Adésolá Balógun is a young and dynamic fashion entrepreneur. He is the creative director of Outspok’n!, a top-notch bespoke tailoring company based in Lagos, Nigeria.
He is an alumnus of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the Daystar Leadership Academy, and The FATE Foundation.
He has a wealth of almost 2 decades in fashion and the business of fashion and has chosen to passionately mentor young fashion entrepreneurs on how to start and scale up their fashion businesses.
He hosts a biweekly podcast called “The Coffee and Beans Podcast,” where he speaks passionately to African entrepreneurs about their journeys and inspiring stories.
Aso oke fabric, (Yoruba: aṣọ òkè, pronounced ah-SHAW-okay) is a hand-woven cloth created by the Yoruba people of west Africa. Usually woven by men and women, the fabric is used to make men’s gowns, called agbada and hats, called fila, as well as women’s wrappers, called Iro and head ties called Gele.
In the past, Aso-oke was basically known for ceremonial purposes like parties and was mostly worn by people of high social and economic status.
But in recent times, the timeless fabric has evolved as many contemporary fashion designers have been able to change the narrative through their delectable modern designs with Aso-oke which can be worn any day, anytime, and anywhere, regardless of the occasion.
The way of making the cloth has remained the same for centuries, however, new techniques and production methods have been looked into to eliminate the weight and thickness of the Aso oke cloth, and to make it more accessible for casual wear.
See the video below for more!
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