By Vivian Onyebukwa
After a long time of staying off the fashion industry, the talented Nigerian fashion designer and Founder of O’Saunders Fashion brand, Olabisi Saunders, is back in the fashion industry after four years.
Her comeback was announced with the preview of her latest collection titled, “Metamorphose”, which took place at Victoria Island, Lagos”.
Explaining her four years absence, she said, “For a long time, I have withdrawn inside. I should say done, and one thing about a butterfly is that it starts from its lava stage and metamorphose into full blown butterfly. So it is like withdrawing from the industry, taking a time to figure out myself again. And also medical issue, because my doctor told me I should stay indoors; I should slow down on my work. In those four years of hiatus, I now have a son. I am thankful for that. I am fully back with my brand going higher. This is a comeback collection.”
By staying off the industry, did she really miss a lot? She said, “Somehow I missed a lot and somehow, I didn’t. I know the industry also has missed me, and I know my brand will catch up”.
Olabisi said she has not lost her niche, which is making bold and daring designs. “I am all about painting and massive sleeves. I like when my designs are out there. You can see that I have not lost my touch. But you can see that I have refined it. I do more colours. Before now, I do more of white. It is all about the metamorphosis that I am talking about.”
With her paintings and elaborate sleeves, she has carved a niche for herself, making bold and daring designs. These couture outfits, according to her, are inspired by life, art, painting and nature.
On what it takes to come out with her designs, she explained that it takes a lot of hard work. Not only that, it has a lot of financial responsibilities, too. “There is hard work and sleepless night. One thing about painting is that you cannot paint the front and back at the same time. Sometime, you have to cut and sew and paint. At other times, you have to paint before you sew. It depends on what you want to do. It hasn’t been easy. These are pieces I don’t even know if I will sell them.”