The Pioneer Of Ready-To-Wear Outfits In Nigeria: Folake Coker

Folake Coker is a national and international award-winning fashion designer and entrepreneur. She is the founder and creative director of a notable fashion and lifestyle brand, Tiffany Amber.

Folake Coker Coker was born on the 28th of February, 1974 in Lagos state, Nigeria. Her father was Late Chief Bode Akindele, the Parakoyi of Ibadan land. She was married to Folorunsho Coker, a businessman.They had three children together, but are now divorced.

Education

Folake started her early education in Nigeria before moving to the United Kingdom for further studies. When she got her degree in the U.K, Folake proceeded to Switzerland to earn a postgraduate degree in petroleum law. After studying abroad for many years, Folake returned to Nigeria to establish her fashion business.

Career

Folake did not stumble into fashion designing, she put in deliberate effort. She started sewing as a hobby, while she was an undergraduate Nigeria. During one of the semester breaks, Folake seized the opportunity to learn fashion designing.

Folake’s fashion brand, Tiffany Amber, was launched on the 28th of November, 1998, in Lagos.

At that time, the Nigerian fashion industry had not gotten the kind of awareness it currently enjoys. It took a great marketing strategy, hard work and consistency for Folake to scale Tiffany Amber into an International winning label.

Brand expansion

Tiffany Amber, since the inception of the brand for over two decades, has proven to be committed to creating timeless, feminine, stylish collections with a touch of African heritage that appeals to the global fashion scene.

In 2008, after successfully breaking the record at the New York Fashion week, Folake launched two extensions under her clothing line; TAN by Tiffany Amber and Folake Folarin. Folake Folarin is the couture line, while TAN by Tiffany Amber is the diffusion line.

Women and girls across Africa have more accessibility to TAN by Tiffany Amber than ever. The collections mix a blend of modern designs with African culture. The brand partners with African artists and artisans to deliver fashionable and culturally authentic products.

In 2014, Tiffany Amber launched a lifestyle brand, Tiffany Amber Living. Tiffany Amber Living collection is made up of high quality handmade pieces that reflect African beauty. These include hand-painted luxe sofa, throw pillows, fluffy teddies and many more.

In 2008-2009,Folake broke the record and became the first African-based fashion designer to stage a show twice at the New York Fashion Week.

Tiffany Amber became the first Nigerian fashion brand to be an ambassador of Luxury Connect Africa. The brand launched its maiden African Luxury Exhibition in Paris.

Partnering with Lancome, a French luxury cosmetics brand and ALARA, which is one of Africa’s most luxurious concept stores, Tiffany Amber presented her Summer-Spring (SS) collection for 2019, titled “Made in Africa…Made for Now”. This collection was showcased in Paris during the Paris Fashion Week.

In 2019, Tiffany presented its Autumn-Winter (AW) Collection at ARISE Fashion Week; headlined by the America supermodel, Naomi Campbell.

Folake has graced many publications, from Marie Claire to Vogue Italia. She has also been profiled on BBC, the New York Post, and CNN.

Recognition and Awards

2009

Designer of the Year at African Fashion International Johannesburg.

2011

Fashion Brand of the Year at the Arise Magazine Fashion Week

2013

Enterprise Award at Women, Inspiration & Enterprise Symposium

Forbes’ 20 Young Power African Women

2016

Celebrity Designer of the Year at EbonyLife TV Sisterhood Awards

2018

African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Award in the creative industry award category.

2020

Folake was recognized by the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu on International women’s day.

Currently, she have been casted for the role of Mrs Olugbade in the much anticipated Funmilayo Ransom Kuti film set to premier anytime from now. In addition to her role, she is a co-costumier on set. We can’t wait to see Folake thrive, both as a fashion designer and an actress.

References

Wikipedia

Opera News

Instagram