Fashion designer Mai Atafo is spurring the velvet material for men’s fashion. Ebuka Obi-Uchendu was recently styled in two different outfits made of the velvet: a stone-studded tuxedo for his first look and an embroidered agbada for his second; perfectly accessorized to break the black monotony.
Pic – Instagram
Pic – Instagram
Though velvet isn’t quite an everyday menswear fabric, the popular Igbo isi agu attire, from which Mai Atafo draws some inspiration, is. The outfit features gold lion head prints mostly on black or red.
Pic – 9jaflaver
Occasionally, some Nigerian designers may feature it but we can tell, from some of his works, that Mai Atafo loves velvet. Magic Mike have also featured in a stylized version of the isi agu: a single lion head print draped over a white kaftan.
Pic – Insgain @onyeeka
The designer has also featured velvet tuxedoes in the AW Africa Fashion Week 2018 and 2019 shows.
The shiny smooth texture of velvet makes it a perfect party item or church wear but puts it off as too luxurious for either a casual or corporate wear. With Ebuka’s recent looks in the fabric as party formal and Afrocentric, we might expect to see more of men in velvet at befitting events.
Featured image source: Insgain