Lioness Weekender Cover Story
Deola Sagoe Limited, the premier authentic African based luxury products provider
Adeola Ade-Ojo is a Nigerian born fashion designer who is popularly known by her design name, Deola Sagoe. Whilst studying Business Administration at the University of Miami, Florida in the mid 1980’s, Deola fell in love with fashion. On graduating in 1987, she returned to Nigeria ostensibly to begin a Masters degree in Finance. Deola’s Mother had been running tailoring operations called Odua Creations which was known for producing meticulously embroidered traditional menswear. In 1989, Deola joined her Mother with a view of expanding the label’s repertoire to encompass more contemporary designs for the ever developing, cosmopolitan Nigerian society. The following year, Deola began designing under her then married name Deola Sagoe, and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Coinciding with the launch of Paris Fashion Week, UNESCO hosted a round table discussion, entitled Made in Africa: The Next Global Manufacturing Hub?, at its Headquarters in Paris on 23 September. Focusing on the potential of Africa’s fashion industry, the event brought together leading experts on the Continent’s clothing and fashion sector, including renowned Nigerian couturier Deola Sagoe.
Read moreDeola Sagoe is the founder of fashion brand Deola and the leading lady of African haute couture fashion from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her globally appealing style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read more"We know that Africa has potential, all we need is investors – either local or foreign – to come on board with money and partner with us and take it all the way up there.”
Deola Sagoe, founder of Deola (Nigeria)
Read more“The West has taken and borrowed a lot from Africa…now it’s a renaissance: we’re claiming back what is ours and we’re adding value to what is ours, making it globally acceptable and globally appealing."
- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read moreAfrican designers need to celebrate their cultural roots and fashion history in order to become globally competitive….
“When I started out, it was with a certain philosophy, because at that time it wasn’t cool to look African. Africa wasn’t on the map as it is now. … There was nothing really happening in terms of African fashion going global, or Africans being able to make a business of African fashion outside of the shore of Africa. So I went into it, sort of, to prove a point and to say ‘Listen. We can do this. We can add value.’ And to also bring the attention of the world to our own native abilities.”
- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read moreYou really need a can-do spirit and to believe in what you're doing....
“I just had this can-do spirit. I was just so convinced that my product was so genuine and would no doubt conquer the world."
- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read more"...unless you love who you are and what makes you, 'you', you’re going to have a difficult time getting anyone to like you or value you."
- Deola Sagoe is the founder of Deola and the leading lady of African haute couture fashion from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989, becoming the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her globally appealing style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read more"The truth is, for every stereotype of corruption or extremism you hear of, there are a million motivated and driven Nigerians who add value and impact positively in and out of Nigeria."
- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey.
Read more"We don't need aid, we need partnerships. We cannot continue to be a beggar nation. I have always believed you shouldn't give the man the fish, but teach the man how to fish and he will be able to take care of himself and others."
- Deola Sagoe, leading lady of African fashion, is a haute couture fashion designer from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her "globally appealing" style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read moreSource: Al Jazeera | 14 September 2015
An iron will and a good eye have helped designer Deola Sagoe lead the Nigerian fashion industry on to the global stage. As part of the 'My Nigeria 'series on Al Jazeera, Deola Sagoe takes us into her fashion world and how she sees Nigeria.
Read moreFounder, executive producer, and host of I of Africa, Aina Fadina, interviews Nigerian Couture designer, Deola Sagoe. Watch as Deola Sagoe explains how Yoruba and Japanese culture has influenced her creative process. She also uses her 25 years in the fashion business to provide an insight into building luxury labels in Africa and the importance of being true to your brand.
Read moreBreathtaking was the word used to describe the latest designs created and launched by Africa’s Queen of Haute Couture, Deola Sagoe, who was showcasing her Spring/Summer 2015 Collection tagged “Wings By Deola”, at the prestigious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York this month.
Read moreCheck your motives are right before you start your entrepreneurial journey....
“A lot of people’s motive of coming to fashion business is not clear. If you are passionate about the industry and you feel you have something to offer or to showcase, no matter how challenging it is, you will stick to it. A whole lot of them come around because of the glamour forgetting that it is a business."
- Deola Sagoe, founder of Deola is the leading lady of African haute couture fashion from Ondo State in Nigeria. Deola has been at the cutting edge of high fashion since 1989 and became the first black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, back in 2004. Her globally appealing style has earned her an enviable clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst, top model Alek Wek, and famous personalities such as Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith.
Read moreSource: This Day Live | December 7, 2014
The Business Side of Fashion (BSoF) forum in Nigeria brings together successful fashion designers every year to serve as an inspiration to the upcoming ones. This year's Forum featured Deola Sagoe who shared with the participants some of her hard earned business knowledge of the industry.
Read the article here.
Read moreWith top models, A-List celebrities and famous society personalities making up her clientele lists, Deola Sagoe, founder of haute couture fashion house Deola, is an entrepreneurial success story of note.
Read moreSource: ARISE Entertainment 360, hosted by Lola Ogunnaike, published on Feb 14, 2014
Nigerian fashion pioneer Deola Sagoe celebrated 25 years in the business with a solo exhibition at the 2014 New York Fashion Show. ARISE Entertainment 360, hosted by Lola Ogunnaike sat down with her moments before the festivities began.
Read moreSource: SPICE TV, published on Mar 31, 2014
SPICE TV Celebrates Mothers in Fashion as veteran designer Deola Sagoe marks 25 years in the industry. In honour of Mother's Day and after a month celebrating 'Mothers in Fashion', SPICE TV brings you a tribute to Deola Sagoe -- the designer, the woman and mother, as you've never seen her before. In an intimate, exclusive interview detailing the designer's move to rebrand her label from Deola Sagoe to Deola, her work, achievements and her inspirations, Deola shares on her Mother, children and motherhood itself, giving insight into the icon's inner circle.
Read moreSource: Okay Africa, published March 2014
If you were to ask people in the know to name their top fashion designers of African descent, we know for fact that Deola Sagoe would come up. Originally from Nigeria, Sagoe has been in the industry for the past 25 years and keep shining in the international fashion limelight. A true visionary, she stands out with her strong signature designs, elegance and attitude. Last Sunday, Deola Sagoe unveiled new pieces from her Fall/Winter 14 collection in a bright, beautiful set-up at New York Fashion Week. We caught up with her a day prior to the show, during casting, to have a chat with her ....
Read the full article here.
Read moreSource: Vogue Italia, published 02/03/2014
She was the first black woman to present a collection at Alta Roma back in 2004 and has been in the Nigerian fashion game since 1989. In a quarter decade of time, Lagos-based designer Deola Sagoe has established herself as the leading lady of Nigerian fashion, armed with a clientèle that ranges from Africa's first ladies, to society girls like Lydia Hearst and top model Alek Wek....
Read the full article here.
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