Mai Atafo launches ME! Collection at South Africa Menswear week

Nigeria’s foremost bespoke tailor, Ohimai Atafo, launched his ME! Collection at the just concluded SA Menswear week.

Speaking on the inspiration behind this collection, Mai said; “The ME! Collection is a collection that describes my journey from when I was 19 years old to this present day. “In my early years hand downs from my brothers and shopping second-hands because one couldn’t afford new cool clothes made up my wardrobe. Added to this was my need to standout by re-inventing these pieces through reconstructing or sometimes deconstructing them. The hand printing helps tell a literal story. “The base for all this was my love for denim, velvet, corduroy (ridged velvet) suede, leopard print and camouflage.”

He further said: “In the last few years, my love for tuxedos led to a path where I respected the dresscode and also gave it twist.This is subtly visible by the velvet taping on the trousers matching the jacket fabric (velvet) rather than the conventional trouser tapping matching the lapel of the tuxedo jacket. Not to forget the smoking jacket with our trademark shawl peck lapel (like all the tuxedos in the collection) with hounds tooth trousers rather than the traditional tartan checks.

“For once a collection that wasn’t about predicting consumer trend but one that’s truly Mai Atafo and what I loved, love and will be loving.

“I know there is one piece for everybody in this collection”.