A partying for the have-nots

BY OYINDAMOLA LAWAL

 FRIENDS, celebrities, fashionistas, Radio DJs and on-the-air personalities gathered at the Reeds Restaurant and Bar last week, to celebrate with Caterina Bortolussi, a Nigeria-based Italian designer and founder of Kinabuti, a-not-for-profit charity organisation that mentors and equips indigent youths.

   Aside from mingling, the Elite Fashion Party was also used to raise fund for Kinabuti.

   Recently, the organisation trained and equipped 21 indigent young women selected from communities across Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, in different careers such as make-up, modeling, hair dressing and others that would make them fend for themselves and contribute meaningfully to the society.

   Present at the event were MTV Award winner and rapper, Sasha, Duncan Mighty, DJ Neptune, Anu Aloba, Radio presenter, Hauwa Mukan, Storm 360's Obi Asika, Elizabeth Elohor Aisien, Owen Aisen, Wunika Mukan and Project Manager Miss, Nigeria Pageant.

  Others include Fab Magazine Publisher, Babajide Akin Familusi, STV Presenter Vixen, Ezinne Chinkata, Fashion Editor, WOW Magazine; Beat FM's Olisa Adibua, Ex-Beauty Queen, Omowunmi Akinufesi, designer, Kiki Kimanu and Yoanna Pepper Okwesa FAB Magazine fashion editor.

  Sasha thrilled the audience with her songs.  

From North, House of Farrah Goes International, showcased at 2011 Couture Fashion Wee

Fatima Aliyu Garba is the Chief Executive Officer and the Creative Director of the House of Farrah. With her direction, the Farrah brand has grown from strength to strength to become one of the most-sought after fashion labels. Before being the leading creative force behind the House of Farrah, Fatima gave up being a lawyer and an IT consultant to embrace her childhood dream and passion for the world of fashion. A law graduate of Brunel University, Fatima, a member of the Nigerian Bar also has a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems.
The journey began in 2004, when Fatima and a childhood friend, Adaora Ndukwe Ugwu established AbFab!, where they started designing bespoke women's clothes for clients from all over Nigeria. However, differences in the direction of the business led to Fatima buying out Adaora's interests, making her double up as the Chief Executive Officer and Creative Director. Abfab went on to hold it's first fashion show with d'zyn couture to critical acclaim. After three years of success, it was deemed necessary to re-focus and rebrand, thus, transforming the business and rebranding her creations under “Zain”, a label inspired by her first son Mohammed Zain.
To enable her nurture her young son, Fatima decided to close shop and operate from home, working tirelessly to position the Zain label as a unique, luxury brand. At the helm of Zain, she expanded their range of services from bespoke and custom tailored to include ready-to-wear clothing and accessories including a range for Men. Unfortunately, the advent of Zain Telecommunications in Nigeria, made it necessary to rebrand to avoid unwanted confusion thus, she rebranded the fashion house once again, this time as "FARRAH".
Working as the CEO and Creative Director of “The House of Farrah”, Fatima opened its flagship boutique in the Silverbird Entertainment Centre in Abuja in 2009. She has brought her vast international travels and her decade’s sojourn abroad to bear; experimenting with fabrics from different parts of the world to create designs that compliment the lifestyles of Farrah’s many clients, thus making the creations of The House of Farrah at once exclusive, luxurious and inimitable.

Vintage Glow – Lanre Da Silva

However, Lanre Da Silva‘s latest collections showcased classy and enticing dresses, skirts and jewellery that would pass for corporate, formal and evening.  Her hairpieces and jewellery are no doubt making bold fashion statements.

  As designers storm the runway with latest trends for 2011, one of Nigeria most celebrated Nigeria fashion designers, Lanre Da Silva- Ajayi, whose exquisite designs have been able to give unique touch to fashionistas, celebrities and other fashion lovers’ wardrobes and shapes, has once again she has put thread and needle together to create voguish and alluring designs for 2011.

  Over the years, Lanre Da Silva has been to carve a niche with her vintage-inspired chic and polished creations.  With fabrics from Vlisco’s Gallery of Poems collection, Da-Silva-Ajayi creates gripping, stylish, trendy designs and cuts that highlight and flatters every woman’s figures.

   Her vintage-flavored designs, which intricate detailing and classic silhouettes have elicited similar accolades at the various catwalks.