Deola Sagoe, a native of Nigeria, has been designing for over 20 years.  Using her woman-defining aesthetic and clever choices of fabric and texture, Sagoe has taken her designs to the next level, transcending continental borders to become a worldwide brand.

Deola debuted her Fall 2010 collection At New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week as part of the ARISE Collective, a production by THISDAY/ARISE Magazine that presented fashion collections by designers from the African continent.  Her newest collection, inspired by 18th to 21st century colonial regimental attire and the colors of fall and winter, featured trend-setting details such as fraying, lace and sheer fabrics.  Adding inspiration from her own background, Deola used the Nigerian-dominant “Aso-oke” – traditionally hand-woven material from time-honored looms – for its strength, glitz and gloss.  Each look defined her clever use of textures and fabrics to “accentuate the beautiful curves of a woman.”

Deola also incorporates the element of music into her designs. “I often picture the woman dancing in my clothes, and that brings its own rhythm and musical element to the creative process.”

Her notoriety, much like her aesthetic, has gone beyond the African continent.  Aside from featuring collections in New York and Cape Town Fashion Weeks, she was the recipient of the MNET/Anglo Gold African Designs 2000 Award, in which she was nominated by Andre Leon Talley. 

The Deola Sagoe Collections are available for purchase by U.S. customers through www.deolasagoe.net.