeem Khan, who was born in Mumbai; and the London-based Glaswegian, Jonathan Saunders, along with mainstream brands such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Oscar de la Renta.
Duro Olowu, 44, was born in Lagos and studied law in England, before switching to his first love, fashion, long having been inspired by the unexpected mix of fabrics, textures and draping techniques of the clothing worn by the women of his native land.
He launched his own label in London in October, 2004, and was an instant hit with his use of luxurious fabrics and vibrant, clashing prints. He won the New Designer of the Year award at the British Fashion Awards in 2005.
Last year, he opened his own boutique in London, in Mason’s Yard, on Duke Street, St James’s, offering both ready-to-wear and made-to-order. Earlier this year he was given the International Designer of the Year award at the 2010 Africa Fashion Awards, in Johannesburg.
He has just been named as one of the six shortlisted finalists for the 2010 Swiss Textiles Award, which will be decided in November. Last year’s winner was Alexander Wang.
Other Duro Olowu fans include Princess Caroline of Monaco, David Bowie’s wife, Iman, and Thelma Golden, the director and chief curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem.
Michelle Obama via Bunmi Koko & Francis Udom to Put Nigerian Designers on Global Map!
by Ladybrille®Nigeria on August 9, 2010One Comment
Just when I was wondering and rationalizing, in my head, what seems to be an illogical exclusion by the World Bank of Nigeria’s fashion industry in its proposed US30million dollar investment in Nigeria’s creative industries (film and music); I receive further validation I am correct on my thought that the World Bank missed the boat on fashion.Although a relatively young industry, especially when compared to film and music, Nigeria’s fashion industry and its professionals have been gaining huge strides and commanding the world’s attention. Visit LadybrilleNigeria.com link here to see what Nigerian designers, the world over, have been up to. The latest global news giving even more “shine” to Nigeria’s fashion industry and designers is the recent commission of the Nigerian owned label Bunmi Koko by America’s First Lady Michelle Obama to design a jacket for the First Lady.
“Bunmi Olaye, 27, who runs Bunmi Koko with her partner Francis Udom, was given the honour after sending a prospectus of her designs to the White House.Soon after a call came to the couple from Washington asking if a coat could be made for Mrs Obama.Mr Udom said: “Someone said they were from the First Lady’s office and she was interested in a cream coat we had featured and could we make it for her.“We were stunned but kept calm and said we would make her a coat in September. I hope she likes it.””
The Bunmi Koko label is operated by Bunmi Olaye (creative designer who is of Yoruba origins) and Francis Udom (engineer turned fashion entrepreneur who is of Calabar origins). Udom’s business acumen combined with Olaye’s creativity has caught the attention of both the everyday woman and celebrities like ex-Spice girl Melanie Brown, Estelle, Mischa Barton, First Lady Michelle Obama, among many. The two have also amassed numerous nominations and awards. For example, Olaye was a recent winner at the 2010 Africa Fashion International Africa Fashion Awards in the category of ‘Best Emerging Designer’ (International) while Udom was a finalist and nominee for the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Grampian Awards.
I am excited for the Bunmi Koko brand and even more excited about the massive attention their designs on the body of the First Lady will bring to Nigerian designers and its fashion industry. The best is yet to come. Carry on Bunmi Koko and of course all industry professionals.
To emerging and existing designers, be inspired. Anything is possible! I would also take a page out of Bunmi Koko’s “What to Do to Grow your Fashion Label” and send quality illustrations of my work towhomever I desire to wear my designs. You never know, like Olaye and Udom, you might just score big and the rest, like they say, “is history.”
Read the article on Bunmi Koko dressing Mrs. Obama here.
Read the article on Francis Udom Leaving the “oil rigs” to pursue fashion here.
Watch Bunmi Koko interview at the AFI Africa Fashion Week below.
~Uduak Oduok
~Courtesy Photo/Bunmi & Francis with Nelson Mandela
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