Inspired by rural Ghana’s Dipo rites-of-passage ceremony, during which girls taking part are partially naked and ornately adorned, Osakwe has played with cloaking and ornamentation using traditional African fabrics.
[4] A signature of her brand is her use of a traditional Yoruba indigo-dyed textile called adire, a cultural specialty whose practice revolves around modern-day Ogun and Osun states in western Nigeria.
[5] International stars such as singers Beyoncé and Rihanna and Hollywood actress Kerry Washington have worn outfits by the Nigerian designers.
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama, well-known for being a style icon, wore an Amaka Osakwe-designed Maki Oh blouse during summer 2013 trip to South Africa.
[6][7] Her designs also have been worn by the likes of Solange Knowles, Lady Gaga, Issa Rae, and Leelee Sobieski and by Nigerian TV presenter Eku Edewor and are sold internationally through Farfetch.com, and in United States at the McMullen boutique in Oakland.