Who remembers Naomi Campbell’s fall in 1993 at Paris Fashion Week runway? That made major headlines.

This time, the designer, rather than the model, falls. At the recent Arise Made in Africa show at New York Fashion Week, one of the most impressive and more established Nigerian designers, Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi, took a hard fall off the runway. It is unknown whether her fall was induced by what seems like rather high (12 inch?) heels she was wearing. But, what seemed an unfortunate and embarrassing incident for the designer has instead brought her international recognition, even though it is as “the designer who fell at the Arise show.”
Lucky her? It looks like it.

Now before other designers try to emulate Ajayi in hopes that they will gain worldwide recognition, note that this is not to say that anyone should intentionally fall off the runway. If you fall, you could suffer serious injuries and just as bad, not even make the headlines you wanted. Indeed many others have fallen off the runway and their names have gone unnoticed.

LDA’s fall, it looks like, was the lucky break she needed to get the fashion world to pay attention to her designs and her name!

Watch the Video Clip

-Priscilla Bamfo
-Photocredit: Reuters, Splash

“Designer Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi attends the Made In Africa: By Arise Magazine Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on September 15, 2011 in New York City.
(September 14, 2011 – Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images North America)”

LOCATION: The ARISE MAGAZINE FASHION WEEK ­LAGOS 2011 will take place at the luxury Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, from Thursday 10th March to Sunday 13th March 2011.

THE DESIGNERS: The event has up to 50 African fashion designers participating. The fashion shows will be in three categories: Group, Double and Collective showcases over four days.

The designers that will participate are: Alexander Amosu, Amine Bendriouich Couture and BS, Autumn Adeigbo, Angelo Van Mol, B-Side by Wale Adeyemi, Bestow Elan, Black Coffee, Bridget Awosika, Buki Akib, Bunmi Koko, Chichia, Christie Brown, Deola Sagoe, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Eki Orleans, Eredappa, Gavin Rajah (SA), Gert-Johan Coetzee, Grey, House of Farrah, House of Nwocha, Ituen Basi, Jewel by Lisa, JIL, Jo Black Craze, Kastle Designs & Treasure Chest, KemKemStudio, Kiki Kamanu, Klûk CGDT, Korto Momolu, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi , LaQuan Smith, Lola Faturoti, Madam Wokie’s Couture, Maki Oh, Mataano, Mustafa Hassanali, Nikki Khiran Couture, NKWO, Odio Mimonet, Okunoren Twins, Pierre-Antoine Vettorello, Re Bahia, Samantha Cole, Tiffany Amber, Toju Foyeh, Tsemaye Binitie, Viv La Resistance, Vonne, Xuly.Bët, Zedeye.

THE MEDIA: The Media present will include Ladybrille  as well as national and international print, online and television media.

THE MUSIC PERFORMANCES: Arise Magazine Fashion Week 2011 will each day of the event close with a star-studded closing musical act. Confirmed artists include Naeto C, Darey Art-Alade, Grammy Award-winning singer Estelle and to close the ARISE Magazine Fashion Week Awards on Sunday 13 March, will be Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu – better known as the two-time BRIT Award-winning artist: Tinie Tempah.

What ARISE Magazine founder Nduka Obaigbena has to say: “We feel the time is right for us to create our very own series of major events and show the world that Africa is here to stay at the cutting edge of international fashion. Part of
ARISE Magazine’s mission continues to be the promotion of new and established African and African diaspora designers. ARISE Magazine Fashion Week is only the start of our worldwide ambitions.”

Stay tuned for more details.

~Courtesy Photos LDA

Right from the first model, it was clear LDA’s loyalty to the Victorian era. A loyalty that is most intriguing and in many ways parallels today’s Nigerian society, as it reminds you of an era of the “haves” and “have nots.” An era where one’s clothing could quickly and immediately indicate social status and wealth.

LDA’s Victorian loving woman would have admired the rather loose silhouttes on the runway and the domed like skirts and accompanying empire waists. Sleeves on dresses were at times bell like and other times, sleeveless. There was use of rich textiles, crinolines, heavy embroidery and excellent cratfmanship displayed all at once.

Accessories were kept mnimal with just hats as the designs did all the talking already. While LDA showed a clear master and execution of the Victorian era, I coudn’t help but wonder, “who is the woman that wears LDA designs?” “In a very hot weather like Nigeria’s and with use of fabrics that do not breathe as easy in such hot climate, what kind of events does the LDA woman attend in LDA designs? Also, couture is arguably dying so how do these pieces translate to the average Nigerian woman’s wardrobe?

After the show, I got to ask LDA all of these questions and more. Voila! LDA had already put much thought into these questions. She explained the LDA woman was a bit avant garde, intriguing, fun, quirky, not afraid to be different and would wear her Spring/Summer 2010 collection to various nice formal events. Acknowleding many of her pieces needed to be deconstructed for the everyday woman, LDA informed me the brand also has a ready to wear line for the LDA woman who wants more LDA pragmatic choices for her busy lifestyle. Check out the LDA Spring/Summer 2010 images below and enjoy!

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Designer: Lanre Da Silva Ajayi
Label: LDA began in 2005
Education: BA in Business Administration, Masters in Finance
Career highlights: Featured at the Arise Africa Fashion Week ’09 in South Africa. The designer also just launched her own boutique mid-June, 2009.
View her Spring/Summer 2010 Collection.