Biography
The founder and artistic director of Style House Files, a creative development agency for Nigerian and African designers, Omoyemi Akerele is widely regarded as a driving force behind Nigeria's burgeoning fashion industry. Style House Files works with Nigerian brands on image, creative direction, brand positioning and retail strategies. Akerele also helps brands gain essential international exposure through showcases at Pitti Immagine in Italy, and through Lagos Fashion and Design Week.
Founded by Akerele in 2011, LFDW runs a four-day schedule featuring a select list of up-and-coming designers and fashion entrepreneurs. Partnered with the British Fashion Council , the show has been instrumental in raising the profile of the Nigerian fashion industry, and has drawn international attention and acclaim from journalists such as Suzy Menkes and Cristina Manfredi, as well as attracting a host of international buyers.
Prior to Style House Files, Akerele worked as senior style editor at popular fashion magazine True Love, and set up an image consulting agency with Bola Balogun, a local Nigerian celebrity stylist. Trained as a lawyer from the University of Lagos, Akerele has also completed a masters in international economic law from the University of Warwick, and worked at prestigious Nigerian law firm Olaniwun Ajayi & Co from 2000 to 2003.