lite
KR8V WHERE NIGERIAN CREATIVES FIND A VOICE
ISSUE 3
Adekemi ADEGOKE CONNECTING TEXTILES WITH STYLE
Opinion
AUGUST 2021
HOW THEY STARTED GLOBAL BRANDS - PG 8
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CONTRIBUTORS
Editor’s Note
Joy Kika Author & Marketing communications specialist
w
e made it to our third issue!
Thank you for sticking with us on this very interesting journey into the world of creatives.
EDITORIAL TEAM
In this issue we explore yet
Editor-in-chief
another artform. We spotlight the works of budding textile
Olumide Omololu
designer - Adekemi Adegoke.
Art Direction O’cube Interactive Proof reader Jay Ajayi
Adekemi brings to the fore the functionality of art as she amalgamates the production of adire and batik pieces with the retailing of ready-to-wear fashion pieces and soft furnishings. We also take a peek into the “brandosphere” as we discover the genesis of two famous sport brands through
Kr8v talent Lite is a publication aimed at
an expert review of a chapter in the book - How they started
fostering the growth and appreciation
global brands. Do enjoy!
of the arts in Nigeria, and to celebrate creative individuals making an impact
Olumide Omololu
in redefining the Nigerian art industry.
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ORIGINAL CONTEMPORARY ARTWORKS artoja.org/ Radisson Blu, Lagos, Nigeria
COVER STORY
©Adegoke Adekemi | Beauty for ashes | 5 yards | Dye and wax on polished cotton | 2020
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Artist’s profile
A
dekemi Adegoke is a Nigerian textile artist and the CEO of MAWI She hails from Oyo State and specialises in unique hand-made textile prints. She is graduate of Creative Arts from Tai Solarin University of Education, Adekemi recently launched a collection of prints "Irin Ajo" which has received the support and endorsement of prolific artist and textile designer, Chief Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye
07060493410 @mawi_adire mawiadire@gmail.com
“I want people to keep talking about my brand, that's why I create statement pieces with my designs."
COVER STORY
©Adegoke Adekemi | Mountain and plain | 5 yards | Dye and wax on cotton | 2020
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COVER STORY
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Style!
Textile prints meet
MEET CONTEMPORARY TEXTILE DESIGNER, ADEGOKE ADEKEMI dekemi Adegoke is a Nigerian textile artist and the CEO of MAWI, an afrocentric lifestyle brand. She hails from Oyo State and draws heavily on her Yoruba heritage and background in Creative Arts to tell cultural stories through her unique hand-made textile prints. Her early education began at St Patrick's primary school, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos after which she proceeded to Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls Secondary School for her secondary education.
Her
crystallized
at
sojourn Tai
Solarin
into
the
arts
University
of
Education where she studied Creative Arts. Adekemi had developed a passion for the arts at a tender age, she shares her story- "My journey has been an amazing one, I have always had a passion for creativity. As a child, I saved up money to buy art materials which I used to produce miniature paintings and greetings cards. I had a great passion for art, which fueled my interest in studying creative arts in the university. After I graduated from the university, I learnt the art of cake making, my love for sculpture drew me to sugar craft which I excelled at.” More recently, Adekemi established a textile business (MAWI), she loves textiles, a major course of her study back in school.
©Adegoke Adekemi | Elephant print | 5 yards | Dye and wax on cotton | 2020
On the vision for MAWI, she shares- "Mawi is loosely translated as "keep talking", I love textile design so much because it gives me the opportunity to tell stories and express myself through my designs. The birth of MAWI was a new beginning for me and was born out of a passion to create and innovate. My brand is focused on story telling and I keep talking about creativity, our African culture,
history
and
women
who
are
hardworking and things happening in our environment. We are vocal about black
COVER STORY
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women because I'm black and a proud one at
striking things around me that I can make a
that. I also want people to keep talking about
print out of. Sometimes, I'm watching the
my brand, that's why I create statement
television; an idea hits me and I pen it down,
pieces with my designs."
at other times, I see some designs in my
Adekemi's clientele includes both local and
sleep. Funny but true."
international organizations as well as individuals interested in connecting deeply
One philosophy that guides the artist is "Whatever you do, put in your best. Never
with the Yoruba culture. She connects to
settle for less".
culture through
As a teenager,
her hand-made
Adekemi had always
adire and batik
admired the works of
designs.
Chief Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye
Her clothing
whom she met a few
brand is
years ago, and had
recognizable in
the privilege of
the Nigerian
telling her story
textile community and has the
through "Irin Ajo" a
backing of one of
collection of prints she recently
Nigeria's leading
launched. She is
cultural ambassadors,
currently enjoying
Chief Dr. Mrs Nike
tutelage from her
Davies Okundaye.
role model.
Beyond the
Another artist
aesthetics,
Adekemi looks up to
Adekemi has
is Dr Mufu Onifade
added some
amongst many
functionality to her fabrics, amongst many other products,
others, she shares©Adegoke Adekemi | Irin-Ajo collection Dye and wax on cotton | 2020
laptop bags. On what inspires her, Adekemi shares - “God is my inspiration, I also draw inspiration from my immediate environment and nature. I see
me a lot and I'm blessed to have him
she creates ready to wear outfits, shoes, bags, chairs, pillows,
"His works also thrill
as a mentor. Adekemi's workspace is located in Sango ota, Ogun state where she is usually working on new patterns and prints. We wish Adekemi success on her new collection and future projects.
OPINION
KR8V TALENT LITE | 1SSUE 3 PG 8
How they started global brands: A tale of tenacity! By: Joy Kika I started reading the "how we started global
that allows one not only dream but jump off a
brands" and discovered the founders of Adidas
cliff knowing the government will support
and Puma were legit brothers!! The way my
them or at least get a soft landing, there are
eyes widened in suprise, I needed to
tons of books dedicated to
blink multiple times to get it back in
businesses that failed as well
shape. I was so pleasantly surprised!
and
How is this not public information??
moment, and in these pages,
My goodness, Siblings rivalry at its
it's the grit and tenacity for me.
worst, Rudolf packed half of the
An after taste thought was the
equipments to start Puma after he
fact, Adi had studied
had been managing sales and they
engineering and upgraded his
had a fallout.
heavily
Father's
too.
business
At
with
the
his
Anyways, The chapter chronicles the
degree. It makes me think of
grit and non stop innovation of Adi
the disparity in generations
Dassler, the founder of Adidas (see
and how much of continuity
where the name came from ) He
exists in families and family
studied engineering but chose to go
owned businesses. In the era of
into shoe making, developing his cobbler
"chase your dreams," and extreme, may I add
Father's method in dominating the global
ridiculous philosophies such as calling a child "
sports shoe market. He was simply bold and
it" for political correctness, should children be
tenacious; walking up to athletes at the
advised to keep up the family business or
Olympics and convincing them to try his
should they follow their desires and maybe just
shoes, making different shoes for the different
maybe their paths get rerouted? I hope my
sports, and optimizing for performance. His
Father does not read this one because it's back
brain was on steroids.
to Arewa for me . In some ways we're alike;
I read these stories about Founders and their grit and it gets me so excited of how someone can believe in a dream so much to pursue it
writing, reading, word play, creativity, design. I'm still unravelling just like he shockingly continues to with extra grace and resilience.
even in the face of brickwalls, sometimes I
I was today years old when I learnt that the 3
want to indulge.. heavily, in the delusion that
Adidas stripes are representative of Adi's vision
the abroad air makes businesses succeed but I
and guiding principles; produce the best shoe
know it's not a 100% true, while they may have
for the requirements of the job, protect the
excellent
athlete from injury and ensure the product
systems
in
place
that
drive
experimentation, feeding the innovative spirit
lasted.
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