The Evolution Of Nigerian Fashion Since Independence | The Guardian Nigeria News

By Tobi Awodipe

03 Oct 2021   |  
5:30 pm

Nigerian trend has generally been distinctive, statement-generating and extremely defining. Now a forerunner in not just Africa but all about the earth, the Nigerian manner marketplace has undergone numerous alterations above the decades and a long time, reinventing by itself, taking parts of the outdated and mixing it with the new, however retaining its exclusive allure and flavour.…

The Evolution Of Nigerian Vogue Considering that Independence

Nigerian trend has often been unique, assertion-building and really defining. Now a forerunner in not just Africa but all in excess of the planet, the Nigerian fashion market has been through various changes over the a long time and many years, reinventing alone, using elements of the outdated and mixing it with the new, still retaining its unique allure and flavour.

To say Nigerians have always been fashionable men and women is to place the enormity of our life-style and class mildly. But like a baby that outgrows its diapers, the fashion feeling of Nigerians has progressed more than the many years.

The Sixties
Most Nigerian females wore extensive dresses and hats. The women dressed in both of those equipped and outsized outfits relying on their desire and complemented with permed, properly-sprayed Afros. The uneducated individuals simply just wore their indigenous dresses and did very simple, nearby hairstyles. An additional trend that took the vogue industry by storm then have been mini skirts and attire. This pattern was allegedly invented by Mary Quant and aimed at seductively showing off women’s legs. In the course of this time, dazzling colors were being introduced for guys and there was also an obsession with prints and patterned fabrics. Women’s trend constituted of mini dresses with ladylike silhouettes (define), while adult men wore loud, colored, patterned shirts. Also, skinny ties were in vogue. For the duration of this time, platform and wood shoes ended up very fashionable, while they weren’t as tall as they are these days. In addition, the stiletto heels were being quite preferred at this time. Gentlemen rocked boot-legged pants, tightly equipped shirts with loud prints and the 1st two buttons open-topped by a killer afro.

The Evolution Of Nigerian Fashion Given that Independence

The Seventies
The craze for females was what we now simply call oleku, thanks to a movie of the exact same title a dishevelled-sleeved buba worn more than an iro that stopped any where from a tiny previously mentioned the knees to mid-thigh. Guys wore agbadas and danshikis, trends that have created a breathtaking comeback. For a additional western search, it was all about the colours. For instance, a man could rock a blue jumpsuit and footwear to match. The seventies also gave rise to the jerry curls and perms for each sexes. “To match” (donning components that matched the colours of attire) also became quite typical around this time period and even men were not left out.

The Eighties
In the eighties, every thing was major the even bigger, the improved. Maxi skirts for women, dishevelled satisfies for adult men, chunky jewelry, large perms and wild afros ended up the get of the day. Some of the fashion raves may possibly glimpse ridiculous to us nowadays as some persons wore leg warmers, a sweater and a mini skirt all at the identical time, all pretty brightly coloured.

The Nineties
Fashion started going through delicate variations it became more retro, pop and hip with a large amount of noteworthy American influence. The capris pants began to make an visual appearance the miniskirts, the scousers – a pair of shorts and skirts sewn collectively – also sprung up amongst many others. For indigenous attires, boubous were being the most preferred in this era. Men’s vogue also noticed a modify. Trouser hems turned narrower and narrower whilst they healthy in the hips and the waistline grew looser. Men wore their hair shorter – excitement cuts and fades were being in as they ditched the curl activators and relaxers. Honestly, American hip-hop, films and lifestyles heavily affected trend and the clothing, sneakers and hair of that time mirrored this. Each and every craze was extra or significantly less retro, motivated by a former period. Some of the trends came back again even bigger, superior and sexier the little black costume (produced well-known by legendary French designer Coco Chanel), the bellbottom denims, cropped tops, trousers, ballet flats, and outsized eyeglasses. Most of these developments have remained in this existing decade. It was also about this time period that Ankara materials designed an visual appearance and gained nationwide acceptance. Persons started out making use of them at functions and before very long, ‘aso-ebi’ grew to become a major issue, exploding its recognition, even more, some thing it nevertheless enjoys to date.

Cassie Daves Picture Cassie Daves Website

The year 2000-Existing Working day
American trend is however influencing what a ton of folks wear, but fortunately, a large amount of Nigerians are embracing nearby apparel, sporting them to formal and social features. In spite of the fashionable weaves- Brazillian, Peruvian, Bone straight or Chinese, a pattern that may well be seen as exclusive to this existing time would be the purely natural hair glance – additional ladies are dumping relaxers and embracing their natural hair. Lightening creams are also the rave now and footwear are a mix of so a lot of eras, with Nigerian footwear designers building western shoe variations but making use of conventional materials like Aso-oke for them. Yet another good detail is that a large amount of ‘old school’ seems are making a comeback. Skinny jeans and bell-bottoms have come and gone, headscarves in the type of turbans and caps and even afros are again. In conditions of hairstyles, young gentlemen and girls of Nigeria’s Independence era fancied a myriad of fantastically intricate threading and weaving that occasionally glance like cobwebs or waves. Puffs and cornrows were being preferred much too and of class, along with the almighty afro. Trend is a repetitive method, and Nigerian manner is no exception to this rule.

Luggage
A single of the meeting details of the manner-mindful women of the ’60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and the contemporary-working day fashionistas is the way ladies enjoy bags. No ensemble was complete devoid of a bag. The variance in the fashionable-working day sort of baggage women carry is that the previous era luggage are lesser. These days, the line among a “handbag” and a “travel bag” is getting to be ever more blurred as more girls now extravagant huge day-to-day carry-ons. Every day baggage have become larger and heavier also, but tiny luggage and purses are back with a bang as many women can be observed sporting small luggage that can carry incredibly minor.

As Nigerian fashion evolves a lot more and extra each day with vogue designers and manner displays getting Nigerian vogue to the earth, Nigerian manner is a world wide pressure that is right here to keep.