Tina Ndidi Ugo of DiDi Creations hails Nigerian fashionistas

Tina Ndidi Ugo

Amiable Founder and Creative Director of DiDi Creations Ltd Tina Ndidi Ugo, a renowned fashion designer who is based in the United Kingdom at the moment has given kudos to Nigerian style aficianodos. This style icon who is into  fashion company that caters for the fashion conscious through creating unique pieces of unisex bags, footwears, clothing and accessories says she is...

impressed with the Nigeria fashion indsutry and fashionistas that wear the designs  because they do so with shoulders high.

The vivacious  diva who bagged her  first degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, where she had a BA(Combined Honours) in Philosophy and Political Science.

Before she  relocated to the United Kingdom for further studies in 2009 and bagged a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from London Business College and subsequently a Masters in Business Administration from Edge Hill University says Nigerians are highly fashionable. "We are fashionable people in Nigeria and tend to be quick with following the trends of our western counterparts. The world is gradually beginning to accept our indigenous fashion designs.

"I've observed the fashion industry is a vicious cycle as past trends keep revolving over time.

I have also noticed that prints popularly known in Nigeria as "Ankara" have become quite popular in recent times across the globe not only in Nigeria. Several celebrities such as; Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Eve, Alicia Keys, Nicki Minaj etc. have all been spotted wearing prints in recent times," she enthused.

This black beauty, who decided to stay back in the United Kingdom after her MBA and was torn between getting a job in the financial sector and setting up her own business but decided to settle for the latter insists Nigerians deserve some kudos when it comes to fashion. "Our unique Nigerian and other African clothings are quite colourful, distinct, easy to wear and maintain. Lately, a handful of designers (both local and global) are beginning to make bags, footwear, accessories, contemporary pret-a-porter outfits and even haute couture pieces using African and African inspired fabrics.

Prior to the Africa Fashion Week London 2013 where I showcased, I was invited to the BBC Radio 4 to discuss African Fashion on The Woman's Hour.

"This same question sprang up and my response was; African Fashion is worth discovering because Africa is the next "Big Thing" in the Fashion World. Our diverse culture means we have a wide range of variable to offer on the fashion scene. We have loads of talented and untapped artisans across the continent, hence this is worth discovering.

"For emerging African designers in diaspora like myself, it's been noticed (surprisingly) that most of my clients who actually buy my African inspired pieces or my ethical pieces are not even of African Heritage. Some household brands in the industry are already tapping into this vacuum as well through infusing African inspired fabrics and themes into their designs.

Tina Ndidi Ugo

"For instance, The Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2012 collection during the London Fashion Week 2012 had a handful of pieces made from what I would call African prints or "Ankara" as popularly known. High Street Stores across the globe are also cashing on this discovery as well; for instance I have a few accessories that I bought from Top Shop, River Island, New Look and an Ankara print shoe and purse from Aldo. These accessories are not different from what can be bought off our numerous  markets in Nigeria and other parts of Africa," she said, on a final note.