As Moses Ayodele Gbaluwe took to the runway at last year’s African Fashion Week, the admiration and fascination of the audience was not only palpable, but a sense of pride rent the air, particularly as a result of his flagship piece, which came with rich trappings of historical symbolism. Gbaluwe masterfully employed the use of intricately woven embroidery patterns to depict the story of Ori Olokun, a Yoruba historical colossus, whose historical symbolism bestride courage, pride and royal power dynamics. This fashion piece celebrates the Yoruba historical heritage, and models the profound impact of culture on fashion.
Gbaluwe thus demonstrated his artistic ingenuity by transforming a heritage textile into a canvas for retelling history and merging art and fashion. On African Heritage Deftly Blended With Contemporary Western-Styled Fashion, Ayodele of GCC Clothings, as he is fondly called, says he belongs to a crop of contemporary African fashion designers, who are redefining African fashion pieces through a cultural innovation that fuses traditional heritages, contemporary visual resonance, and an appeal to Western influences. For instance, his meticulously crafted agbada designs, adorned with sophisticated embroidery and sparkling stones, pleasantly accentuate the luxurious feel of indigenous fabrics.
While his bold statements through an impressive range of Ankara suits and stunning blazers are a blend of contemporary Western-styled elegance steeped in African cultural roo.
