Ade Bakare is a force to reckon with in the Nigerian fashion industry. He started his trade in 1991 and has since taken it beyond the shores of Nigeria. This dynamic designer and creative thinker has written the name of the country in gold everywhere he went. He is the founder of Ade Bakare Couture in London and has a very strong influence in Paris, Madrid, Brazil and many other places.
Ade became involved in another aspect of the fashion industry when he created the perfume, Breeze, in 1998. This scent was inspired by his childhood days spent along the breezy West African coast of Lagos, Nigeria. He followed up the perfume with the introduction of Bakare Breeze, a moderately-priced diffusion line that offers a collection of bridal dresses to cater for the design-conscious bride, award-winning signature jersey dresses teamed with ethnic textile adire as well as a series of kaftans, boubous and bubas and iros in silk and chiffon.
Ade Bakare’s designs have been described as classic with a touch of modernity using fabrics such as wool, silk, lace and crèpes but he is currently celebrated for his gazar and organza sweep coats which are both ultra-feminine and luxurious.
On Saturday, July 31st, 2021, Ade Bakare gathered the crème-de-la-crème in the Nigerian fashion industry gathered at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi Lagos, to celebrate this icon as he clocked 30 years in the fashion world. City People’s DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 was present at the classy event and in this report, he brings you some of the highlights, enjoy.
ABOUT THE VENUE
The cool sound of smooth jazz filled the slightly-lit auditorium of the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi as guests trickled in one after the other to celebrate Ade Bakare at 30. The lighting set the mood for an evening of fashion, beauty, glamour, entertainment and class. It was not just about the man Ade Bakare but it was more about his art, finesse, creativity, style and the pace he has set in the Nigerian fashion business. When Ade Abakare started 30 years ago, the industry was a shadow of itself, it had no prospect and anyone who chooses to ply such a trade is tagged unserious. However, three decades down the line, the story has changed for the better. These and many reasons made Lagos standstill for the rave of the moment in the industry.
EZINNE NJOKU-OBI ANCHORS EVENT
Mrs. Ezinne Njoku-Obi. LLM FCIS, the Principal Partner at Olive Chambers, is not near an MC or a compere by profession but her talent spoke volumes. She was the woman behind the free flow of the Ade Bakare Couture @ 30. She anchored the event from the beginning till the very end. She also knows how to make her guests laugh. Many would have thought that she does compere for a living. This beautiful woman made the day quite memorable for all the guests.
NOLLYWOOD STARS, SHAFFY BELLO, OMOWUNMI DADA STORM EVENT
Ade Bakare is not just a fashion designer, he is a man of great influence. Did you know that he also designs costumes for movies? Yes, he does. He is the brain behind Teniola and Adora’s beautiful looks in the Nollywood classic Battleground. He also worked alongside popular producer, Tunde Kelani in some of his Mainframe classics like Dazzling Mirage, Ayinla Omowura, etc. To this end, some Nollywood stars like Shaffy Bello and Omowunmi Dada among several others graced the occasion and fully participated.
FORMER BEAUTY QUEEN, HELEN PREST-AJAYI CAME THROUGH
If there is a Nigerian beauty queen who appreciates Ade Bakare the best, it would be no other than this damsel mentioned below. Helen Prest-Ajayi, formerly Prest-Davies, is a Nigerian lawyer, writer and former beauty queen. Helen was raised in England. She attended the International School Ibadan for her advanced levels and Obafemi Awolowo University for her undergraduate studies in Law prior to her pageantry. After she was crowned Miss Nigeria at the age of 19 in 1979, she represented Nigeria at the Miss World pageant and furthered her education at King’s College London, earning an LLM. She was also active as a columnist in the 1990s. She is currently the CEO of Media Business Company. She is the granddaughter of Nigerian politician Arthur Prest and daughter of politician Chief Michael Godwin Prest. She was at the event and also made use of the runway, dawning some beautiful designs from the almighty Ade Bakare.
SUPERMODELS TAKEOVER THE RUNWAY
Ade Bakare’s designs on the night were a blend of African culture and a touch of the west. His well-styled Adire, Ankara and other African fabrics were projected both in the African and foreign designs. Beautiful supermodels took over the runway to display these designs. Did they hit it? That is an understatement. Every model that appeared in Ade Bakare’s design was greeted by a loud applaud and cheers from the audience.
FAST-RISING TALENTS PERFORM
Just as it was in the beginning, so it was till the end. Ade Bakare at 30 was more of entertainment and style. Fast-rising talents came to entertain and showcase their talent. They ended up setting the auditorium ablaze. Lotto Band started with his Omo Eko track that got everyone dancing. He was called back upstage by popular demand for a second performance and he did in style. This tall, dark and handsome talent is not just a singer, he is a mathematician that knows his onions.
The second fast-rising talent that stole the show on the night was Sample Prince Power who came all the way from Nasarawa state. This hardcore rapper and hip-hop act gave a good account of himself when he handled the microphone. He added fun to the glamorous evening in Lagos.
HELEN PREST-AJAYI IS STILL A SUPERMODEL
For many who taught that age has caught up with the first Miss Nigeria, Helen Prest-Ajayi, they were disappointed. She made headlines again while she modelled Ade Bakare. Many who didn’t know she was a former beauty pageant were left with their mouth widely opened when she hit the runway. She received a standing ovation by the time she was giving the audience a bow after her performance.
MEET THE CLIENT MODELS WHO MADE ADE BAKARE PROUD
Ade Bakare Couture is beyond a brand, it is an experience. Little wonder the auditorium was filled with clients and customers who have had a firsthand experience with the Ade Bakare Couture Brand. These clients also made the runway. They were made to showcase Ade Bakare in different designs to other prospective clients. Some of the client models are Shaffy Bello, Omowunmi Dada, Mrs Bola Yusuf, Kemi Adewunmi, Tundu Funmilayo Maridun, Jumoke Owoyeye, Toun Ade, Bimbo and many more.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING US PROUD
Ade Bakare rounded off the show with a word of appreciation to all his clients, staff, team members and partners. He promised to keep hoisting the flag in higher places and vowed to keep making Nigeria proud. Furthermore, he asked Nigerians to keep watching out for the brand because there are new innovations that will soon flood the space.
