Follow Us on Google
By Johnson Adebowale
A fledging locally made fashion brand, Oralugo, has been unveiled in Lagos to the delight of fashion enthusiasts, and its first ever store opened to customers in Victoria Island, Lagos. The ambitious clothing line has also promised to embark on a rapid expansion across the country.
L-R: MD, TGO Continental Ltd, Toochi Ugwu; Adaora; Pillot and Fashion Influencer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Lagos, Mrs Ify Okpalugo, at the launch, recently
Oralugo was launched recently as fashion and style lovers and influencers paid tribute to the innovative designs on display. The fashion brand, which started as a pastime during the COVID-19 lockdown, was formally commenced as a business in 2021, and it has grown to become one of the main ready-to-wear designers in Nigeria.
Speaking about her journey into the fashion world, the chief executive officer of Oralugo, Adaora Okpalugo, said: “I was inspired to go into fashion during the COVID-19 lockdown. This has seemingly fast tracked my entrance into the fashion industry because everything was stalled at the time.”
Adaora, who is also a lawyer, believed that her flair for fashion and styles would catapult the fashion brand to a greater height because those who have patronised her have testified of the quality and finesse of Oralugo.
She said: “I have decided to go into the fashion business because of my love for women’s bodies and passion for fashion. I love anything about women and fashion; I love watching models.I love reading fashion magazines and I love stylish celebrities as well. These things have inspired me, and that is the reason I came up with the fashion brand, Oralugo.
“At Oralugo, quality is our keyword, and it stands out from other fashion brands. My sense for quality fashion wear is second to none, and that cannot be compromised. I love quality. We intend to give quality service to our customers, and we are ready to go hard on that to make sure our customers get full quality satisfaction from her store.”
Speaking on the global fashion arena, Adaora feels fashion has grown globally and has evolved over the years, especially in Nigeria.
“I feel like a baby because the brand was actually two years old in June. Therefore, I have a lot of young designers that have inspired me and a lot of old ones as well. So, as fashion grows every day, especially in Nigeria, it’s getting broader, it’s getting more complicated, and it’s getting more fun. People are beginning to wear their freedom, whatever they want to wear, without minding the rules or the Nigerian mentality’s boundaries of passion.”
Adaora, who believed the next phase of the brand depends on God’s direction, said that though this is the first store, she believes that Oralugo will grow with time. “We intend to go international; we intend to open more stores in Nigeria,” she said.
In the next five to ten years, she believed the brand would have grown globally, opened more branches, earned recognition, and made more money through sales and expansion.
