designer | TOSINGER'S BLOG

Attolle Clothiers, an Afrocentric bespoke ladies fashion line was founded in 2002 by Bookey Itoandon – an Attorney who followed her passion for Fashion. Her love for fashion, sketching and fabric selection led her to follow a career in fashion.

In 2004, she relocated from Nigeria to United States to raise her family and further her education; and by August 2011 she re-birthed Attollé Clothiers in Houston Texas USA.

Attolle-Clothiers-Bookey-Ankara-Wax-Print-Designs-Outfits — Bookey Itoandon

Over the years, her collections have featured contemporary ready-to-wear pieces with select bespoke outfits crafted primarily from printed cotton wax popularly known as African Wax Print or Ankara Wax Print. In 2010, she showcased at the Goonstyle fashion show in Houston Texas. The collection received a great review and she was invited back in 2011 and 2012. She also participated in the NAMC show in 2012.

Her collection was featured for the first time in 2012 at the AFWNY (African Fashion Week New York). The Attollé collection received an outstanding review that led to an invitation for her to showcase for the second time in 2013. Celeb personalities like Sarah TD Jakes have also been seen wearing her collection.

Bookey has become consistent with her vision to make every woman look elegant regardless of color, size and shape as she continues to develop bold and stunning pieces for all.

Attolle Clothiers is currently running a special holiday sale till Dec 31st available on their website at http://www.attolleclothiers.com/

Here are a few of Attolle Clothier’s lovely designs

And here I am in one of her jumpsuit designs 😉 during Afrodreamfest 2014

Beautifully Dreaming… Positively Doing..

Tosinger

Ikiré Jones is a Menswear company that marries African aesthetics with Neapolitan tailoring. Conceived in Nigeria, made in Brooklyn & Philadelphia, USA by Wale Oyejide one of Esquire Magazine‘s “Best Dressed Real Men in America”.

The Designer

Born and raised in Nigeria, and like many West Africans, traveled back and forth to the United States and other parts of the world while growing up. Also an Afrobeat musician, an attorney and a menswear designer. No formal fashion training. Inspired by images of people who look at ease and comfortable with who they are. He says in an OkayAfrica 2013 interview

“I am personally not aware of any brand that has combined high-end Italian construction and African elements, and presented them with the sort of inspired-narratives that I have”

He collaborates with bespoke tailor Samuel Hubler.

Wale Oyejide. Photography by David Evan McDowell

In an era where caricatures parade the streets like Emperors in New Clothes, we pride ourselves on offering a new perspective through an old lens; a new dialect for an old tongue; an irreverent approach that twists the portrait askew while paying homage to the most classic of canvases—the suit.Our suiting is fully canvassed, and made to order upon request. Our accessories are thoroughly labored-over, both in their design conception and hand-rolled creation. Flying in the face of a prevailing custom where accessories are a meaningless after-thought, each of our squares/scarves tells a story which carries the wearer, and all who bear witness, to another place and time. – Ikire Jones

Here are a few of the latest Ikiré Jones SS 14 collection tagged ‘The Untold Renaissance‘

Photography by David Evan McDowell

“I hesitate to speak as an authority on “African fashion.” I don’t consider what I do exclusively African, or made exclusively for an African audience. Though my work is inspired by my African heritage, there is no doubt that my garments are of Western origins. For me, the label is much less important than the content and quality of the art being made” – Wale Oyejide of Ikiré Jones