BY VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA

Aladukeh Styles, whose CEO and Creative Director is Oluwatomi Aduke Adeshiyan, is one of the brands whose existence thrive on its commitment to doing fashion in a way that promotes ingenuity, encourages entrepreneurship, and supports policies that have been created for the development of Nigerian fashion as exports to other parts of the world.

Aladukeh is not just a brand, it is equally a business that is stitched in culture, tailored in time management, manifested in creativity, packaged in innovation, and finessed in elegance. It is about always being classy, which reflects in the styling of celebrities like Mercy Aigbe, Etinosa Idemudia, Nkechi Blessing, Biodun Sofuyi (Omoborty), and Lola Idije among others. 

With over seven years of continuous development and expansion in terms of location and clientele, Aladukeh remains one of the most relevant fashion brands in Nigeria, having also created a customer base in neigbouring West African countries, the UK and USA, because of its ability to style African fabrics in ways that make them worthy of exhibitions at international fashion shows.

Seventy percent of Aladukeh’s customers are abroad. Perhaps, this is because people in the Diaspora like to showcase Africanism; and because African fashion is artistic, it appeals to foreigners as well. The brand has won several awards – at least one in the last five years. They include Fashion Designer of the Year, Outstanding Desginer of the Year, Distinguished Designer of the Year, Recognition as 40 under 40, Outstanding Enterpreneur, and Special Recognition as Creative Designer of the Year.

Aladukeh is diverse in its delivery of customer satisfaction, as it crafts designs that are ready to wear and suitable for clients’ occasions or events. On an Instagram live chat with a fashion blogger recently, Aladukeh’s Creative Director, Oluwatomi Adeshiyan, talked about inspiration and how teamwork is the bedrock of her achievements.

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“We have a team that comes up with new ideas and expansive business approaches. However, when it comes to style inspirations, I am spontaneous. I am concerned about my work being distinct and not a replica of another. So, most times, I draw inspirations from the fabric, prospective event, colour, nature, and something as simple but divine as my client’s personality. I have a great imaginative power and I am not afraid to channel it,” she stressed.

But then, that wasn’t the only thing the fashion entrepreneur broached on, she also discussed how the challenges of building a business singlehandedly without government or individual support, has helped her forged business strategies that have overtime elevated the brand significantly, and her passion for mentoring young fashion designers.

What differentiates Aladukeh from other fashion brands is its creation of wearable art using African prints; its designs also always stand out, with the client always recognising a piece by Aladukeh. Indeed, Aladukeh’s clientele base is every fashionable woman, African or foreigner. All its designs are created from the scratch. 

Aladukeh’s products elevate simplicity to the level of glamour. All its end products are of elegant fit and easily the center of attraction. The brand is on an expansive run, making collaborations with brands abroad for the synergy of culture through fashion, while also focusing on making new ready-to-wear collections for 2023 by December, to usher in the fashionable woman into the new year in style.

The most appealing feature of Aladukeh is its one-on-one customer service from designing to delivery, and that is a good reason for clients to patronize the brand if ever they are in doubt about who should help in maximizing their sense of style, among other reasons.

“Even when a fashion trend is over, you can still style an outfit by Aladukeh and be fabulous,” the fashion brand strategist concluded.