Speak of a Nigerian designer whose love for fashion is evident in her looks, words and designs, Ogugua Okonkwo is the perfect picture. She is one designer who creates pieces so mind-blowing, aesthetic and functional for the uber-stylish, modern woman. Every garment from Style Temple frames you as a piece of art that deserves to be adorned and lavished with all the accolades in the world. It is as though her designs are creations of the Divine from the temple of style, little wonder that is the brand name.
Raised in Enugu, Nigeria, Ogugua Okonkwo is the founder and creative director of the fashion brand, Style Temple. Prior to starting a career in the business of fashion, she studied Medical Laboratory Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She practised for some time before taking up a career in fashion illustration. She also worked as an associate designer for other brands before finally founding Style Temple in 2012.
The ready-to-wear line based in Abuja is a blend of structured wearable pieces with a couture edge, clean geometric cuts and shapes with a standout detail. Ogugua employs her understanding of the female form — thanks to the course she studied in the university– to create garments that are easy fitted, designed to flatter and exalt the body of any woman.
Her vision for Style Temple is to become a globally acclaimed brand that caters to, and celebrates exceptional women of every ethnicity. That is, the goal isn’t only to make women feel beautiful inside out with terrific clothing; it is also to build a designer label that appeals to every race, be it Europeans, Asians, Americans and Africans.
Og Okonkwo’s style is best described as daring, sophisticated and one-of-a-kind. A peek at her Instagram page will prove she’s a fashionista who loves to explore. Like every great influencer, there are times she pulls off a particular outfit in different ways. Perhaps pairing with sneakers, then switching to mismatched shoes to make sensible fashion statements that one doesn’t forget easily.
Ogugua has evolved to be a force to be reckoned with in the Nigerian fashion industry. She indubitably is among the designers giving more weight to African fashion as a whole. She is an awardee of The Future Awards Africa Prize for Fashion (2016) and Ebony Live Sisterhood Award Prize for Fashion (2017).
Furthermore, her designs have been showcased in Lagos Fashion Week and the brand has been lauded by Vogue, Elle, Fashion Bomb Daily, Glamour, CNN amongst others. And that’s not all. Recently, Style Temple was featured on Beyonce’s website as part of the music diva’s business directory, ‘The Black Parade’ created in support of Black owned businesses.
Check out some designs from Style Temple below:
