Taofeek Abijako, this nineteen year old designer prodigy, is hogging the limelight for all the right reasons. This Nigerian’s debut is a story that is anything but a tailor made dream for every young creative mind. More than that, a Nigerian debuting on the runways of New York has set the bar of inspiration pretty high.
A New Yorker since 2010, this isn’t Abijako’s first designer range. In his high school (which was just the previous year) he independently financed an entire collection. He raised the money by selling custom-painted Vans on an e- marketplace. Also, he met actress Amandla Stenberg who brought these shoes. Moreover, she promoted the shoes on the social media accounts helping his merchandises become sought after.
At the New York Fashion Week for Spring Summer 2019 in Menswear, the artist paid homage to his past heritage by celebrating his West African culture through a contemporary perspective. Naming his collection Genesis, which means the beginning, he gave a subtle message of the journey which is yet to be discovered in the industry. The designs were a minimalist street wear with social and political observations.
The collection released is inspired from the West African youth culture of the ‘70s and Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician and activist who launched a contemporary style of music called Afro-beat.
With the objective of generating impactful statements through his work, Abijako started the brand two years ago. Thought-provoking statements such as “Cruel Hands” and “Hooligans,” consisted his previous collections featuring apparels with names like “Disorder: In Mutiny We Trust” and “Palaver Child.”
