Nigeria is known for its vibrant culture, which shines through in its events, cuisine, and, of course, its fashion! Self-expression and creativity are key, especially during weddings and other special occasions, where Nigerians showcase their unique fashion sense, blending both old and new elements.
Have you ever wondered about the origins of the various outfits we see today? Let's delve into the diverse styles across different regions of Nigeria.
Northern Nigerian Fashion
Popular for its elegance, Northern Nigerian fashion consists of a lot of layering. The intricacy of the material depends on the occasion, with heavier, more detailed fabrics being used for big occasions and simple materials for daily life. Fashion from this part of the country is always evolving and finding new ways to use its staples.
The kaftan worn by the men is usually accompanied by a loose baban riga over it. For women, an ankara blouse and skirt or dress is usually accompanied by a complementing veil. Long, loose gowns known as abayas are usually for casual settings, although they can be dressed up too.
Western Nigerian Fashion
Western Nigerian fashion is well-known for clothes like agbada, gele, iro and buba, and fabrics like aso oke and adire. The agbada is a loose robe (similar to the baban riga) worn by men over a matching inner set of a shirt and trousers.
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Worn by women, the iro and buba is a wrapper with a loose blouse usually worn with the gele on the head. The Gele is a traditional Yoruba woman's head wrapping made of firm material. It may be worn as a fashionable accessory on formal occasions but can also be a daily wear. The gele is peered with Iro ati Buba, Komole dress or Asoebi dresses by Yoruba women.
Eastern Nigerian Fashion
Did you know that the Igbo traditional attire is called Isiagu? Isi-Agu, which literally means lion’s head in Igbo, is a pullover shirt made with fabric that has lion heads printed on it. Women wear form-fitting clothes in either isiagu or ankara that accentuate their figures through countless styles. A popular fashion accessory is called the nza, or horsetail, and most people now use it in weddings, funerals, and dances. Coral beads are also a significant part of their fashion.
The Edo people are known for making fashion out of coral jewelry, which can be in any form, from elaborate headpieces to ankle pieces. Edo men traditionally wear coral beads of two kinds, ekan and ivie, with either suits or traditional robes.
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Other Ethnic Styles
When it comes to fashion, the Tiv are known for their A'nger, a black and white striped material. It is a woven cloth that is then dyed and packaged for sale. The classic black and white clothing represent peace and simplicity.
Traditional Fulani fashion centers around the Mudukare, a mix of red, blue, and green embroidery, woven into white fabric. Mudukare for women looks like a sleeveless half-top worn over a wrapper while men wear a long, sleeveless shirt with a pair of medium-length shorts.
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Men and women alike tie long wrappers made of George cloth, a great, fashionable material from India where it is used to make saris! With this wrapper, men typically wear long, white, cotton shirts and accessorize with wide-brimmed hats and walking sticks.
Traditional African Wear for Men
Fashion will always be the talk of town and it can be easily found in our traditional African wear for men as well as senator styles. By putting particular emphasis on the traditional African clothing for men, we mix casual and trendy to give a new unique look.
With every new day, comes a new challenge; and our African traditional wear for men can become handy to get that look. Senator styles for men and other styles should always be an extravagant affair of fun and fashion with our range of traditional wear for men. You can pair up your favorite sneakers with a traditional attire for men and still look sharp.
You are already dressed to kill with traditional wear for men because it is all about expressing yourself. Your style of carrying Ghanaian men traditional wear can be a mixture of both fun and thoughtful to give a new perspective of looking at things. Whether you are the star of the evening or one of the audiences, a native Nigerian male traditional attire can turn out to be a blast!
| Style | Description | Region/Ethnic Group |
|---|---|---|
| Kaftan & Baban Riga | Layered outfits for men | Northern Nigeria |
| Ankara Blouse & Skirt | Often paired with a veil for women | Northern Nigeria |
| Agbada | Loose robe worn by men | Western Nigeria (Yoruba) |
| Iro & Buba | Wrapper and blouse for women, often with Gele | Western Nigeria (Yoruba) |
| Isiagu | Lion head patterned shirt | Eastern Nigeria (Igbo) |
| A'nger | Black and white striped material | Tiv |
| Mudukare | Embroidered attire | Fulani |
Evolution of Nigerian Fashion
Before independence, when Nigeria was still a colony of Britain, indigenous fashion traditions such as adire indigo dyeing came to be viewed negatively. In there place Western garments became signs of power and elitism. Fashion in the 1960s was characterized by women dressing in both fitted and oversized attires as well as mini skirts and dresses with simple local hairstyles and Afros.
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The 1980s had women wearing maxi skirts and men oversized suits with huge permed hair. The fashion trend started to experience a significant change in the 1990s with the influence of America with miniskirts, scousers and native boubous for women. Men also had a difference in the trouser fashion with narrower hems and loosely fitted around the hip and waist region.
Currently, Nigerian fashion continues to change and evolve with the incorporation of traditional fabrics and bold, colourful designs to make different styles. The rich cultural diversity in Nigerian society has a huge influence on the Nigerian fashion world, with the various elements of the varying ethnic groups showcasing their unique designs and customs even in the modern-day. Although there have been a lot of changes in the Nigerian fashion world, there is still a retention of its unique beauty and originality.
Key Figures in Nigerian Fashion
Shade Thomas (later Thomas-Fahm) became Nigeria's first widely recognized fashion designer. After studying fashion design in England in the 1950s, prior to Nigerian independence, she set up a shop at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos and a garment factory at the Yaba Industrial Estate.
Lisa Folawiyo uses traditional West African fabrics to produce modern tailored designs. She launched her label, Jewel by Lisa, in 2005. She also produces custom luxury prints and accessories, such as jewelry and purses.
Omotoso Oluwabukunmi runs TWIF Clothing; the name is an acronym of The Way It Fits.
