Álalá S/S 2010

TV can make or break your career and for Adejoke Taiwo, Calgary is thankful that the grueling process of reality television kept our humble designer focused.We have been confident about Taiwo for almost a year now who remains working out of her basement where she began at the tender age of 6.

Álalá is for any lady that dares to dream and demands compliments as every fashionista should. The spring/summer 10 collection emphasized the designer’s Nigerian roots, through her incorporation of West African material and style, as well as her western aesthetics. Taiwo’s designs were classically African, focusing on impeccable tailoring, textured fabrics, and vivid patterns, merged with western styles like the exaggerated waist, the bubble skirt, and the uneven hemlines found in her pieces.

Taiwo’s spring/summer collection also transcended age; the pieces could be worn by any woman of any age or shape.  The re-invention of the cullotte pant, a style worn by West African women regardless of age, is accessible to all types of women and fits harmoniously with Canada’s fashion scene.

A stand-out piece to Calgary Fashion was Taiwo’s take on the Herve Leger bandage skirt, made mainstream a few years ago and still remains a hot ticket item in big box stores. The band skirt would be reinvented with immaculate ruching never seen before.

The Álalá woman is confident, takes pride in her shape, and dares to flaunt bold colour.  Taiwo presented with an array of models, showing that beauty lies in the eye of the designer and not the out dated beliefs of many in the fashion industry.

By Melissa Wusaty and Kimberley Jev

Photos by Faby Martin © 2009 and David Austin © 2009