17 YEAR-OLD FASHION MODEL, JOY AKHIGBE, LAUNCHES HER FASHION BRAND

On Wednesday 18^th of August 2021, Joy Akhigbe, a 17 year-old Lagos-based fashion model, Joy Akhigbe, announced the launch of KUWAJ, her fashion brand.

KUWAJ is a Nigerian clothing brand created with the aim to create reassurance in the minds of young Nigerian ladies about their bodies, by breaking societal standards of how a young lady should be dressed. The brand believes that dressing in what makes one feel the most comfortable instills a feeling of confidence while simultaneously exerting personality. Maximally, KUWAJ portrays the feminine body and its complexities in the light of sex appeal. It is confidence in style.

The launch of the fashion brand begins with the PANACHE COLLECTION which consists of pop-coloured bodily fitted dresses made of light, silky fabrics.

IMAGES FROM THE PANACHE COLLECTION

Joy Akhigbe — COLLECTIVE PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE PANACHE COLLECTION

JOY TELLS HER STORY

I am Joy Akhigbe. I am 17 years old. I am a model and fashion designer, still relatively new to the industry. I have always loved fashion and I have had this dream of becoming a fashion designer since I was 14, after I had just graduated from secondary school.

I could not pursue my dream of going into the fashion designing line then due to financial issues. I had a lot of designs on ground, but bringing them to life seemed rather impossible.

I had another interest which was still within the fashion line – modelling – and it was also a way in which I could earn money, so I went into that line instead. I started modelling at the age of fourteen because it was impossible to gain admission into any Federal University at that age, so I spent that time building myself up as a model.

I am really glad that I focused on building myself as a model while holding on to my dream of scaling into a fashion designer. I am happy that my dream is now a reality.