With Style Zero, Quintessence Extols African Culture

At the just concluded fashion show, Style Zero, Quintessence Gallery’s collection-varied in its details- is rooted in minimalism, crafted with comfort at heart. Yinka Olatunbosun reports

Long strides, magnificent make-up, models clad in simple African fabrics matched with hot stilettos and loafers stole the Style Zero fashion show inside Parkview, Ikoyi- the home of Quintessence Gallery. The unconventional space for a fashion show came alive recently to showcase the rich collection of African wears that the gallery offers for the Christmas season.

It’s been a particularly hot season as the hint of harmattan haze is at its best a rumour or an experience totally lost on many who are often covered in sweat as they step away from the air-conditioned cars or offices. Quintessence has always had the customers at the heart of their activities and this year is no different what with a big comeback for the gallery with the show titled ‘Style Zero.’

With a selection of Afrobeat and other African genres booming from the sound system, the audience was treated to a visual parade of models clad in a wide range of pieces that is elegant and chic, made of adire, aso-oke and custom-made accessories from ‘Eyes of A Lagos Boy,’ a partner on this runway project.

“We always look for a place to express our culture hence this collaboration. I have always known Quintessence all of my life. I had met the founder of Quintessence, Chief Aino Oni-Okpaku, who saw my project then and asked me to bring them. A year later, she passed away. But here we are today. For us, it is a continuation of history and that’s what Eyes of A Lagos Boy stands for- documenting history,’’ Bolaji Alonge, the artist also known as Eyes of A Lagos Boy said.

The collection, varied in its details, is rooted in minimalism, crafted with comfort at heart.

At the end of the show, the CEO, Quintessence Limited, Jude Oni-Okpaku fielded questions from the journalists on how he has embraced the legacy of its late co-founder, Chief Mrs Aino Oni-Okpaku.

“We wanted to do something during the Christmas season and Quintessence has been around now for almost fifty years and one of the things that we have been known for is our fashion. We haven’t had an opportunity due to Covid-19 to portray our different African inspired styles that we have. We thought this was a good opportunity to bring everyone together for this Christmas period and at the same time showcase the beauty of African culture. Quintessence is all about promoting African arts and crafts. This fashion is not a new idea for us. We have been doing fashion shows for many years. We just haven’t done one for a while. This is the first one in a long time,’’ he said.

The theme Style Zero comes from the idea of starting fashion-particularly African fashion on a black canvas, without the undue influence of foreign fabric layering or styles. He explains what African style should project.

“We think it should be simple and comfortable due to our climate and working conditions. We believe that our fashion has been way too inspired by western influences whereby we wear suits and ties to work and we live in a hot climate. So, Style zero is saying let’s hear all that and start from a fresh canvas and let’s wear clothes that are made for us and conducive to the kind of environment that we live in,’’ he said.

Apart from the climatic consideration, Style Zero aims to draw attention to the economic value that is embedded in wearing clothing made from African fabrics.

“We need to appreciate our textiles and our own designs to create jobs. We have one adire type from Kano the cotton was grown in Kano and then from Osogbo; and another is aso oke. The locally sourced materials are economical because you don’t have to think about importing cost and they are better for our climate,’’ he said.

Jude holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from California Lutheran University, USA. An entrepreneur at heart, he founded two IT companies in Stockholm, Sweden before venturing into managing Quintessence. He described himself as a lover of everything African.