ACCOMPLISH MAGAZINE DEC 2023

COVER
THE FASHION
EVOLUTIONof
FOLORUNSO
ALAKIJA
The No Jewellery Apostle
By Maryjane Obilor
as a woman, to be termed successful
and powerful in a predominately
male-dominated world is no mere
feat. Hence, to say that Folorunso
Alakija has the world at her feet is no
exaggeration, because it is not every
day that one sees a woman who sits at the front of the
room when power, wealth and fashion are mentioned.
For Alakija, success is, indeed, an understatement.
Unlike in her business and oil and gas career, it is
safe to say that Mrs. Alakija started her fashion story
from the beginning. Like many fashion enthusiasts
and designers across the globe, she started by
getting trained in the art of fashion design and then
identifying a niche for herself. One thing that sets
her apart from the rest, however, is the fact that Mrs.
Alakija identified a lacuna and moved to solve the
dilemma of African elites as it relates to fashion. She
rejuvenated the acceptance of African fashion among
the one per cent of Africa’s one per cent at a time when
Western culture was taking centre stage across the
continent. For Alakija, fashion comes with acceptance.
So, it was deliberate for her to enter into a fashion
competition upon returning to Nigeria – perhaps, it
was her way of testing her brand’s perception. Yes,
she won the competition and it was the beginning
of her breakthrough in the fashion world as she took
fundamental steps towards building what has, today,
become one of the biggest conglomerates globally.
Alakija pursued Fashion Design studies in England
during the 1980s and promptly established the Nigerian
clothing brand, Supreme Stitches. Her unique and
exquisite designs adorned the elite of Africa, swiftly
elevating her to the status of the leading fashion
18 | Accomplish Magazine