ADELEKE SIJUWADE: TAILORED PERFECTION

When privy to a rare find—whether clothes, a product, or great eatery—you favor being tightly lip about it? Well until now, I felt the same selfish position about cherished design craftsman, Adeleke Sijuwade. Now, I am freely ready to disperse about my bloke and vintage enthusiast turned celebrity designer.

Never once stepping foot in a sewing or fashion introduction class, the Nigerian-born sensation followed a beating passion and began crafting fierce design creations. His innate passions lead to features in New York Times Styles section, The Sartorialist, and styling Nigel Barker and Common, to name a few. ‘Olori’ (denotes Princess in Yoruba), his female collection, consists of dreamy frocks and flirty dresses. Adeleke central design focus for Olori collection: rich outburst patterns and sturdy fabrics.

Switching gears over to menswear, Adeleke’s ‘Homme’ collection present a bespoke sensibility with noted flair traces. Let’s just say, his svelte-forming suits emanates sartorial grace. The prints on his evening sport blazers pop a commanding-yet-not-too-pushy statement; qualities I believe every menswear piece ought to dole off.

Adeleke utters, “I’m not inspired necessarily by places, but by the time,” when asked about his inspiration for both collections.

Each sewn stitch; pleated detail; and buttonhole for both collections undergoes manufacturing by veteran tailors in Nigeria, Africa. You heard right! No factory in Italy, England, Thailand, or China, but experienced tailors in Africa.

I gathered Homme collection shots from Adeleke Sijuwade’s lookbook and film stills, for all to ingest. Oh yea, he also added ‘filmmaker’ under his vintage belt.