Mai Atafo | |
---|---|
Born | Ohimai Atafo Ile-Ife, Osun |
Alma mater | City, University of London |
Occupation | Fashion Tailor |
Ohimai Atafo professionally known as Mai Atafo is a Nigerian Fashion Designer known for his brand, Mai Atafo. He underwent training at the Savile Row Academy in Leeds, United Kingdom, to become a skilled tailor. [1] [2]
Atafo was born in Ile-Ife, Osun State, and comes from a family of nine children. [3] He is married to Christine Atafo, and they have a child together. [3]
Upon his return from the United Kingdom in 2002, Atafo held various positions in the marketing department at British American Tobacco Nigeria. Subsequently, he moved to Guinness Nigeria where he served as a Brand Manager until his resignation in 2010. [4]
Before departing from Guinness Nigeria, Atafo established the clothing label Mai Atafo Inspired, [5] which garnered attention from celebrities like Omowunmi Akinnifesi, [6] Banky W, and IK Osakioduwa. He briefly served as the Fashion Editor for Genevieve Magazine . [7]
In 2011, Mai Atafo Inspired introduced a wedding line called "Weddings by Mai". [8]
Atafo serves as the Creative Director of Mai Atafo Inspired. Additionally, he holds the role of Strategy Director at the advertising agency Firehouse Group and acted as an emcee for the Miss Nigeria Pageant in 2010. He also heads the Future Awards Central working committee. [9]
Year | Award | Category | Result | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Glitz Style Awards | Designer of the Year | Won | [10] |
2015 | Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week | Menswear Designer of the Year | Won | [11] |
2017 | Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards | Lifestyle/Style Fashion Icon Achievement | Won | [12] |
Savile Row is a street in Mayfair, central London. Known principally for its traditional bespoke tailoring for men, the street has had a varied history that has included accommodating the headquarters of the Royal Geographical Society at 1 Savile Row, where significant British explorations to Africa and the South Pole were planned; and more recently, the Apple office of the Beatles at 3 Savile Row, where the band's final live performance was held on the roof of the building.
Ozwald Boateng, OBE is an English fashion designer, best known for his trademark twist on classic tailoring and bespoke styles.
P-Square are a Nigerian music duo composed of the twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye, who co-write and co-produce most of their songs. Noted for their artistic reinvention, musical versatility, and visual presentation, they are widely regarded as one of the most influential African acts of all time and one of the most successful music groups from Africa. They were integral to the evolution of the 2000s and 2010s African popular music. The duo was launched into the mainstream recognition following the release of the song “Senorita” in 2003, and later gain recognition after releasing their sophomore album Get Squared in 2005. The success of the album earned them a nomination at the MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act in 2006. A prominent figure in the Africa popular culture of the 21st Century, P-Square was awarded Artistes of the Decade at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2015.
Norton & Sons is a Savile Row bespoke tailor founded in 1821 by Walter Grant Norton. The firm is located on the east side of the street, at No. 16. It was purchased in 2005 by Scottish designer Patrick Grant, who revitalised the tailoring house. He sold the majority stake to James Sleater and Ian Meiers following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Omowunmi Akinnifesi is a Nigerian businesswoman, environmental ambassador and beauty pageant titleholder. She was the winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2005.
Timothy Charles Peto Everest is a Welsh tailor and fashion designer. He moved to London in his early twenties to work with the Savile Row tailor Tommy Nutter. He then became one of the self proclaimed leaders of the New Bespoke Movement, which brought designer attitudes to the traditional skills of Savile Row tailoring.
Patrick James Grant is a Scottish clothier, businessman, television personality and author who is currently the director of Community Clothing and textile manufacturer Cookson & Clegg. He is the former director of bespoke tailors Norton & Sons of Savile Row and E. Tautz & Sons clothing line. Since 2013, he has been a judge on the BBC One reality series The Great British Sewing Bee.
Richard James is a bespoke Savile Row tailors and contemporary menswear company. It was founded in 1992 by designer Richard James, a graduate of Brighton College of Art and a former buyer for the London boutique Browns, and his business partner Sean Dixon. The Design and Brand Director is Toby Lamb, a graduate of Central Saint Martins. Richard James has won both the British Fashion Council's Menswear Designer of the Year and Bespoke Designer of the Year awards.
Savile Row tailoring is men and women's bespoke tailoring that takes place on Savile Row and neighbouring streets in Mayfair, Central London. In 1846, Henry Poole, credited as being the "Founder of Savile Row", opened an entrance to his tailoring premises at No. 32 Savile Row. The term bespoke is understood to have originated in Savile Row when cloth for a suit was said to "be spoken for" by individual customers. The short street has been termed the "golden mile of tailoring", where customers have included Charles III, Winston Churchill, Lord Nelson, Napoleon III, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Laurence Olivier and Duke Ellington.
Carlo Brandelli is an artist born in England. He was named Menswear Designer of the Year by the British Fashion Council in 2005.
Port Harcourt International Fashion Week is an annual clothing and fashion event held in the oil capital of Nigeria, Port Harcourt. This event, a part of fashion in Nigeria, first took place in 2013 and continues to be jointly organized by Neo Mantra Ltd and Bruno Creazioni Company. The event lasts three days. Its principal sponsor is the Rivers State government.
Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, popularly known by her stage name Kaffy, is a Nigerian dancer, dance critic, choreographer, dance instructor and fitness coach. She is also the founder and owner of Imagneto Dance Company. She is best known for breaking the Guinness World Record for "Longest Dance Party" at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon in 2006.
Tesslo is a fashion brand specialized in customized clothing. It was founded by Tessy Oliseh-Amaize in 2005, and now operates from Washington, D.C., United States.
Ohimai Amaize is a Nigerian journalist with a multi-sectoral background that spans anti-corruption, youth advocacy, civil society, political campaigns, brand development, communications strategy and governance.
The Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards 2017 was held on 8 December 2017 at the Kampala Serena Hotel themed the Fashion Takeover, celebrating the business and entrepreneurial potential of the fashion industry in Africa. The awards were presented by the Abryanz franchise with the aim of honoring and celebrating the excellence of Africa's growing fashion industry. The event was hosted by Rachel K and Nana Akua and produced by South Africas's David Tlale.
Bimbo Ademoye, is a Nigerian actress. She won Best Actress in a Comedy/TV series at the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards for her role in the film Selina.
Dumebi Andrea Iyamah is a Nigerian-Canadian fashion designer born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. She is the founder and CEO of the fashion label Andrea Iyamah that caters to bridal, swimwear and ready-to-wear lines. She is known for her take on women's fashion and swimwear, which has been worn by celebrities such as Michelle Obama, Kate Hudson, Gabrielle Union, Ciara, and Issa Rae.
Adora Oleh, is a British born Nigerian TV presenter and the Second co-host of MTN Project Fame, which she co-hosted for five years. On Sunday 8 December 2013, Adora Oleh won the most popular female TV presenter award in Nigerian Broadcasters Awards which took place in Lagos. She used to host her talk show – "The Adora Oleh Show" on Vox Africa, an entertainment programme which focuses on positive role models and entrepreneurs making waves.
Daniel Etim Effiong, also Daniel Etim-Effiong is a Nigerian Nollywood actor and film director.
Ojinika Anne Okpe, also known as Ojy Okpe, is a Nigerian model, film producer and TV anchor on Arise News, who hosts What's Trending with Ojy Okpe and co-anchors the Good Morning Show.