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<strong>September</strong> 6, <strong>2020</strong><br />
COVID-19:<br />
Dwindling<br />
Fortunes Of<br />
Luxury Goods<br />
Essential<br />
Accessory<br />
Additions To<br />
Your Wardrobe<br />
Dare<br />
Art-Alade:<br />
Reinvented
6<br />
HAPPINESS<br />
4 Cover: Dare Art-Alade:<br />
Reinvented<br />
6 Sexmatics: Mating With<br />
Clothes On<br />
8<br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
email: <strong>allure</strong>fortheworld@vanguardngr.com<br />
CELEBRATION<br />
3<br />
7<br />
Fashion : Essential Accessory<br />
Additions To Your Wardrobe<br />
Living: COVID-19: Dwindling Fortunes<br />
Of Luxury Goods<br />
3<br />
6 SEPTEMBER <strong>2020</strong><br />
8 Instagram Moments<br />
WELCOME...<br />
Quotes<br />
The impact of the COVID-19<br />
pandemic on the human race has<br />
been a sea-saw kind of ride. While<br />
some people have withdrawn to<br />
come out better, others have been<br />
knocked down and out.<br />
Our cover personality today, Dare<br />
Art Alade, known by his stage name<br />
Darey, has been away from public<br />
scene for a while but not without<br />
reason. Behind the scene, he’s been<br />
stewing something nice for his<br />
teaming fans. Coming out strong<br />
with “Jah Guide Me,” a single from an upcoming body of<br />
work, he captures in this song, the frailty of humanity as<br />
evidenced in this pandemic and the resulting economic<br />
downturn both locally and internationally. This come-back<br />
song captures the emotions being felt by many in this trying<br />
times. He shares his experiences that have helped to reinvent<br />
him with our reporter Linda Orajekwe. Pg. 4-5<br />
While good may have come for Darey in this convulsing<br />
COVID-19 season, not so for many businesses especially<br />
those in the luxury goods department. Records show a<br />
downturn in the economy of many big brands who have had<br />
to close some of their stores or lay off workers in other to<br />
keep afloat. Have Nigerian designers especially those who do<br />
high end products immune from this dwindling fortune<br />
sweeping through the luxury industry? Our reporter,<br />
Emmanuel Akpoborie investigates and reports. Pg. 7<br />
The place of accessories cannot be over emphasized.<br />
See a few pieces to help give importance to your style. Pg 3.<br />
And if you curios to know what’s<br />
hot in the bedroom this week, flip to J . E<br />
page 6 to see what has been served<br />
Jemi Ekunkunbor<br />
on Sexmatics.<br />
lookposh2017@gmail.com<br />
Enjoy our serve. Have a<br />
08052201126<br />
<strong>September</strong> to remember.<br />
“Care about what<br />
other people think<br />
and you will always<br />
be their prisoner”.<br />
- Lao Tzu<br />
“If the great internet<br />
connects us all … then<br />
why are so many of us<br />
becoming increasingly<br />
isolated?”.<br />
- Stephen Richards<br />
“Every man should<br />
believe in something.<br />
If not..he would<br />
doubt everything,<br />
even himself”.<br />
- Toba Beta<br />
“Experience teaches<br />
only the teachable”.<br />
- Aldous Huxley<br />
6<br />
EDITOR<br />
JEMI EKUNKUNBOR<br />
ASST. EDITOR<br />
YEMISI SULEIMAN<br />
REPORTER<br />
Josephine Agbonkhese<br />
COPY EDITOR<br />
DODOIYI WILLIAM-WEST<br />
PHOTO<br />
OSCAR OCHIOGU<br />
(08034746487)<br />
TEAM<br />
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
LINDA ORAJEKWE<br />
ADESUWA<br />
EWOIGBOKHAN<br />
BAMIYO ISELEMA EMINA<br />
LAYOUT / DESIGN<br />
OLAYIWOLA AJAGBE<br />
HEAD OF PRODUCTION<br />
CHARLES KAMMA<br />
HEAD MARKETING<br />
JANET NAJOMOH<br />
(08037156911)<br />
Printed and published by Vanguard Media Ltd<br />
Vanguard Avenue Kirikiri Canal; P.M.B 1007 Apapa, Lagos.
Hoop Earrings<br />
These round earrings<br />
are an excellent way to<br />
spice up a plain outfit<br />
or add the finishing<br />
touch to your favourite<br />
ensemble. Choose<br />
from a simple design<br />
to something over the<br />
top, with pearl, patterns,<br />
or embellishments.<br />
Hoops look best with your<br />
hair behind your ears, in a<br />
ponytail or a bun, show off your<br />
stunning jewelry with pride.<br />
FASHION<br />
Statement<br />
Large Chain<br />
Necklaces<br />
Every month of the year, an outfit<br />
would not be complete without a<br />
stunning piece of jewelry.<br />
From oversized and chunky<br />
designs to a delicate yet,<br />
statement piece, these<br />
accessories are an easy way to<br />
tie an outfit together. Pair it with<br />
a blazer, roll neck, or even a<br />
sweater.<br />
Colour<br />
Sunglasses<br />
Frames<br />
When the temperature heats<br />
up, protect your eyes in style<br />
with coloured sunglasses. Its<br />
vibrant frame instantly adds<br />
drama to your existing outfit,<br />
and will jazz up your entire<br />
collection.<br />
CLUTCH<br />
BAG<br />
Essential accessory<br />
additions to your<br />
wardrobe<br />
Bucket Bags<br />
Bucket bags have never really<br />
gone out of style. Rather than<br />
choosing a traditional shade,<br />
such as black, grey, or<br />
white, why not step outside<br />
of the box and opt for<br />
something blue, pink, or<br />
marigold? There are<br />
so many ways to<br />
rock this look,<br />
and you can<br />
continue to<br />
wear it for<br />
decades to<br />
come.<br />
By - Temitope Ojo<br />
Accessories give more<br />
importance to your personal<br />
style, taste, and preferences.<br />
They also offer unlimited<br />
opportunities for clothes,<br />
helping you to do the best of<br />
each item you have. With the<br />
right accessories, you need<br />
fewer outfits to take you<br />
through any season.<br />
As the temperature<br />
rises and falls, these<br />
pieces will stand the<br />
test of time and will<br />
be essential<br />
additions to your<br />
wardrobe.<br />
Here are six<br />
accessory trends<br />
to add to your<br />
wardrobe this<br />
season.<br />
MERCY<br />
AIGBE<br />
Square Toe<br />
Strappy Sandals<br />
As trends come and go, one will<br />
always remain in style: a sleek pair of<br />
sandals. Choose from bright shades<br />
to add life to your ensemble, or keep<br />
it classic with traditional colours like<br />
white, black, or brown.<br />
Soft Clutches<br />
Soft clutch is the ultimate bag<br />
of the season. Easy to carry<br />
and with an abundance of<br />
room inside, these gorgeous<br />
handbags look like a pillow,<br />
and are a dream option<br />
for any style-conscious<br />
individual. They look fantastic<br />
in a casual context, but are<br />
easy to transition into a<br />
formal occasion.<br />
<strong>September</strong> 6, <strong>2020</strong> / 3
w<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
Dare<br />
Art-Alade:<br />
Reinvented<br />
Words By - Linda Orajekwe<br />
Dare Art Alade, professionally known as Darey is a multiple award-winning and multi-platinum<br />
Afro-Soul/R&B singer, musician, songwriter, music producer, and entrepreneur. Since<br />
gaining exposure across Africa as runner up in the 2004 season of Music talent search reality<br />
TV show, Project Fame, Darey has made an indelible mark on the Nigerian and African music scene.<br />
He has released several hit singles, including the groundbreaking Afro R&b records featuring<br />
legendary artistes like 2Baba. His critically acclaimed last album “Naked” includes the hit single<br />
“Pray For Me” featuring multiple Grammy award-winning supergroup, Soweto Gospel Choir, and<br />
collaborations with Afropop star, Olamide, and international Afro-soul songstress, Asa.<br />
Darey is the recipient of multiple awards and nominations including MTV Africa Music Awards<br />
(MAMAS), Channel O Awards, World Music Awards, The Headies, Nigerian Music Awards and a host<br />
of others.<br />
After his break from the music industry since “Naked,” Darey is back with another promising<br />
record, “Jah Guide Me.” In this interview, he talks about his come back and more.<br />
After years of being in front of the screen, to<br />
moving behind the scene, how would you say<br />
Darey has evolved? Are you the guy we used to<br />
know?<br />
I am still the same guy o! In front or behind the<br />
cameras, I remain consistently creative across<br />
everything I have been up to over the years.<br />
So how has the experience been like taking a<br />
break from music?<br />
I’ve not really taken a break from music. All the<br />
while, I have been recording in the studio on and off.<br />
Shifting goalposts as I go along due to external<br />
matters like, the work we do at livespot360. The great<br />
thing about it is that I get to be creative which is what<br />
I love!<br />
Was the break an intentional decision? To stay off<br />
the screen as an artiste and come back at this<br />
time?<br />
The break was not intentional. These things<br />
happen sometimes; but, I am glad to be back to<br />
share my music with the fans.<br />
Your last project was ‘naked’ in 2015, thinking<br />
back to that project, is there anything you<br />
would’ve loved to do differently?<br />
Well, I wish I shot a music video for the song I<br />
made with Asa titled, “inside of you.” I also wish that<br />
we had dropped a music video we shot but recently<br />
realized we forgot to release. All in all, no regrets. It<br />
was a wonderful album to create and the feedback till<br />
this day, has been remarkable.<br />
You recently released ‘Jah Guide Me’. What is it<br />
about the song that brought you back on the<br />
scene?<br />
It is the first single from an upcoming body of<br />
work. It talks about our human frailties not just in this<br />
pandemic; but, as people affected by the economic<br />
downturn locally and internationally. The emotions we<br />
are currently going through is very present in the<br />
song and felt like the right song to promote first.<br />
What would you say the reception of this project<br />
has been since its release?<br />
The feedback has been phenomenal! Not just in<br />
Nigeria but around Africa and the world: in places<br />
like, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, south and North<br />
America and parts of Europe too. It’s been truly<br />
overwhelming and this is still early day!<br />
I would attribute this to the efforts of my team and<br />
the grace of God. The song itself is speaking to<br />
people on so many levels- spiritually and musically.<br />
So, it is a thing of joy to see the amazing reception so<br />
far.<br />
Can we say you are changing genre with ‘Jah<br />
Guide Me’ or this is just a one-off and Darey is<br />
still the B&B guy we used to know?<br />
Haha! I am still the Darey you used to know<br />
although I am a new and improved version. Just call<br />
me Darey now! My genre is what I call afro & b and<br />
you can be sure to hear more dynamic sounds from<br />
me moving forward. I keep reinventing myself!<br />
‘Pray For Me’ and ‘Jah Guide Me’ is there a<br />
similarity in the creative/production process?<br />
The similarity is in the style of messaging. The<br />
production and creative process between the two<br />
songs are quite varied. The former was produced by<br />
Oscar Heman-Ackah and the latter was produced by<br />
Pheelz.<br />
What was your thought process when you<br />
decided to drop ‘Jah Guide Me’ considering how<br />
the industry has changed especially with the rise<br />
of social media?<br />
You have to remember that I have been on the<br />
scene; so I am well aware of all the growth and<br />
changes. It is beautiful to see so much progress<br />
made over the years, and I am excited and even<br />
more gingered to bring my drive and work ethics<br />
which is missing in the industry.<br />
How has being off the centre stage as an artiste<br />
helped you as a father and a husband?<br />
4<br />
/ <strong>September</strong> 6, <strong>2020</strong>
INTERVIEW<br />
A slightly more relaxed schedule affords me some more quality time to<br />
spend with family. Bonding time is great for a close-knit relationship.<br />
What was your family(wife)’s reaction when you decided to hit the studio<br />
again?<br />
There was no reaction as I did not just come and announce that I am back<br />
in the studio. My family is there with me at every juncture so they know what’s<br />
up.<br />
What do you love the most about being a father and a husband?<br />
Just being there for them is one thing I really love. My family doesn’t judge<br />
me even though they hold me to high standards. I am all that I am today<br />
because they love me unconditionally, and for that, I am grateful.<br />
For the past years, through Livespot, you have brought a series of<br />
international A-list artistes to Nigeria, what informs your selection of<br />
artistes aside their popularity and fan-love?<br />
It is always important for us to ensure they fit into whatever experience we<br />
are trying to create for our audiences. It is also important for us when engaging<br />
their crews, to ensure we get skills transferred in order to build local capacity.<br />
otherwise, what is the point of all the hype?<br />
For an artiste who has been part of a reality Tv show both as a<br />
participant and a judge, what do you think about the ongoing BBNaija<br />
reality Tv show?<br />
Truth is, I watch it in bursts; mainly via social media as updates. But I think it<br />
is a nice platform to engage TV viewers and gives a chance to young people<br />
hoping to make it in entertainment, by giving them some level of popularity.<br />
When some people complain that the show does not promote values, etc. they<br />
need to understand that it is just entertainment. The drama in the house is<br />
quite gripping and it seems the winner may emerge between Laycon,<br />
Kidwayya, Nengi and Erica. Tolani Baj is also one to look out for. What will be<br />
interesting is to see what they do with their newfound ‘fame’ upon eviction and<br />
completion of the show.<br />
Who’s your favourite housemate?<br />
Because I always root for the underdogs, my fave is Laycon, but lowkey<br />
(Laughs).<br />
How has working behind the scene helped you understand the music<br />
business better and how does that understanding help you relate with<br />
other artistes especially during Livespot shows?<br />
Working “behind the scene” like you put it has made it easy for me to bridge<br />
the gap when dealing with artistes. This can be attributed to my unique skillsets<br />
and experience garnered over the years while playing various roles.<br />
Is ‘Jah Guide Me’ just a visit or a return to the centre stage in the<br />
industry?<br />
Jah guide me is the first single from a forthcoming body of work. So yes,<br />
this is a return, not a fleeting visit.<br />
If you have to collaborate with any of these young artistes coming up,<br />
top artistes and international artistes, who would that be and why?<br />
Well, I have a couple of songs already recorded with Teni, Patoranking and<br />
more. You have to wait and see what other surprises we have in-store.<br />
If you have to advise a younger Darey, what are you going to say?<br />
I’ll tell him to work hard and trust God. Do not be in a hurry. Greatness<br />
awaits!<br />
What’s one thing, aside from family, Darey cannot do without?<br />
Hmmm… I cannot do without a decent phone and a high-speed internet!<br />
What will be interesting is<br />
to see what they do with<br />
their newfound ‘fame’<br />
upon eviction and<br />
completion of the show.<br />
<strong>September</strong> 6, <strong>2020</strong> / 5
Mating With Clothes On<br />
Generally, love making means ruffling between the<br />
sheets naked, enjoying the touch of skin-on-skin, the<br />
connection, and the feeling and excitement that it<br />
brings. There is nothing like having sex naked<br />
although sometimes, certain circumstances require<br />
keeping your clothes on. For instance, having a<br />
quickie in the car, in a restaurant bathroom or<br />
elevator. Making love with your clothes on can be<br />
thrilling. “It connotes spontaneity, ravishment and<br />
intense desire for your partner,’’ like you are getting<br />
away with something. You can always give it a try if<br />
you have never done it before.<br />
Sometimes, the thought of “getting naked” can be<br />
huge deterrent to intimacy. This is because on those<br />
nights when you manage to climb into your night<br />
wear gown and crawl into bed, the last thing on your<br />
mind is undressing. Sex request from your spouse<br />
may not sound appealing.<br />
After awhile in most relationships, sex may slow<br />
down as it may no longer always be hot, sweaty,<br />
intense and dripping in juicy flow. For some others,<br />
intercourse may not exist at all since true mating<br />
takes emotional work, connection, and<br />
communication.<br />
It would be nice to indulge once-in-a-while by keep<br />
clothes on,. This is because great sex is not about<br />
naked bodies writhing all over each other, trying to<br />
get off on a climax. Even though climax is an<br />
amazing experience, it is also just one small part of<br />
having fabulous sex.<br />
Sacred sex is about intimacy, connection, and<br />
relationship building. So, starting with your clothes on<br />
and experiencing arousal fully-clothed is a great way<br />
to give the body the permission to enjoy pleasure in a<br />
sacred, more intimate way.<br />
This might seem boring compared to the hot,<br />
sweaty sex that you are used to; but, with clothes on,<br />
the buildup of anticipation and excitement can<br />
produce amazing orgasmic sex if initiated with care<br />
and compassion. Your clothes serve as boundary<br />
that separates intercourse from sexual arousal and<br />
play.<br />
Being clothed can be a partial big turn on as it<br />
creates a sensation of suspense, which in essence,<br />
creates safe space for self-expression that may not<br />
exist otherwise: most especially, if your body image<br />
and self-esteem are at risk. The secret to an amazing<br />
sexual experience is in creating a loving connection,<br />
6<br />
/ <strong>September</strong> 6, <strong>2020</strong><br />
with Adesuwa 07011289316 | adesuwaewoigbokhan@hotmail.com<br />
which can happen right where you are, in the<br />
moment, and with your clothes on.<br />
So for a second, forget the need for total<br />
nakedness. Below are some arousing ways to<br />
enhance love making when next you are in the mood<br />
for a quick romp while clothed:-<br />
•Use clothing as an exploration, lift and peek<br />
under the clothing and use it as an adventure of<br />
discovery and excitement. Slowly strip tease as a<br />
way of prolonging the experience and building<br />
anticipation by gently undressing one another.<br />
Revealing different parts of the body, gives you time<br />
to explore unusual parts of the body, making it<br />
possible to feel each area as it’ is being revealed.<br />
•Give your body plenty of time to reach arousal if<br />
you are seriously not in the mood. Play with a<br />
vibrator or your lover can help slide the vibrator down<br />
your pants. Using it gently over clothing can give you<br />
the sexual energy you need to get into the next<br />
phase of sexual play.<br />
•See how long you can stay fully clothed and how<br />
excited you can get just by connecting, kissing and<br />
sliding around on each other. Treat yourself to a<br />
fully-clothed orgasm. Leaving your clothes on can<br />
generate friction and new sex experience that can<br />
result in a surprisingly fantastic orgasm.<br />
•Keeping your top on, creates an amazing feeling<br />
of sexual foreplay which can have an immediate<br />
effect if the connection concentrates down on the<br />
pelvis area. With your top half clothed, you can settle<br />
to play down low with a sense of direction and focus.<br />
Plus, guys can focus on the female clitoris and<br />
women can focus on the manhood. This focus alone<br />
can produce amazing results. You can reverse the<br />
foreplay and take off your tops and using nipple<br />
stimulation and kissing to stimulate arousal.<br />
*Enhance your sexual play with sexy and erotic<br />
clothes; especially wearing high heels or thigh high<br />
boots as you wrap your legs around your lover’s<br />
body for love making. Chat about which type of erotic<br />
clothing is a turn on for each of you, decide what your<br />
ideal fantasy outfit is, and then shop for it together.<br />
The alluring sight of the fabric and texture of that<br />
sexy ensemble can heighten arousal and incite new<br />
levels of passion and sexual play. The more erotic<br />
the clothes, the sexier you will feel and the hotter the<br />
experience may become.<br />
Your clothes can serve as a prop that changes the<br />
way intercourse feels and if you keep<br />
them on during a hookup, buttoning<br />
them back up is one less thing you<br />
have to do after the action is over and<br />
you want to part ways. Plus, if you feel<br />
vulnerable being naked, having clothes<br />
on can provide a boost of confidence.<br />
Sometimes, clothes keep you warm<br />
when the room is too cold to undress,<br />
and may prevent goose bumps, which<br />
is not sexy. Bear in mind that your<br />
clothes are an extension of your<br />
personal expression and sexuality. So<br />
allow every side of you to play out.<br />
Next time, give it a shot without<br />
baring it all, and enjoy a sexual life<br />
more amazing than you have ever<br />
experienced.<br />
Talk<br />
SPOT<br />
What some of your favourite<br />
celebrities said and we listened.<br />
“When you have the<br />
opportunity to give<br />
someone a shot, don’t take<br />
it away from them.<br />
Remember someone took a<br />
chance on you too. Every<br />
professional person was<br />
once an amateur. Give<br />
room for growth.<br />
Toyin Abraham’s<br />
message to every<br />
Creative out there.<br />
“Don’t be too hard on<br />
yourself, you are doing just<br />
fine! No one is perfect.<br />
“There’s a blessing inside of<br />
your storm right now and you<br />
have no idea” trust the<br />
process”. Joselyn Dumas’<br />
motivational quote.<br />
By - Rita Okoye<br />
“I have very little sympathy for<br />
single mothers that beg on the<br />
basis that they are single. I am a<br />
strong advocate against<br />
premarital sex. But even if you<br />
must engage in it (you should<br />
not), use protection or ensue that<br />
the man can meet his<br />
responsibilities. The only single<br />
mothers that I sympathise with are<br />
widows.<br />
Reno Omokri on single<br />
motherhood and premarital sex.<br />
“Make sure your perception<br />
remains positive and healthy!<br />
drink more water, wake up<br />
earlier. get solid sleep, start<br />
journaling, your thoughts<br />
matter. clean up & organize,<br />
declutter, empty that<br />
wardrobe. detox, destress.<br />
and finally keep clean”.<br />
Ibinabo tips on healthy<br />
living.
LIVING<br />
COVID-19:<br />
Dwindling Fortunes<br />
Of Luxury Goods<br />
CELINE<br />
By - Emmanuel Akpoborie<br />
LOUBOUTIN<br />
I<br />
n many quarters, coronavirus has been<br />
described as the game changer. In the sea<br />
of this virus, to stay afloat, you need to sail<br />
light.<br />
The pandemic has left a significant<br />
adverse impact on the global economy.<br />
Governments around the world are implementing<br />
various fiscal measures to mitigate the effect and<br />
provide relief for businesses and households.<br />
Employers in different sectors of the economy had<br />
to disengage workers to mitigate the negative effect<br />
of the pandemic on their ventures. Reports show<br />
that the worst hit industries have been the aviation,<br />
hospitality, banking, construction, manufacturing,<br />
media, sales, and the luxury industry. As gross<br />
domestic product drops, unemployment increases;<br />
which in turn causes a large reduction in the<br />
spending power of the consumer. This reduced the<br />
demand for luxury goods.<br />
As consumers hold back on their spending,<br />
fashion brands of all shapes and sizes are forced<br />
to scale back production, and reimagine how they<br />
position themselves. Brands like Chanel, Hermes,<br />
Patek Phillipe and Rolex had to discontinue<br />
production while brands like La Chapelle and Zara<br />
had to close down over a thousand stores around<br />
the world.<br />
“It has led to a real existential crisis for the<br />
fashion industry,” says Imran Amed, the Founder/<br />
CEO of The Business of Fashion.<br />
As consumers grapple with uncertainty, their<br />
buying behaviour has become more erratic.<br />
What is clear, however, is that they have reduced<br />
spending on non-essential products. Survival before<br />
aesthetics seems like the order of the day for a lot of<br />
consumers around the world.<br />
“At Pere Lei, a luxury Nigerian brand that<br />
specializes in leather goods, customer behaviour<br />
has varied really,” says Pere B.E. Emein,<br />
Creative Director of the brand.<br />
“Male clients have largely purchased items that<br />
increased their comfort at home. So, we have seen<br />
an increase in sales of slippers and mules. Female<br />
customers have, however, resisted the impulse<br />
purchases and concentrated on making custom<br />
handbags that they deem dream items. Our home<br />
and lifestyle items, however, have kept things<br />
interesting because clients have had to pause and<br />
make changes in their living spaces, to make them<br />
conducive for remote working as well as increase<br />
style and comfort levels. So, sofas and chair<br />
constructions have seen a healthy increase,” Emein<br />
said.<br />
At Mudi Africa, it’s a slightly different experience.<br />
“Nothing has changed so much’’ says Mudiaga<br />
Enajomo, Head Designer, Mudi Africa.<br />
“Some high network clients with health<br />
challenges are finding it very difficult to step out of<br />
their homes. Even when you try to reach out to them<br />
in terms of home services, accessing them is a huge<br />
challenge due to social distancing,’’ he added.<br />
In a report by Weforum.org, it shows that as<br />
each country opens up, we can see a glimmer of<br />
increasing optimism levels, which, in turn, is linked<br />
to higher spending. Nigeria’s consumers for example<br />
are displaying higher levels of optimism, with more<br />
households planning to increase spending—a trend<br />
that is also evident in China, Indonesia, and India.<br />
Meanwhile, American consumers are still more<br />
optimistic about the future than the Europeans. This<br />
serves as perhaps light at the end of the tunnel for<br />
the luxury industry.<br />
In 2017, stakeholders in the Nigerian fashion<br />
industry revealed that Nigerians spent over 2trillion<br />
naira on imported textiles and ready-made clothing<br />
items. This really undermined the local industry.<br />
NIXON<br />
However with<br />
the border closure<br />
due to the pandemic,<br />
things are taking a new<br />
shape. Luxury products are extremely hard to find<br />
and when they are available, they are overpriced.<br />
This led to a significant increase in the demand for<br />
locally-produced fashion items and also an even<br />
more significant increase in the number of fashionpreneurs.<br />
Consumers have started looking inward<br />
to satisfy their fashion craving.<br />
Mr Nuga Oluwapelumi, a fashion-preneur based<br />
in Lagos, revealed that the demand for locally<br />
made fashion items has greatly increased.<br />
“I made more money since the pandemic<br />
started than I have made in the past. Nigerians are<br />
beginning to accept what we do and the quality<br />
we provide. Hopefully, this marks a change in the<br />
orientation.<br />
“In as much as this is a welcome development,<br />
a lot still has to be put in place to keep this rise. For<br />
instance, after the ease of the lockdown, there has<br />
been an upsurge in the amount of cheap clothing<br />
items coming in from china; which puts the local<br />
goods at risk once again. The Chinese produce<br />
faster, cheaper and even a lot more volume. If they<br />
are allowed the freeway, they would take over the<br />
markets in no time once again,” Oluwapelumi said.<br />
Coronavirus might have sparked the required<br />
pendulum shift needed in the Nigerian fashion<br />
space. Hopefully, enough will be put in place to<br />
maintain this new found momentum; and we can<br />
at last get the much-anticipated upward swing the<br />
Nigerian fashion industry desperately needs.<br />
<strong>September</strong> 6, <strong>2020</strong> / 7
INSTAGRAM<br />
MOMENTS<br />
With Yemisi Suleiman<br />
In case you missed, these were the most Interesting<br />
pictures and stories on Instagram last week, as posted by<br />
your favourite celebrities.<br />
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, gives<br />
thanks after COVID-19 Experience<br />
Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and her<br />
children have recently recovered from COVID-19, few weeks<br />
after they contracted the disease.<br />
Omotola who had on August 15th, disclosed that she<br />
contracted the virus, infected her children, and gone into<br />
isolation, came on her Instagram handle to give thanks to God,<br />
family and friends for their prayers, calls and messages during<br />
the period. She wrote: “My kids and I are fine and COVID free<br />
now, and I do not take the experience for granted at all. I am<br />
grateful to God Almighty the Lord of Lords for all He has done<br />
for my family and I. He is truly a dependable Friend if you trust<br />
in Him.”<br />
The actress who is now free from the virus, went ahead to<br />
disclose the kind of lifestyle she adopted during her treatment,<br />
warning people to adopt safety measures as COVID-19 is<br />
real. “If you still don’t believe this virus is real, I pray you don’t<br />
experience it to believe” the actress said.<br />
“If you ever feel ill during this pandemic, please know there<br />
is nothing to fear or be ashamed of…you are not alone” she<br />
added.<br />
Bose Ogulu berths the Spaceship Collective<br />
Spaceship Collective a group record<br />
label and publishing company with<br />
“Spaceship Records” and “Spaceship<br />
Publishing” has been set up with a mission<br />
to help African Artists gain more control<br />
and ownership of their music catalogues.<br />
The label is founded by Bose Ogulu mother<br />
of music giant Burna Boy, who is also the<br />
Executive Director with Burna Boy.<br />
Ogulu who was also one of the executive<br />
producers on ‘Twice As Tall’ along with<br />
Burna Boy and America’s star, Diddy (Sean<br />
Combs) says, the objective of Spaceship<br />
Collective is to support the creation of great,<br />
timeless, authentic music and to ensure<br />
that African creatives maintain control<br />
of their own narrative while they tell the<br />
world their story. “It is important that their<br />
catalogues are managed by Africans who<br />
are better placed to understand their Art,<br />
their narrative and their trajectory”.<br />
With this new annexation in the dawn<br />
of the global entertainment industry, this<br />
is the beginning of a conglomeration of<br />
homegrown expertise and proficiency<br />
with a pivotal insight into the future of<br />
African music.” She said.<br />
George Residents unveiled<br />
for leisure, comfort<br />
To make lives easy for<br />
celebrities and other Nigerians<br />
seeking for leisure and comfort<br />
outside their homes, IBIC<br />
Properties, a leading real<br />
Estate company in Nigeria<br />
has unveiled its latest project,<br />
George Residents.<br />
For Yanju George the<br />
company’s CEO George<br />
Residents is like a home away<br />
from home.<br />
“If you are tired of your home<br />
and need a change of environment<br />
or a change of scenery, we are<br />
here for you. It’s like going to a<br />
hotel but it is not exactly a hotel.<br />
Here, you have your kitchen,<br />
washing machine, ironing table<br />
and you could do every other thing<br />
you do in your home. This is what<br />
makes it different from a hotel.<br />
George Residents is the second<br />
project from IBIC properties. We<br />
completed the first project earlier<br />
this year. The first project was a<br />
buildto-sell<br />
apartments<br />
and this second one is a Short<br />
Let at Admiralty Road, Lekki<br />
Phase One,” The Mathematics<br />
graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo<br />
University also added that<br />
he strongly believes average<br />
Nigerians would understand this<br />
modern concept, maintaining<br />
that Short Lets are gradually<br />
phasing out hotels.<br />
Jodrey Alabi<br />
wins the Mr Ideal<br />
Nigeria <strong>2020</strong><br />
Jodrey Alabi recently<br />
emerged winner of the<br />
Mr Ideal Nigeria <strong>2020</strong>,<br />
which was streamed live<br />
on Instagram. Jodrey,<br />
a graduate of Obafemi<br />
Awolowo University<br />
(O.A.U), beat 39 other<br />
contenders for the Crown.<br />
He is the first dark-skinned<br />
winner to be crowned in 5<br />
years.<br />
He takes over from<br />
Emmanuel Umoh who<br />
won the Mister Africa<br />
International in 2019.<br />
By his win, Jodrey<br />
will be representing<br />
Nigeria at the Mister<br />
Africa International 2021<br />
in Cote d’Ivoire and he<br />
also gets a year talent and<br />
management contract with<br />
House of Twitch amongst<br />
other prizes.