Dream Wired
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
Dream Wired
No Result
View All Result
Home Celebrity

In The Studio: Mowalola Exists Outside The Box – Essence

rmtsa by rmtsa
September 7, 2024
in Celebrity
0
In The Studio: Mowalola Exists Outside The Box – Essence
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Cassie Pens Chilling Letter Ahead Of Sean Combs Sentencing

Angel Reese Stuns Alongside Idris Elba At New York Film Festival

Couple-Care: Chaya + Braxton Cook – Essence

Richard Dowker

This story originally appeared in September/October 2024 issue of ESSENCE magazine, on newsstands August 26.

Article continues after video.

Designer Mowalola ­Ogunlesi’s eponymous brand sits at the top of the list for some consumers. She’s unafraid to shake the table and change the narrative. When she launched her label in 2017, it was clear she meant for her works to stand out. Pieces crafted with PVC and leather, plus cutouts with gender-bending elements, made ­Ogunlesi’s styles the talk of the industry. It’s no surprise that celebs like Rihanna, Kelela, Naomi Campbell and Solange Knowles have been seen in her designs.

The designer’s first show was a commentary on the colonial view of Black masculinity. She countered that perspective with a sensual, nonbinary approach to clothing, garnering the attention of Lulu Kennedy from U.K. talent incubator Fashion East. The affiliation with this group propelled Ogunlesi, a graduate of London’s famed Central Saint Martins art school, into the tumultuous world of high fashion. She then cut her teeth on a plethora of design gigs to gain experience and expand her network, including Yeezy Gap, Wales ­Bonner and Celine. Ogunlesi’s name recognition has grown exponentially—with seasonal runway shows inspired by Y2K aesthetics, her Nigerian roots, and an array of subjects that touch on race, gender and sex.  

Photography by Richard Dowker

Her East London studio embodies her personal mantra of  “Do what you want to do.” In reflecting on her fashion influences, Ogunlesi notes that both her parents are designers and both run successful Nigerian businesses, so her natural approach is just to go for it. “When I’m creating, sometimes, things are not that precious to me,” she says. “I’m always ready to go in a completely new direction.”  

Ogunlesi often draws inspiration from film. In her Spring/Summer 2024 runway show, she incorporated themes from David Cronenberg’s movie Crash—dressing and styling models as if they were characters who had just experienced a violent brush with death. Ogunlesi’s pieces often elicit double takes from audiences, her details ensuring that you have to look again and again.  

Photography by Richard Dowker

Working on her own timeline, Ogunlesi doesn’t allow the fashion calendar to constrain her range of motion and creativity. Even her label debut was out of the ordinary, with its provocative, sensual and intellectually charged feel. She cites Telfar Clemens as another fashion influence—and an example of someone changing the industry narrative, by switching business models from wholesale to a direct-to-­consumer approach. Thanks to her own innovative efforts, Ogunlesi has built a cult following of clientele who don her popular snapback trucker hats, graphic-print baby tees and leather extra-mini skirts.  

There’s no telling what direction Ogunlesi will choose next, but we can be sure she’ll keep world-building—as her universes align to create one big, breathtaking picture. 

Interviewer: Lynette Nylander

Director: Olivia Lifungula

Director of Photography: Jan Solberg

Gaffer: Alina Kay Kolosova

Sound Op: Marina Fusella

Makeup Artist: Fey Carla Adediji using Byredo

Production by The Morrison Group

Production Assistants: Ciara Beveridge & Mia Henderson

Edited by Josh Homer

Color by Max Ferguson-Hook at Time Based Arts

Photographer: Richard Dowker



Source link

Tags: BoxEssenceExistsMowalolaStudio
Share30Tweet19
rmtsa

rmtsa

Recommended For You

Cassie Pens Chilling Letter Ahead Of Sean Combs Sentencing

by rmtsa
October 3, 2025
0
Cassie Pens Chilling Letter Ahead Of Sean Combs Sentencing

Source: Getty Images Sean “Diddy” Combs’ day of reckoning is almost here, and things are looking grim for the Bad Boy mogul. Ahead of his Friday (October 3,...

Read more

Angel Reese Stuns Alongside Idris Elba At New York Film Festival

by rmtsa
October 3, 2025
0
Angel Reese Stuns Alongside Idris Elba At New York Film Festival

Source: Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Netflix All eyes were on WNBA star Angel Reese who stunned in a classic black Diotīma SS26 dress alongside Idris Elba at the...

Read more

Couple-Care: Chaya + Braxton Cook – Essence

by rmtsa
October 2, 2025
0
Couple-Care: Chaya + Braxton Cook – Essence

Courtesy of Lauren Desberg Couple-Care is a monthly series highlighting inspiring couples in our community. Each couple discusses how “couple-care” sustains their relationship, the self-care lessons they’ve learned...

Read more

Cardi B And Nicki Minaj’s Album Feud Gets Ugly

by rmtsa
October 2, 2025
0
Cardi B And Nicki Minaj’s Album Feud Gets Ugly

Source: Just when it seemed like the Cardi B and Nicki Minaj beef was well done and cooked, the Queens rapper decided to rehash her long-standing feud with...

Read more

adidas Originals Partners With Atlanta Fashion Week

by rmtsa
October 2, 2025
0
adidas Originals Partners With Atlanta Fashion Week

Seen on the stylish scene… Source: Atlanta Fashion Week / Atlanta Fashion Week adidas Originals is making a major move into Atlanta’s fashion landscape, officially partnering with Atlanta...

Read more
Next Post
YU-KA Interview: Talks ‘Sunshade’ EP

YU-KA Interview: Talks 'Sunshade' EP

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse by Category

  • Celebrity
  • Comics
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • Music
  • TV
  • Uncategorized

CATEGORIES

  • Celebrity
  • Comics
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • Music
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

Recent News

  • Elizabeth Hurley Crowned ‘The Queen of MILFs’ In Bold Black Bikini Snap
  • Cassie Pens Chilling Letter Ahead Of Sean Combs Sentencing
  • Famed Japanese Critic Shiguehiko Hasumi Curates New York Showcase

Copyright © 2023 DramaWired.
DramaWired is a content aggregator and not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop

Copyright © 2023 DramaWired.
DramaWired is a content aggregator and not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In