Shade Thomas-Fahm Explained

Shade Thomas-Fahm, born Victoria Omọ́rọ́níkẹ Àdùkẹ́ Fọlashadé Thomas (but known colloquially and professionally as "Shadé Thomas"), is a Nigerian fashion designer. She regarded as Nigeria's first modern fashion designer"[1] [2] and pioneer.[3] She was the first fashion designer to open a fashion boutique in Nigeria.[4] Fahm brought attention to the Nigerian fashion industry.[5] Her enduring impact was celebrated at London's Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London in 2022.[6] [7]

Biography

Thomas-Fahm was born, on September 22, 1933, to the family of Bankole Ayorinde Thomas and Elizabeth Olaniwun Thomas. She is Yoruba. She attended St. Peter's School, Faaji, Baptist Girls' School Araromi, and later New Era Girls' College, both in Lagos.[1]

In the 1950s, as was the practice at the time, she applied to go to England to study as a nurse. She left in the summer of 1953. But on getting to England, she was captivated by the well-fitted shops of the West End of London and took to fashion.[3]

She said part of her interest in returning to Nigeria then, right before the nation got its independence, was "to provide jobs for people and tackle unemployment" [8]

At the beginning, she had a hard time convincing Nigerians to buy local fabrics and design, because people felt that British culture was better.[9]

Throughout the sixties, her Shadé's Boutique, and clothing shops in Lagos became the go-to place for Nigerian-made outfits of different styles.[3]

Thomas-Fahm influenced a lot of her contemporaries, from the 70s to date.[5] Some of them include Abah Folawiyo, Betti O, Folorunsho Alakija, and Nike Okundaye, who all have had great impact on Nigerian fashion.[10] [5]

Legacy

Thomas-Fahm specialized in the use of locally woven and dyed textiles to make modern contemporary styles that became known in Nigeria and around the world.[11] She transformed iro and buba into a wrapper skirt;[12] and the creation of the ajuba now popularly known as the 'boubou' form men's agbada.[13]

She was the president of the Rotary Club of Victoria Island from 2009 to 2010.[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nicolaadams. Fashioning the Nation: A blouse created by a Nigerian fashion innovator. 15 April 2021. 16 June 2020. Discover. en-GB. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.
  2. Web site: 31 January 2019. 7 Nigerian Female Heroines You May Have Forgotten. Reterdeen. Staff. 19 July 2021. Reterdeen. en-US.
  3. Web site: Sana. Noor Haq. Nigerian fashion pioneer Folashade 'Shade' Thomas-Fahm will be celebrated at 'Africa Fashion' exhibition. 5 August 2022. CNN. Warner Bros. Discovery. en.
  4. Web site: 31 August 2017. Recovered looted funds should be channeled into reviving textile sector — Shade Thomas-Fahm. Josephine. Agbonkhese. 18 July 2021. Vanguard. en-US.
  5. Web site: Why Fashion Breaks My Heart. Forbes Africa. 19 July 2021. Forbes Staff. en.
  6. Web site: 7 July 2021. V&A exhibition will use 250 objects to highlight creativity of African fashion. Priya. Elan. 19 July 2021. The Guardian. en.
  7. Web site: Theodosi. Natalie. 20 January 2021. Victoria & Albert Museum Plans a Major African Fashion Exhibition for 2022. 19 July 2021. Women's Wear Daily. en-US.
  8. Web site: 3 October 2015. Josephine. Agbonkhese. Nigeria was much more favourable 55 years ago — Sade Thomas-Fahm. 18 July 2021. Vanguard. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2 October 2010. Jemi. Ekunkunbor. 50 years of recycled fashion. 19 July 2021. Vanguard. en-US.
  10. Web site: Shade Fahm The Birdword by KOIBIRD. 2021-07-19. www.koibird.com. en.
  11. Web site: Nigerian Fashion Pioneer Folashade 'Shade' Thomas-Fahm Will Be Celebrated at 'Africa Fashion' Exhibition. 18 July 2021. Africa.com. en-US.
  12. Web site: 24 May 2019. R6042 Blouse; Buba. 19 July 2021. Fashioning Africa. Brighton Museum & Art Gallery. en-GB.
  13. Web site: 28 July 2019 . Awaiting gains of Nigeria’s Multi-billion Naira Fashion Industry. Geraldine. Akutu. 19 July 2021 . . en-US.
  14. Web site: 29 December 2012 . Rotary is about continuity of service - Thomas-Fahm. Josephine. Igbinovia. 19 July 2021 . Vanguard . en-US.