When a person, situation, or work of art is revealed to be rare, it can be in a number of ways, but the most striking is when it is presented as unique and exceptional.
Funmilola Oluwajuwonlo, the brains behind Atoke Atelier, epitomises this standard of excellence and the qualities that bring it to the fore. It is also a compelling description of her brand, which she has infused with the same enthusiasm and dedication that have aided her growth as an artist and fashion designer.
The Atoke Atelier label is unparalleled in its field. Atoke Atelier has evolved from merely a fashion design space into a fashion brand that embodies culture, style, art, and lifestyle thanks to the full expression of Funmilola’s creativity, business acumen, and brand structuring skills.
Funmilola
Through Atoke Atelier, has become one of Abeokuta’s most prominent fashion designers and a household name throughout Nigeria in the past decade thanks to her dedication to challenging the status quo.
Women from all walks of life, from the corporate world to the Hollywood elite, can find something they love in Funmilola’s Afro-centric runway and ready-to-wear collections. Her designs reflect those of a talented sketch artist, meticulous tailor, and open-minded global citizen. Her natural talent for design is matched by a methodical approach that has led her to discover the essence of Abeokuta’s history. Funmilola mentioned the traditional fabric ‘adire’ as one of her many sources of inspiration in an interview, citing its evolving patterns and the way its colour acts as a mediator against the skin.
She wished to create fashionable items that would appeal to a wide variety of customers. Even though most current fashion is a rehash or a throwback, I was inspired to create these designs by the rich cultural history of Abeokuta, Nigeria, and the rest of Africa. What makes a fabric elegant is not how much it costs, but rather the things that are made out of it. As a result, I’m driven to make sure Atoke Atelier consistently produces garments that are both high-quality and varied.
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In addition to dressing celebrities for red carpet events, Atoke Ateliers has shown its wares at some of Nigeria’s most prestigious fashion shows, such as the Access Bank-sponsored Naija Brand Chic Tradefair. The Lagos Fashion Week fair was held in September 2022, and the brand was there as one of the few designers chosen to show their wares.
Over the past few years
Under Funmilola’s direction at Atoke Ateliers, the company has won a number of prestigious awards, demonstrating both her impact on the fashion industry in Ogun State and her adaptability as a designer. She was the mastermind behind, and the star of, the recent Atoke Atelier Fashion Runway Show in Ogun State. Funmi, in her role as CEO/Creative Director of Atoke Ateliers, organised the show to give a voice to new designers and to showcase the talents of some of Nigeria’s most renowned models and beauty pageant winners.
Funmilola collaborated with other brands like Tamberma and media outlets like PublicFace magazine for the event. There were people of all ages and walks of life at the show, making it the most well-attended fashion event in Ogun State in the last decade.
Big names in the fashion industry recognise Funmilola as an innovative leader with keen insight, and they see her label as one of those poised for global success.
