Six innovative designers to watch at Lagos Leather Fair tomorrow
The leather value chain is receiving new attention due to its revenue earning potential and six innovative leather designers have demonstrated undertanding of the industry at the emerging designers competition.
Emerging Designers Competition was open to all Nigerians who have been in operation within the leather space for no more than 18 months. There were 37 applicants from all over the country and 15 semifinalists were selected through a virtual team of industry experts. Once completed, the final six with the top rankings were selected by another team of judges.
The finalists are Lamide Onyenobia of LÁMÍDÉ SAMUEL, a leather bag designer that incorporates traditional artistic inspiration with urban interest; Daniel Momoh of Oyani Signature, an innovative fashion accessory brand that integrates the concepts of multi-functionality and technology to produce everyday accessories and Titilola Bello of Dlgent Handmade, a start-up fashion accessories brand that is focused on the production of handmade leather bags and goods for men and women.
Each of these six emerging designers will be given a complementary booth at the Lagos Leather Fair Friday May 4 and will also receive cash gift as well as an opportunity to be mentored by an experienced leather designer in their chosen field. They will also be formally presented at the opening event of the fair on.
Others are Barakat Alabi of Ara’s Handmade Designs, a jewelry brand that creatively infuses leather into their productions; Tamara Claudius of Hue by Tamara, a passion-driven hand made leather goods brand and Oge Onuoha of Oof!, a footwear design brand.
The leather industry in Nigeria in recent years has been identified as a potential second earner of foreign exchange after Oil and Gas, having an annual income of N24.50 billion and contributing an estimate of 85billion annually to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). With a capacity to create over 700,000 direct and indirect jobs as well as be recognised globally as major player in the industry, more awareness is being generated.
In a bid to change the narrative within an industry with so much untapped potential, Femi Olayebi, the Chief Creative Director of FemiHandbags in 2017 established the Lagos Leather Fair, drawing attention to the immense possibilities within the industry by providing a platform for players along the leather value chain to promote other leather designers like herself, highlight the challenges and discuss sustainable solutions. Key players including designers, tanners, and suppliers of machinery, retailers and government officials debated and addressed various issues faced; one of them being sustaining the industry.
In spite of the many challenges within the industry, a good number of young people have developed an interest in leather are becoming more and more interested in the production process from concept to the finished product. Following the observation, the Lagos Leather Fair decided to organise a competition this year to give up-and-coming leather designers an opportunity to showcase their talent, and consequently assist them to launch their brands. “We believe that giving the emerging designers a platform to showcase their talent will encourage others to develop an interest and hone their skills in the leather industry because if they don’t, this potential gold mine will simply remain untapped” Olayebi said.
The leather industry received a big boost in 2014 as the value of exports of footwear, gaiters and the like reached $62.9 million within the year, data collated by Cobalt International Services and released by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) show.
According to the data, export values of the leather commodities were $14.9 million and $17.7 million in the first and second quarters of 2014, respectively.
Similarly, the values of exports of these commodities totalled $14.5 million in the third quarter and $15.8 million in the last quarter of 2014.
Also, export value of lead, a key solid mineral, amounted to $46.7 million in the whole of 2014. In the first quarter, export value of the mineral totalled $14.7 million but reduced to $11.1 million in the second quarter of the same year.
Nigeria exports leather to the 15 countries of the Economic Community of West African States such as Togo, Mali, Niger, Gambia, Burkina Faso and Liberia, among others.
Skins, hides and leather from Nigeria are also bought in large quantity by Italy, Spain and many European countries.
STEPHEN ONYEKWELU