Creating a much needed link between talented African designers and the many people who are interested in buying from them, Kolade Adeyemo and Akin Adebowale, along with CEO Kwesi blair, have launched OXOSI, a site dedicated to some of the continent’s best and brightest.
“Roughly around 2011, Kolade and I established that there were Afromodernist brands, luxury and contemporary brands that had a narrative, a craftsmanship, a dynamic, and they had more of a local enterprise, but were occupying a growing segment of the luxury market,” explained Adebowale in a recent interview with Vogue magazine.
With funding from Kupanda Capital and the guidance of Zara Okpara, a brand consultant for Lagos Fashion and Design Week, the site was founded. Currently it includes the designs of 25 Africa-based designers, including Chulaap (South Africa), Brother Vellies (Kenya) and Third Crown (Ghana), among others.
The site also is currently hosting pre-order trunk show for the spring 2017 designs of Lisa Folawiyo (Nigeria), Maki Oh (Nigeria), Maxhosa by Laduma (South Africa), and Loza Maléombho (Ivory Coast).
“We want to make sure that OXOSI is fully representing the entire continent. We’re looking at skateboarders in Nigeria, tattoo culture in Kenya, punk-rock culture in Zimbabwe,” added Adebowale.
All images via OXOSI’s Instagram. For more info, visit oxosi.com
