The phenomenon called Ade Bakare

I met Ade Bakare for the first time in January 2002 at the Ecomonic Community for West African States Festival (ECOFEST), where I was priviledged to model some of his clothes...boy, I remember those beautiful evening dresses.

This guy has come a long way. He started his couture house in 1991 and sixteen years later, he's a force to be reckoned with the fashion industry in most parts of Africa and Europe as his clothes attract women from all works of life and from many parts of the world.

Ade Bakare was born in Bromsgrove in England. He studied to University level in Lagos, Nigeria at the University of Lagos. He returned to England to study Fashion Design at the Salford University College, Manchester, where he gained a HND in 1990.

Ade Bakare then went on to work for two internationally known Couture designers in London; Victor Edlestein and Christina Stambolian, before setting up his own label in 1991.

Ade Bakare's first floral fragrance for ladies called 'Breeze' was launched in 1998 and which now includes a scented cream and scented candle introduced in 2000 for the Millennium.

Now Ade Bakare has started a designer's competition in Nigeria called 'Young Designers Creative Competition'. The objective of the event according to him is to identify and promote emerging talents in Nigeria. The judges of this competition will be selecting a winner and two runners up who will receive cash prizes as well as seminars and worshops at FATE Foundation, a non-profit organisation set up Fola Adeola to enable young enterpreneurs establish their businesses.

The judges for this event are...

Ade Bakare himself, Remi Osholake (Designer, Remi Lagos), Bola Atta (True Love), Helen Ajayi (Ex-Miss Nigeria), Ruth Osime (Thisday Style editor), John Fashanu and Funmi Iyanda.

This event is scheduled to hold on May 20th at the Civic Centre , Victoria Island, Lagos.

The MC of the event is Ms Yemisi Kuti and the show's guest list include, the first lady of Lagos, Mrs Remi Tinubu, Iya Oge of Lagos, Chief Mrs Opral Benson, Mrs Nike Oshinowo Soleye, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Florence Ita-Giwa, Senator Daisy Danjuma and co and co...

I'll be at the event...if I can manage to get an IV...Amen!

This guy is a phenomenal designer. Hopefully oneday I'll be able to afford his clothes.