Anjolaoluwa Abiosun
Victoria’s Secret has not always been the most inclusive brand, whether that was in the size range or the range of its models that strutted the runways. So when the brand started coming under fire for its lack of inclusivity, no one was surprised. Intimate brands like Fenty, Skims, and many more had taken over the market and shown the world that it was possible to create great products with inclusivity in mind.
For the first time in years, the brand is taking an inward look at its philosophies and is expanding not only its size range but its range of products. With the help of different creative women from different backgrounds and continents, Victoria’s Secret is swapping its original fashion show for a feature-length documentary film.
The film, which is set to premiere in September 2023, is aimed at celebrating female voices in the fashion entertainment industry. Raul Martinex, Head Creative Director of Victoria’s Secret told Vogue, “There’s no need to explain ourselves anymore. We’ve evolved, and we’ve moved on, but it’s not that we’re leaving anything behind. We’re touching both the storytelling, which is about our advocacy and celebrating female voices, but also that full-on, fashion entertainment [experience], because that is something that was quite iconic.”
The VS 20 will be bringing filmmakers, musicians, artists, and fashion designers together to produce a collection. Each of these creators from the four cities, with the help of Victoria’s Secret will be showing their process, which would be included in the documentary. In addition to this, a filmed fashion show would also be included which will also feature Victoria’s Secret-designed pieces.
Here are some of the Nigerian creatives included in the tour:
Korty EO
If you are chronically online, then you would have come across Korty EO’s content. Whether it is her viral Love or Lie series, Flow with Korty series, or just her viral video of her waiting to interview Wizkid outside his hotel for three days, from then till now, she has become the go-to Gen Z storyteller for creative video content.
The 25-year-old filmmaker started out as a writer for a media company, Zikoko. Soon, she got bored with work and left to start making videos. The model and graphics designer, who mostly self-taught herself how to make videos later got a job at a digital company, Empawa Africa, as the content Lead in 2020 to explore her creativity after moving on from writing.
Sometime later, she left to pursue a career as a freelance filmmaker, in which she has become the Korty we all know now for her relatable and engaging video content.
Ashley Okoli
Ashley Okoli is one of the leading alte stylists in Nigeria. The 24-year-old stylist knows the perfect formula for the alte style – a perfect mix of the grunge movement mixed with Y2k fashion, with gothic elements – she has mastered it over the years and has directed music videos like Cruel Santino’s Raw Dinner. She has also styled covers for magazines for some of Alte’s well-known figures like Cruel Santino, Obongjayar, Lil Simz, Ayra Starr, and more.
Bubu Ogisi
With fashion, Bubu Ogisi is on a mission to change people’s ideas of how Africans should be dressed. The founder of Lagos-based womenswear brand IAMISIGO, who had always had always embraced culture despite moving between London and Lagos when she was younger is all about the ideas of what Africa means in fashion.
So when Victoria’s Secret called Bubu she said to Vogue, “To be honest, I kind of ignored it. My pieces are not really that fixated on lingerie, so I was a bit confused.” However, she had a change of mind considering the fact that the brand is keen on experimenting and shifting from how they would normally create.
With this work, she is deciding to fixate on the idea of Yoruba and Edo mythology. “Each person is going to be a divine being, a supreme higher entity, a quote/unquote goddess,” she told Vogue.
Wavy The Creator
Jennifer Ejoke, professionally known as Wavy the Creator, is a recording artist, photographer, fashion designer, and filmmaker, born in Lagos. She is popularly known for her debut single ‘H.I.G.H’ and as once the official photographer of YBNL boss and rapper, Olamide.
One thing to know about Wavy is that she is an all-round creative. In 2022 she released the debut collection for her clothing brand Piece et Patch, a streetwear brand where she creates unconventional fashion pieces, including shoes and accessories.
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