Lisa Folawiyo transforms Ankara fabric into luxurious, hand-embellished garments, merging African heritage with global designs.
In 2005, Lisa Folawiyo launched her fashion brand from her home in Lagos with just N20,000, twelve yards of Ankara, and her mother’s support. At that time, she had no formal design training. She had studied law at the University of Lagos and worked for about a year before feeling unfulfilled. That period, marked by boredom, a growing baby bump and a desire for a more creative path, led her to pivot into fashion.
She aimed to turn traditional West African Ankara fabric into something luxurious and globally relevant by adding detailed hand embellishments such as beads, sequins, and crystals. This vision became Jewel by Lisa, a brand that quickly distinguished itself by combining heritage fabrics with modern accents and skilled craftsmanship. It began with Ankara skirts and expanded into dresses, kimonos, wrap skirts, tops, necklaces, and even cushion covers.
Each piece is handcrafted in Nigeria, taking up to 240 hours to produce, and made by local artisans, highlighting Lisa’s dedication to authenticity, detail, and sustainable employment. Over time, her approach garnered international attention. She started showcasing collections at major fashion events, including Arise Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg, the ThisDay Africa Rising Festival in London, Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, and other runways in Paris and Milan. The brand’s global growth led to showrooms opening in Lagos and New York, with UK, US, South Africa, and Nigeria stockists.
As the brand gained prominence, Lisa Folawiyo rebranded it from Jewel by Lisa to simply Lisa Folawiyo. She also introduced diffusion lines such as The J Label and Pretty Precious, further broadening her reach. Her designs have appeared in international publications including Vogue Italia, Vogue Germany, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle. Celebrities like Issa Rae, Lupita Nyong’o, Solange Knowles, and Thandie Newton have all worn her creations, elevating her signature embellished Ankara onto red carpets and magazine covers.
Beyond her design work, Folawiyo is renowned for her commitment to mentoring emerging talent. She collaborates with institutions like Wazobia Academy in Nigeria and ESMOD Paris to support aspiring designers. Her influence has helped foster a new generation of African creatives, blending tradition with modern innovation.
In 2012, Lisa Folawiyo received the Africa Fashion Award. In 2014, she was recognised as one of eight emerging talents by Women’s Wear Daily, and in 2015, she was named among the most influential figures in the global fashion industry by the Business of Fashion.
