Davinci Fashion Launches

Sunday Okobi

A fashion centre which helps create the platform for designers in the industry as well as lovers of fashion to meet and mingle, Davinci Fashion Lounge, has been unveiled in Lagos. The lounge, according to its director, Linda Deminguez, is a unique Nigerian fashion hub where all lovers of fashion (and designers) meet and connect in various ways.

Deminguez told THISDAY: “We are launching a first-of-its-kind fashion lounge. The lounge is a hub they can now come to get help and connection, you know, sometime who you know in the industry (potential customers) matters. In here, you can connect with photographers, makeup artists among others who can assist in fostering your career and a lot of networking and opportunities.”

“The Nigerian fashion industry is one of the most lucrative in the world, and as it is booming, we need to take it higher. We are here to provide that platform for a lot of Nigerian youths and upcoming fashion designers and make-up artists. That’s the objective of the lounge. ”

While highlighting the gains of the fashion industry in Nigeria, she said: “Fashion is a way of life because what I wear matters. I have to look good. Fashion is lifestyle basically, and it is worthy of note that Nigerian youths today are seriously into fashion in many ways mostly showcasing it on social media as well as our campuses. Esther Bayo is the face of Davinci fashion Lounge.

Among the designers connected to the lounge is Dyvaciti Fashion Hub, which Dominguez said is creating a platform for established and emerging designers to showcase their creativity on a regular basis whilst networking with potential buyers.
“Dyvaciti Fashion takes place monthly and it is powered by Davinci Fashion Lounge. Our next event is May 27.

She disclosed that another fashion house powered by the lounge, ‘Rikaoto by Me’, was founded in 2009 as a result of the entrepreneurial skill of Maryam Elisha (ME) Rikaoto fashion services. “The Nigerian company focuses mainly on creating eclectic and chin designs for both males and femaless. Rikaoto elusively designs red dresses, pageantry dresses, wedding, formal for occasion, parties, casual outfit and costumes for videos. The sleek style of the Rikaoto brand has separated it from the regular cliché of fashion design.

Flirtatious and daring in design, Rikaoto has made apparels for top celebrities worldwide. It has also participated in various fashion shows locally and internationally.”
It was also learnt that over the years, Rikaoto has been able to provide support services for fashion designers who couldn’t step up with a large scale production factory.

Rikaoto has contributed to re-writing the perception that any design of excellence ‘has to be imported’ syndrome by designing top of the line style. The adventurous spirit of the CEO has added to the success, style and creative innovation and industrial know-how of Maryam Elisha. Rikaoto has distinguished itself among other designers for it’s innovations, creativity and prestige. Rikato has dintinguished itself as a Nigerian company of international repute, which operates in the upscale market range, presenting a mixture of both the Nigeria and international culture.

Also powered by the lounge is Nugo’s clothing which is a wholly indigenous cloth designing and sewing company based in Lagos. It has an eye on promoting the beauty of the African culture to the world, in a very modern and unique style through fashion.

Nugo’s clothing is a very unique brand with loyal clients cutting across the upper and the middle class. “The use of a butterfly as logo, stems out from the fact that the butterfly is a beautiful, colourful and homeless creature. The use of African print on the butterfly signifies on utmost loyalty and dedication of the team to the ever colourful African culture, which is greatly portrayed in the office prints,” she said.