Africa Calling

Fashion is a big passion of mine, and secretly I want to be a fashion designer one day. But for now I am happy to thoroughly enjoy it as a hobby (and sometimes as a guilty pleasure!). So when considering this week’s Muse Ndali Data’s bright Lagos, Nigeria wedding, I couldn’t wait to explore the fashion opportunities inspired by Africa.

The patterned dress I’m wearing here is designed by Busayo, an African-born designer now based in Brooklyn, and you’re in luck because her vibrant, tailored designs are available to buy online. Every detail is carefully considered in her creative process. From the dying techniques to the fabric and structure, each piece has a little taste of traditional African patterns with a modern, updated touch. Although Busayo and I may work in different mediums (hers is cloth, mine paper), I love that we share the same design philosophy: We both celebrate women who love color, print and insist on standing out from the crowd.

In the same way, I took Ndali Data’s vision for her luxurious Nigerian wedding at The Ark Event Center and crafted an invitation design to make a strong visual statement that was truly tailor-made. Every surface of the invitation suite was considered, including the ornate gold flourishes on the envelope flap, the pops of blue calligraphy, and the unique die-cut shape. My favorite part is how the invitation tucked into a delicate laser-cut sleeve topped with a bright orange metallic foil emblem with the couple’s names as the finishing touch. Similar to how a piece of jewelry might add the final detail to an outfit, this last layer gave it an extra level of luxe. See how her chic, sophisticated African wedding unfolded here.

Africa’s calling. Let’s go!