In Nigeria, the fashion industry has found a vibrant home in events like Lagos Fashion Week. However, for every established fashion capital, there are countless smaller towns and communities brimming with untapped talent. Recognising this, Molawa Oladipupo took the initiative in 2021 to create the Osun International Fashion Week, a groundbreaking event designed to bring the fashion world to the doorstep of emerging designers and models in Osun State, Nigeria.
“Osun International Fashion Week is about more than just fashion. It’s about empowerment, celebration, and building bridges,” asserts Molawa Oladipupo. As a model himself, he sought to tower above the boundaries of culture and religion that sometimes impede the fashion industry’s growth in Osun State.
Osun Fashion Week Empowering Local Talent
The Osun International Fashion Week is not just a fashion show; it’s a platform that nurtures emerging talents. Molawa Oladipupo’s vision extends beyond the runway, encompassing model scouting and partnerships with international agencies. He proudly notes, “We have partnerships with agencies in Paris, London, South Africa, and Ghana that come around to scout talents. From the first edition, we have a model doing very well in Paris right now. This is just the beginning. The event’s success stories speak volumes about the untapped potential of Osun’s budding talents.
Molawa Oladipupo Celebrating Local Craftsmanship
Osun State’s rich textile history, especially its renowned Adire Osun, is a central focus of the event. Molawa Oladipupo passionately explains, “We had a meeting with the local Adire makers, and since the first edition, some of these local Adire makers are now supplying some of our international designers. This symbiotic relationship has not only preserved local craftsmanship but also facilitated their engagement with global designers.
Cultural Inclusivity
The organisers recognise the importance of embracing the diverse cultural landscape of Osun. They’ve integrated students from institutions like Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife into the programme, involving them as volunteers and even featuring student designers in the fashion week. Molawa Oladipupo emphasises, “Starting from the first edition, we had multiple model castings. We had them in Osogbo, Ede, and Ife. This year, we have about 5–10 volunteers from the university on the team. We’re open to ideas and to doing more. For now, that’s what we are doing to make it more inclusive.”
Impact on Osun State
Beyond fashion, the Osun International Fashion Week aspires to contribute to the state’s development. “Part of our proposition to the state authority was to make a day of the week for public servants in Osun to wear Adire Osun. Every Thursday, public servants in Osun now wear Adire Osun to work just to encourage people that are making it and also to improve the IGR,” says Molawa Oladipupo. Osun International Fashion Week’s proposals to encourage public servants to wear Adire Osun and plans for better inclusivity demonstrate its commitment to elevating both the industry and the region.
Global Connections
International guests attending the fashion week not only witness the beauty and serenity of Osun but also engage with local designers, fabrics, and cuisine. Molawa Oladipupo assures, “We try to make their experience worthwhile. We provide adequate security and top-notch hospitality. Osun State has Owala, the Osun Groove, the waterfall, and a lake that’s about 18 kilometres long. We go to these places as part of the schedule for fashion week. Part of the pre-event schedule includes visiting the Osun Groove and having photo shoots there to put the place on the map. We also have the master class, where some of these international designers and models talk to prospective models and fashion designers to mentor and teach them how to go about their careers.”
According to the organizer, Molawa Oladipupo, the creation of the Osun International Fashion Week initiative has been accompanied by its share of challenges. However, her determination has been bolstered by the encouragement of art luminaries such as Chief Mrs. Nike Okundayo of the Nike Art Gallery, who served as the chairperson at the inaugural edition. Additionally, the unwavering support from the World Institute for Peace has played a pivotal role. Notably, each edition of the event sees the World Institute for Peace selecting a male and a female model as peace ambassadors, affording them the opportunity to attend the World Peace Conference wherever it may be held. Furthermore, this year’s initiative has gained additional momentum with the valuable media support of Fabl’style Magazine, providing even more compelling reasons to persevere and expand the project.
Event Date: 15th – 16th September, 2023
Venue: TFG Amusement Park, Ring Road, Osogbo
Time: 9:00am
Enquiries: Osunfashionweekofficial@gmail.com
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Osun International Fashion Week provides hope and opportunity in a region where fashion is still finding its footing. It celebrates culture, fosters talent, and creates bridges to the global fashion industry. With Molawa Oladipupo’s unwavering dedication and the support of international designers and agencies, Osun State is poised to become a thriving fashion hub on the world stage. As he eloquently puts it, “We’re trying to do it right.”
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