Speechless! Menswear Brand U.Mi-1 Presents Spring/Summer 2016 “Ode to Eyo” Collection

U.Mi-1 presents a new type of African menswear fashion, an Ode to Eyo*: the costumed dancers. The U.Mi-1 SS16 collection is a celebration of the Eyo, masquerades that come out during the Lagos Nigerian festival to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King or Chief and to usher in a new king.

The collection mirrors the activity and fluidity of the costumed dancers, – linen and cotton fabrics are textured and the silhouette is looser, with patterned chiffon hanging loosely on jackets or layered on trousers. Like the masquerades, the wearer seems wrapped in layers of fabric and there is playfulness to the hues of blue, green and light grey.

Gozi Ochonogor, the Nigerian creative director triumphs in depicting Africa like none of her peers: her collections are stories about its culture which she brings to life for the Western eye. With whispers of a new dawn for Nigeria, there may be reason for a celebration.

U.Mi-1 is a contemporary brand for the modern cool man. It appeals to men passionate about clothes, who judge luxury from the finishing inside to the detailing on the outside. Describing the style as tailoring with a twist, Creative Director, Gozi Ochonogor transmits in the collections an appreciation of the culture of her homes: Nigeria, UK and Japan.

Gozi Ochonogor studied Software Engineering at Imperial College London. Eschewing this career to become a fashion designer, she studied menswear design at the Central School of Fashion London and worked at the Anthony Reynolds gallery, which represented Turner Prize winners Mark Wallinger, Keith Tyson and movie director Steve McQueen, learning from first-hand experience and interaction with these artists. An astute pattern-cutter, Gozi explores themes of contemporary art forms, in particular architecture and cubism through clever construction. Her approach to tailoring is like that of an engineer- with a zeal for perfection and attention to detail.

U.Mi-1 is currently stocked in STRANGER(Lagos), Nigeria and International Gallery BEAMS in Japan. The brand name “U.Mi-1” means “U. = You” and “Mi=Me” are “1=one” .

*Eyo, a special festival in Nigeria.

Speechless! Menswear Brand U.Mi-1 Presents Spring/Summer 2016 “Ode to Eyo” Collection was originally published on http://completefashion.org/lookbook-introducing-u-mi-1-springsummer-2016-ode-to-eyo-collection/ on Jul 19, 2015 1:52 pm