Vendrika… Longing for Obama

By Oyindamola Lawal
In the competitive world of fashion, it takes a lot of gumption to get to the top. Creating your own fashion label is, of course, the ultimate dream of any couturier. Having established his label, Vendrika, Emmanuel Usanga creative output has been in the limelight.
January 20 was indeed a memorable day for the Obamas, and for Nigerians, it was a night of glitz and glamour as Vendrika celebrated Obama’s inauguration ceremony alongside Michele –– Obama’s wife ¬¬–– classy fashion style.
The event, which took place on January 20, at D’Nu Grotto, Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island, was organised by Nigerian Peoples Coalition in collaboration with Vendrika fashion. The stylish designer replicated the elegant dress Michelle Obama wore on the Election Day.
On the runway, models stepped out in red and black long dresses, though longer than Michelle’s dress yet, sophisticated and graceful.
In the same vein, models strut the stage in eye-catching party wears, casuals, formal and corporate outfits; coming in different styles, colours, shapes, designs and fabrics. Vendrika did not only play with fabrics and colours, but used the US colours alongside his.
The models pranced the runway in short sexy beaded dresses, agbada, and cowboy outfits among others.
Grotto’s staff on their own celebrated Obama in style adorning Obama pictures on African fabric sewn into different styles and designs.
According to Usanga, “ LONGING FOR OBAMA (satin and chiffon) is a re-make of the victory gown that
Michelle Obama wore on Barack Obama's Election Day November 4, 2008. The original version was a shorter gown while this longer version strongly evokes the
femineity Michelle portrays as the next First Lady of the U S. The reds are at the right feminine places while the black
reveals the integrated personality of the design.”
“RED N' BLUE INTEGRATED (smooth linen) preserves the Democratic Blue of Obama's party while the Republican Red bands reflect Obama's philosophy –– Unity –– irrespective of political differences”, he added.
RED N' BLUE PARTY (cotton print tops in dominant Red and Black) on top of beaded Blue Jeans reflect work mood for a ready-to-go casual dresser. Vibrant colours at the top reflect a happy mood ready to party with anyone.”
BIRDS FOR OBAMA reflects the Obama Girl fever that a number of young ladies would have out of admiration for Obama's charms. The red bird patterned patch on the dresses reflect a very likely move the Republicans may make to upset President Obama, the same way Bill Clinton got into trouble with Monica Lewinsky.
PARTY RED N' BLUE are truly party wears especially for the warmer and sunnier days of Hope translated into action. The mixture of Red and Blue results in the Pink stripes –– a reflection of admitting the Red Republicans only to a limited scale by the dominantly Blue Democrats. Red hot in beads reflects a very bold attempt by the Republicans to gain attention and re-take power from the Democrats
More so, red spicers outfit reflects the general tendency of African Americans to approach the Republicans from the fringe. President Obama is likely to perform so well, that the next most powerful figure to challenge Obama in the next general election would obviously come from the black community as a Republican candidate.
However, Klint D Drunk, Gandoki, Eedris Albulkarim among others thrilled the audience