SPOTLIGHT
Designers Spotlight: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize’s Bold Vision for Luxury at Philly Fashion Week 2024
At Philly Fashion Week 2024, Tessy Oliseh-Amaize captivated audiences with her revolutionary 16-piece collection under her high-end bespoke brand, Tesslo. Known for her mission to redefine African fashion, Oliseh-Amaize’s latest collection blends African tradition with luxurious, avant-garde designs, marking a new chapter in the global perception of African fabrics.
IMAGE CREDIT: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize
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IMAGE CREDIT: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize
Tessy Oliseh-Amaize Breaking Stereotypes in African Fashion
With her collection, Oliseh-Amaize aims to elevate the narrative around African prints, moving away from stereotypes and presenting African fabrics as sophisticated, high-quality, and worthy of the global luxury market. “Outside Africa, when people hear ‘African prints,’ it’s as if they expect something primitive or poorly made. I’m rebelling against that,” Oliseh-Amaize stated. She describes herself as a “cultural rebel,” challenging expectations and demonstrating that African fashion deserves a place on the world’s most prestigious runways.
IMAGE CREDIT: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize
Collection Highlights: Traditional Motifs Meet Avant-Garde Design
This season’s collection builds on the momentum of her “Africa to the World” line, previously showcased at the Ankara Festival in Los Angeles. The collection at Philly Fashion Week featured designs inspired by African cultural icons such as the Oba of Benin, the Emir of Kano, and the Wodaabe tribe’s Guérewol festival. Elements like intricately structured coats, embroidered jackets, high-neck capes, and precision-tailored trousers reimagine these motifs with a modern, luxurious twist.
Oliseh-Amaize combines traditional African aesthetics with structured, futuristic silhouettes that resonate with a global audience, making her designs versatile and culturally rich.
IMAGE CREDIT: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize
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A Showstopper at Philly Fashion Week
Philly Fashion Week 2024 proved a monumental platform for Tesslo, drawing the attention of industry heavyweights like Mickey Boardman, editorial director of Paper Magazine, international fashion consultant Nicole Fischelis, and Project Runway star Prajjé Oscar. The show’s Afrobeat soundtrack, coupled with the bold runway presence of actor-model Sergio Delavicci and others, underscored Tesslo’s unique fusion of African and Western styles.
The runway brought to life Oliseh-Amaize’s vision: “I want to see Africans in the diaspora and non-Africans, whether in Tokyo, Paris, or São Paulo, wearing Ankara outfits—not just because they’re colorful or culturally appropriate, but because they are timeless, functional, and well-made.” This sentiment echoes her broader goal of establishing African prints as symbols of luxury, craftsmanship, and elegance.
IMAGE CREDIT: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize
A Visionary for the Future of African Fashion
Tessy Oliseh-Amaize’s work with Tesslo sets a powerful precedent for African fashion on the global stage. Her fusion of heritage and innovation challenges long-standing stereotypes and reshapes the narrative around African prints. With each piece, she invites diverse audiences worldwide to experience African fashion as both culturally significant and inherently luxurious.
IMAGE CREDIT: Tessy Oliseh-Amaize
Tessy Oliseh-Amaize’s work represents a powerful voice in redefining what the world expects from African fashion. Through her brand Tesslo, she is pushing boundaries, reshaping the narrative, and establishing African prints as icons of elegance and luxury craftsmanship. This spotlight on her vision showcases a new benchmark for African fashion, proving that African-inspired designs have a lasting place on the world’s most prestigious runways.