Adeola Agbana marks milestone with British Millinery Association

Nigerian millinery designer, Adeola Rachael Agbana, has earned a landmark recognition after being invited by the British Millinery Association (BMA) to tutor its members on the art of Gele, the traditional Nigerian headwrap.

Agbana, who is the Creative Director of Allured by Ruby Millinery Academy, made history as the first African chosen by the association to conduct such a training. The session, held virtually, spotlighted the Round Gele Design, a headpiece deeply woven into Nigeria’s cultural identity.

“I was genuinely surprised and equally excited that I attracted the interest of an international millinery body to teach their members on Gele Artistry,” Agbana said, describing her reaction to the invitation.

She added that her reputation for professionalism and high standards helped secure the opportunity. “One of my personal core values is excellence and professionalism, which I try to show in almost everything I do, whether in my headwear products or when I teach, so I believe these qualities resonated with the British Millinery Association.”

Agbana explained that the training was tailored to suit the association’s audience: “The training was centred on Gele Artistry – it was a live class that was held on the Zoom App with participants watching the process and also asking questions. The design taught was the Round Gele Design.

“It was broken down into the simplest and easiest to understand method possible, specifically because of the peculiar audience. All the processes were shown from start to finish, and the participants really enjoyed themselves, judging from the feedback received after the class.”

For her, the recognition is bigger than just personal achievement. “I think this international exposure is another opportunity to put our Nigerian cultural heritage on the global map. Gele is an integral and significant part of the Nigerian fashion and culture, whether in our casual everyday lives, gatherings, formal or informal functions and ceremonies; it is a symbol of our identity and mostly associated with celebrations and happiness,” she said.

She further noted that the collaboration reflects the growing fusion of global fashion cultures: “The influence on our craft is quite huge and lends credence to the fact that fashion as we know it all over the world is constantly evolving and we’re seeing a lot of infusions of different fashion cultures such as a combination of the female English formal wear with a Turban or making a suit or blazer with our local adire or Ankara fabric, etc.”

Agbana believes the spotlight will also boost her academy’s role in training future headwear designers. “The impact on my Headwear school will be massive, such that it will increase the relevance and importance of Milliners and Headwear designers to the fashion ecosystem as a whole because presently we’re not accorded the importance we truly deserve, so my being featured on this international stage draws more attention and brings increased relevance to the craft.”

Although millinery is still regarded as a niche in Nigeria, she is optimistic about its prospects. “Yes, millinery is still a relatively niche field in Nigeria, and it can sometimes be perceived as non-lucrative or less dignifying; however, the more recognition that millinery gets both locally and internationally will nudge the aspiring young creatives to venture into it,” she said.

Beyond Nigeria, Agbana sees an international role for African milliners: “In my opinion, Nigerian Milliners have such a unique role to play in the global fashion space because our craft is rooted in culture, creativity, and a bold self-expression style. While hats and headpieces are common in Europe and America, what sets Nigerian millinery apart is the fearless use of colour, texture, and storytelling.”

She added: “Every gele-inspired fold, every dramatic fascinator, every turban twist carries with it a piece of our heritage. Nigerian milliners are currently dominating niche markets — weddings, high fashion, church hats, red-carpet events, and cultural festivals where statement headwear is a must. In essence, we can become cultural storytellers, sustainability leaders, and bold innovators in the global fashion space, bringing Africa’s creative energy to the world’s headwear scene.”

On knowledge sharing, Agbana emphasised the mission of her academy: “The Allured by Ruby brand came into the Nigerian Millinery space via the knowledge impartation and teaching niche and hasn’t deviated from the mission. We’re constantly using every available medium to teach our audience globally, not just millinery skills alone, but other contemporary ideas needed to constantly evolve in an ever-dynamic fashion world. We plan to continue to hold live streams, online classes, workshops, etc., to keep the knowledge transfer business going.”

She said her long-term vision remains focused on empowerment: “The vision has remained the same; to provide women in Africa and beyond with top-notch millinery training, help them master the skill and transition them into generating sustainable income from their headwear products, expertise and experience. This international recognition is fulfilling the vision in itself because it’s another platform which has helped us take millinery training across the borders of Africa to the world stage, and it can only get better from here onwards.”

The British Millinery Association also praised her work, explaining their decision. “The Association has admired Adeola’s work and her millinery school for some time. We are always seeking to showcase tutors from diverse cultural backgrounds, and Africa has such a rich heritage of headwear. Until now, this was an area we hadn’t introduced to our members, so Adeola felt like the perfect choice to guide us through the artistry, techniques, and cultural significance of the Gele.”

On how they found her, the BMA said: “Through Instagram. Social media is a wonderful tool that allows us to connect with talented creatives from all over the world in just a matter of seconds.”

The group also noted the mutual value of the session: “It’s hard to speak on Adeola’s behalf, but I know it was a huge benefit to us! Beyond this specific class, our members were introduced to the wider range of courses she offers, which may encourage them to take part in further training with her. Additionally, showcasing her work through our platform may inspire other international associations to collaborate with her, too. Over the years, the BMA has inadvertently helped launch the international teaching careers of several millinery tutors, and I hope Adeola will benefit in a similar way.”

Explaining why Agbana stood out, the association added, “Quite simply, Adeola stood out. From the videos she shared on Instagram, her clarity, professionalism, and exquisite skills were immediately apparent. It was clear she was not only a talented milliner but also a gifted teacher. We were eager to learn from her and to explore a style completely new to many of our members. The tutorial was incredibly inspiring and comprehensive, leaving us with both knowledge and appreciation for the craft.”

Looking ahead, the BMA expressed optimism about more collaborations with Nigerian creatives. “Although we are based in Britain, the Association has grown into a truly global community. We offer online tutorials, business development talks, and a supportive, creative network.

“When we started the BMA just five years ago, we could never have imagined the reach and impact it would have worldwide. Our connection with Nigerian milliners is still in its early days, but we see this as the start of a growing relationship — one built on sharing skills, knowledge, and support as part of our ever-expanding international community.”