Lisa Folawiyo

Lisa Folawiyo came to fashion without any formal training. She originally started out with degree in Law. Her collection feature chic Ankara fabric of West Africa. She has worked with big names in the entertainment industry such as Issa Rae and has also been featured in Genevieve Magazine, Vogue Germany and Vogue Italia.

• Early Days

Lisa was born into a family of 4 in 1976. Folawiyo’s father is Nigerian from Ogbomosho, Oyo state and her mom is from the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobego. In 2005, she founded her fashion line, Lisa Folawiyo, formerly known as Jewel by Lisa.

Her brand counts with various diffusion lines including The J Label and Pretty Precious. Her first show was Safari Chic. It featured the classic Jewel by Lisa aesthetic, with the cocktail dresses, tiered skirts, wrap dresses, kimonos and even swimwear. All in Ankara but very nicely embellished.

• Awards and Achievements

In 2012, she won the African Fashion Awards, nominated alongside Maki Oh and Kofi Ansah, two more prolific designers from the Nigerian fashion scene. Supported by Vogue Italia, Folawiyo has also partnered with L’Oréal and did a trunk show on Moda Operandi.

She has multiple showrooms in both Nigeria and New York. Since it started, her label has matured into a high end neo-cultural, sophisticated luxury style for women. Ten years and counting, the Lisa Folawiyo brand has grown and gotten immense international recognition for her work. Due to immense hard work, the Lisa Folawiyo brand has shown collections on platforms in Lagos, Johannesburg, London, Paris, Milan and New York. Her brand features in international publications such as editions of Vogue, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle.

She is skilled at elevating traditional African prints above the status quo and making them relevant for a global audience. In 2015 she was featured in the prestigious BOF500. which is a list of fashion brands that are shaping the international fashion scene.

• Personal Life

Lisa Folawiyo has been married for 14 years and has known her husband for 21 years. She is a mother of three children. Her father-in-law was the industrialist Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo