Celeb Hairstylist Justine Marjan on Her Quarantine Must-Haves + Zoom Hair Tips

Whether you’re a haircare fanatic and have never missed a beat when it comes to new products, styles and celebrity trends, or you’re totally removed from the world of hair and have never even heard the word “balayage” before, you’ve seen the work of hairstylist Justine Marjan. No, really. The stylist, who has been working in hair for the last 15 years (first in salons before transitioning to celebrity and editorial styling) is the mastermind behind some of the most memorable celebrity hairstyles of the last few years. Let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

Remember back in 2019 when Ariana Grande was rarely photographed without a rhinestoned hair clip or bobby pin adorning her iconic ponytail, especially during her Sweetener World Tour? Those were courtesy of the Kitsch x Justine Marjan collection of accessories.

 

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How about when Kim Kardashian started wearing her hair in a super-sleek half-ponytail?

 

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Or when we all started wearing our thoughts and feelings in our hair? You guessed it. Marjan’s clips.

 

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Having worked with A-listers like Kylie Jenner, Bebe Rexha, Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Kehlani and more, we knew she’d have the answers to all of our burning hair questions. We caught up with Justine Marjan, who has also been the Global Stylist for TRESemmé since 2017, to chat all things haircare during quarantine (and beyond!).

How to manage split ends during quarantine

“Use a great shampoo and conditioner to maintain your hair,” says Marjan. “The new TRESemmé Maximum Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner are designed to fill in your split ends so if you aren’t able to get a trim and cut them off, you’ll see [them less]. But if your hair is particularly damaged from heat styling, colouring, hard water or bleach, the TRESemmé Keratin Repair line is more of a bond repair, so that’s great if your hair really needs damage repair.”

Justine’s quarantine haircare must-haves

“I’m a big fan DIY oil treatment before shampoo and conditioner,” says Marjan. She goes on to share the other things that have been saving her mane during the pandemic. “And the new Root Touch Up Sprays have been a go-to for me since salons aren’t open in L.A. and I get greys at the front of my hair, so that’s been able to blend them in for me. I also like it for updos and braids — any time there’s an exposed part, most people’s hair is a little sparse around the hairline, so spraying this directly at the roots makes the hair appear fuller. I also love a micro-fibre towel after a shower; it’s way more gentle than a regular towel and will cause less damage to the hair. I use the original Wet Brush Detangler in the shower to work through my conditioner. It really helps to prevent breakage when you’re brushing wet hair.”

Her go-to hairstyle for video calls

“My advice for anyone doing a video call is to keep a hair accessory on your laptop,” Marjan tells us. “I actually heard from another beauty editor that they keep a head band resting on the side of their computer so if they have to jump on a last-minute call they can just pop on the headband and look more put together. It’s also just nice to see some personality since you can really see someone’s fashion or style since you’re seeing them from the neck-up, but you can express that through your hair accessories. I’ve also being doing a lot of braided looks, playing around with heatless styles and playing around with different types of waves. We’re seeing such a resurgence of the ’90s voluminous blowout, so i’ve been doing a ton of blow-dries with different round brushes and then setting them using velcro rollers, just to get different effects and more volume in my hair.”

The most unusual non-hair related thing she’s used to complete a look

“I once had to go straight from the airport to Ashley Graham before the Miss Universe Pageant, and my hairspray exploded in my suitcase on the plane. I had to change her hair 12 times that day plus a dress rehearsal, so actually we had to do the 12 looks twice, and I didn’t have hairspray. And hairspray is my #1 product; if I could only have one product in my kit it would absolutely be hairspray. So I used regular sugar mixed with water in a spray bottle, because it hardens like hairspray.”

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Winter Blahs Getting You Down? Cue The Muppet Show for Inspo

It’s all about the Muppets, baby! Five seasons of The Muppet Show hit Disney+ today, and since we’re still in winter mode and likely in need of a little joyfulness in our wardrobes, we’re finding ourselves drawn to fabulously fluffy, fuzzy looks that take cues from characters like Beaker and Fozzie Bear. Designers have long loved a good Muppet moment, and from Molly Goddard’s quirky tactile designs to Halpern’s feathery fare (pictured above), the Spring 2021 season is bursting with examples of how to harness that iconic puppet-meets-marionette energy.

Can’t wait for warmer weather to get your Gonzo on? Feast your eyes on this Muppet Show inspo and get ready to let your inner Animal out.

1/10

Topshop

Curly fleece toque

($35.00, Topshop at Hudson's Bay)

Flip your lid to change your mood with this cozy curl-textured toque.

Buy Now

2/10

KkCo

Crushed velvet flare pant

($375.00, Mall)

If you dare to wear trousers without an elasticized waist these days, channel comfort in another way with these soft flares.

Buy Now

3/10

Love Stories

Feather-trimmed washed -satin robe

($266.00, Net-a-porter)

Why not kick back in a playfully decadent feather-embellished robe? When the weather allows, you can also wear it as a chic cover-up.

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4/10

Miiyu

Faux-fur crossed slide slippers

($39.00, Simons)

Coming in several different colourways, these cushy slides are the perfect WFH pick-me-up.

Buy Now

5/10

Band of Sisters

Hot pink headband

($60.00, Band of Sisters)

Update your video call ensembles with this plush, made-in-Vancouver hair accessory.

Buy Now

6/10

Freed and Freed

Lily coat

($385.00, Freed and Freed)

The spicy turmeric shade of this Canadian-made coat will get you through the drab days to come.

Buy Now

7/10

Sleeper

Lulu shearling slippers

($370.00, Sleeper)

Handmade ballet flats done in a dazzling bright red? As Miss Piggy would say, mais oui!

Buy Now

8/10

Stand Studio

Sherpa Lolita tote

($285.00, Ssense)

And speaking of Miss Piggy, how about an outsized tote that’s a colourful homage to the world’s haughtiest hog?

Buy Now

9/10

Furious Fur

Spiky feather vest

($125.00, Furious Fur)

This Toronto-based brand offers a variety of faux fur pieces like this totally touchable vest.

Buy Now

10/10

Jennafer Grace

Faux fur collar

($72, Wolf & Badger)

Wear this fuzzy collar to lend oomph to any piece of outerwear.

Buy Now

 

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Celebs Are Buying “Birkinstocks,” Sandals Made from Birkenstocks and Hermès Birkin Bags

While the much of the world is hunkered down at home in the midst of a global health crisis and lamenting the idea of ever wearing jeans again, celebrities like Kylie Jenner are buying “Birkinstocks,” an jaw-dropping combination of Birkenstock sandals and Hermès Birkin bags.

They’re crafted by a brand known as MSCHF (pronounced “mischief”) that also has its own app for those waiting on new drops. The brand asks in their Instagram bio that you do not follow them, but will, however, accept anywhere from $34,000 to $76,000 USD for a pair of these celeb-sought-after shoes. Yep — you need a sizeable bank account to wear an Hermès bag, deemed a better investment than gold, on your feet.

Jenner, a known Hermès handbag collector, took to Instagram on February 16 o share a photo of her latest cop — a pair of Birkenstock Arizona-style shoes with straps made from a black Birkin bag. According to the New York Times, the sole is made from actual Birkenstock cork and rubber while the leather comes from four Birkin bags that MSCHF purchased through resale sites. Talk about upcycling.

In Jenner’s post, the shoes — featuring the word “Birkinstock” and the classic Hermès logo stamped on the side — were delicately nestled on top of what looks like an Hermès scarf and packed inside an orange box, which appears to read “Made in NYC by MSCHF” on the inside. Jenner wrote “thanks @mschf” with two black heart emojis on her post.

(Photography via Kylie Jenner/Instagram)

Other celebrities, like musicians Future and Kehlani, have their own pairs, too. It’s not far-fetched to assume that Drake might’ve already snagged a pair, given he collects Birkin bags for his future wife.

Brooklyn-based brand MSCHF is known as an “ideas factory,” intent on releasing viral products every second and fourth Monday at 11 a.m. (EST), per their website. One of their most talked-about releases to date? Custom Nike Air Max shoes filled with holy water, dubbed “Jesus Shoes,” that sold for $1,800 USD. Other past drops include a weed pipe made to look like a rubber chicken, and a dog collar that turned barks into swear words.

So what is MSCHF, really? Basically, they’re an internet prankster, similar to the likes of Banksy. Some believe their products are made to mock hype-beast consumerism, but MSCHF’s head of strategy, 23-year-old Daniel Greenberg, has said: “We’re just sort of fascinated with destroying expensive things and creating something new out of them.”

 

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“Birkin bags are like a cultural meme, a symbol for a certain kind of wealth,” one of MSCHF’s creative directors, 28-year-old Lukas Bentel, told the publication, suggesting, perhaps, that the combination of a high-price-point product and an accessible shoe would make people question the symbolism.

Birkenstock sandals have experienced many comebacks, along with other formerly uncool dad shoes. They’re on a pendulum, swinging back and forth between chic and something your dad wears with socks to man the barbecue. Obviously, Jenner won’t be wearing these bad boys to grill steaks — or will she?

While these don’t appear to be formally sanctioned by either Hermès or Birkenstock, the latter brand has partnered with brands like Opening Ceremony, Valentino and Rick Owens in the past.

It’s likely the “Birkinstocks” will sell out pretty quickly, given how fast most of MSCHF’s drops do. There’s no telling what the brand will decide to make next, but if you’re interested, you’ll want to start saving your pennies now.

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Ella Emhoff Made Her Fashion Week Debut

Less than three weeks after signing with IMG Models (and no more than a month after winning hearts as “the first daughter of Bushwick” at the U.S. presidential inauguration), Ella Emhoff made her New York Fashion Week debut. The stepdaughter of U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris appeared in Proenza Schouler’s fall 2021 digital presentation on February 18, modelling a variety of coats including a belted leather trench fit for a Matrix reboot.

Emhoff stole the show — and signalled a welcome shift away from the overt displays of wealth of the previous administration — when she walked the steps of the Capitol on January 20 in another memorable coat, a bedazzled Miu Miu topper with a cheeky exaggerated collar. The 22-year-old New York City-based design student wore the plaid outerwear over a merlot Batsheva dress, her curly mullet held back with a simple black leather headband. (IMG, the agency that represents both Gigi and Bella Hadid, also took notice of Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman on inauguration day; news of Gorman signing with the agency came just days before Emhoff’s.)

Photography by Daniel Shea, courtesy of Proenza Schouler

In addition to appearing in the short film showcasing Proenza Schouler’s latest line, Emhoff models several fall 2021 looks in the accompanying lookbook, including a fur-trimmed grey coat and tailored black suit described by the designers as part of a “complete wardrobe created to comfort, inspire, and empower the modern-day woman.”

Harris’s stepdaughter is an up-and-coming designer herself, studying textiles with a focus on knitwear at New York City’s Parsons School of Design. Her Instagram account showcases her quirky, colourful knits and decidedly non-Washington aesthetic.

Watch the Proenza Schouler fall 2021 show, featuring Ella Emhoff, below.

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Texture Talk: 9 New Product Launches For Natural Textures to Get Your Hands On Now

We all know that wonderful feeling when you find the perfect new hair product that meets the needs of your unique texture. Not only is it a major win to come across a shampoo, conditioner or styling product that’s worthy of adding to your haircare lineup, but when it comes to products for natural hair textures, who doesn’t love having more options to choose from? Here’s a look at the latest cleansers, conditioners and styling product launches that have hit shelves in 2021, each designed with curls and coils top of mind.

Pattern Beauty Scalp Serum

All hail two new treatments from Tracee Ellis Ross — a.k.a. the queen of celebrity curls! The latest members of the Pattern Beauty family emphasize the restorative value of intensive care rituals, tending to hair from root to tip with a Scalp Serum and Treatment Mask. The former, for use on any type of curls or protective style, is a mix of peppermint, rosemary and lavender oils, plus hydrating aloe vera juice for what Ross calls “a soothing, cooling and calming salve for your roots.”

Garnier Whole Blends Sulfate Free Remedy Royal Hibiscus & Shea Butter 5-in-1 Conditioner

Curly hair pros champion sulfate-free formulas. Why? The shape of textured strands makes it challenging for emollient natural oils originating at the scalp to reach all the way to the ends, so hair is typically dry. Adding sulfates to the mix, which strip natural oils, will only leave it more parched. Part of a new collection of shampoos and conditioners made without sulfates, mineral oil or petrolatum, this conditioner uses gentle ingredients as well as shea butter to deeply hydrate curls and coils. It’s a workhorse that can be used to pre-wash or co-wash, for traditional conditioning or a combing cream and as a leave-in treatment.

Shea Moisture Papaya & Neroli All Day Frizz Control Shampoo, Conditioner and Milk Gel

If smoothing waves and curls is your haircare M.O., then this is the collection for you. Blended with fair-trade shea butter, it boasts hydrating papaya, soothing neroli and softening elderflower. The shampoo and conditioner work together to deliver long-lasting moisture, and the humidity-resistant milk gel raises the bar by adding a silky, shiny finish to puff-prone strands.

Attitude Curl Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo

Each curl is unique, but all curl happiness starts in the shower. And a fresh batch of made-in-Canada cleansers and conditioner is up to the task. Loaded with plant-based ingredients, hair types 2 and 3 can choose the frizz-reducing coconut oil and chamomile blend of the Curl Amplifying set, while the Curl Moisturizing duo uses moringa and olive oils to offer light hydration and easy detangling to any dry waves and curls. And those seeking intensive moisture and restoration (i.e. tight curls and coils that tend to be brittle) can pick up the Curl Ultra-Hydrating set made with shea butter and papaya leaf extract.

All About Curls by Zotos Professional

Clocking in with eight products, this collection aims to cater to every curl type. Each of the cleansers, conditioners and styling formulas are created without the use of SLS/SLES sulfates and silicones to leave curls nourished and defined. The variety in formulations here, such as no- and low-lather cleansers plus soft and high definition gels, is a considerate touch that allows you to easily choose what works best for your hair.

Gold Series Anti-Breakage Combing Crème

Brought to us by a team of Black scientists, the latest additions to the Gold Series line are formulated to support the fragile nature of Black hair. Each of the four Hair Repair products contain biotin (a strengthener) and kukui nut oil (for deep moisture). This lightweight cream claims to reduce breakage by a whopping 69% and lends hydrating slip that aids with detangling, but without a heavy residue that can weigh down curls or contribute to build-up.

Hairitage by Mindy Double Down Co-Wash

Inspired by a blended family’s diverse hair needs, this new-to-Canada collection takes an inclusive stance and offers something for every texture. This creamy co-wash is made with grapeseed oil, yarrow extract and oat peptide to gently cleanse and hydrate hair types ranging from 2B to 4C. You won’t find sulfates, silicone or mineral oil in the vegan line, but you will discover an affordable price point that facilitates guilt-free generous use.

Klorane Nourishing and Repairing Mask with Cupuaçu Butter Range

Thanks to a star ingredient and deliciously rich formulas give dry, damaged hair can get the deep nourishment it needs. The three-step line features organic cupuaçu butter, a potent emollient that has a reparative effect on the rough outer layer and breakage points of dry curls. We’re here for the versatility of the mask: choose to rinse it out after five minutes, allow it to absorb overnight or use a dab as a leave-in conditioner.

LUS Brands Fragrance-Free 3-Step System

A scentless version of a best-selling Canadian hair care line is worthy of celebration! This collection of sulfate-free shampoo, silicone-free conditioner and multi-use cream retains the original recipe of shea butter and moringa oil that fans of the brand love, but leaves out fragrance. Sold as a set or individually, this is sweet relief for anyone with a wavy, curly or kinky-coily texture who has to manage allergies, skin sensitivities and asthma related to beauty products, or the demands of a scent-free work environment.

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Everything We Know About Season 2 of Bridgerton So Far

If you’re anything like us, you recently spent a solid eight hours living in Lady Whistledown’s world, enraptured by actor Regé-Jean Page’s spoon-licking and imagining what life would be like as a Bridgerton duchess.

(Photography via Giphy)

Based on a series of young adult books by Julia Quinn, the first season of Bridgerton revolved around the life of dashing duchess to-be, Daphne Bridgerton, and her hard-headed, eventual husband Simon Basset, Duke of Hastings. The world of 19th century England bustles around them, with the fanciest of of clothing, the juiciest of gossip, the most dramatic of balls and, of course, the most fiery of romances. The first season dropped in December last year, and the word is we have more jaw-dropping Regency-era fashion, steamy sex scenes and casting diversity to look forward to in the upcoming second season.

Until it’s released on Netflix and we can commiserate with our on-screen loves once more, here’s everything we know — so far! — about season 2 of Bridgerton.

(Photography by Liam Daniel/Netflix)

Will there be a Bridgerton season 2?

Executive producer Shonda Rhimes et al will be blessing Bridgerton lovers with a second season. While there’s no official release date as of yet, the second season will be in production by spring of this year, per a @shondaland Instagram post and an official press release from Netflix.

 

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Season 2 of Bridgerton will focus on Anthony Bridgerton’s love life

In an interview with Today, the show’s creator Chris Van Dusen teased that eligible bachelor Anthony will be getting a lot more screen time in season 2. “Anthony is going to have a love interest and it’s going to be as sweeping and as beautiful as viewers have come to expect from the show,” he told the publication.

Fan of the books know that the next novel in the series, The Viscount Who Loved Me, focused heavily on a certain strong-willed woman, Kate, promenading into Anthony’s heart (and breeches — see image below for said breeches).

(Photography by Nick Briggs/Netflix)

Who will join the cast for Bridgerton season 2?

Lady Whistledown (voiced by Julie Andrews) will have a new young woman to gossip about come season 2. British actress Simone Ashley, known for her roles in Netflix’s Sex Education and Broadchurch, will join the cast as Kate Sharma, Anthony’s love interest.

In the official description of The Viscount Who Loved Me, Kate is described as a “spirited schemer” and the “most meddlesome woman to ever grace a London ballroom.” Um, sign us up.

 

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Can we expect to see more extravagant Bridgerton dresses in season 2?

Aside from the tantalizing love scenes, forbidden romance, and rampant gossip, the costumes are the hit of the show — and we’re going to see way more where they came from.

The lush costumes featured on the show are impressive pieces of craftsmanship. The hands and heart behind the designs is 71-year-old New York native Ellen Mirojnick, also known for her work in Fatal Attraction (1987), Wall Street (1987) and Basic Instinct (1992).

Mirojnick created about 7,500 pieces making up a total of 5,000 on-screen costumes, she told Vogue last year. In 2019, Quinn shared images of Mirojnick’s moodboard for the show, heavily influenced by the Regency period in London.

(Photography by Liam Daniel/Netflix)

Penelope Featherington might get a bit of the spotlight, too

The final scene of season 1 showed Penelope Featherington (Derry Girls‘ Nicola Coughlan) riding away in a horse-drawn carriage, implying that perhaps she knew a thing or two about the identity of the mysterious Lady Whistledown. It seems like the show’s second season will present an opportunity for Penelope to step into the spotlight.

“I’d love to go on that journey with her, to see how she’s changed,” she said in a December 2020 interview with the U.K.’s Radio Times. “I’d really love to come back because I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface.”

Lovers of Quinn’s novels know that Penelope’s time for romance is coming soon, if not in season 2 then the next.

Will we finally find out who Lady Whistledown is?

In season 1, Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) and Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) are dead-set on uncovering the true identity of Lady Whistledown. (Warning: minor season 1 spoiler ahead.)

(Photography by Liam Daniel/Netflix)

By the end of the first season, we get a hint that one Penelope Featherington might either be Lady Whistledown, or be helping her. Will the identity of the elusive Lady W ever be confirmed?

You’ll have to watch season 2 along with us to find out.

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The Knix and The Birds Papaya Leggings Are Being Restocked

This article was originally published in October 2020.

Update: The Papaya Box sold out in just 27 minutes (!) last fall, making it the fastest-selling product in Knix history. One of the most coveted pieces in the box, The Papaya Legging, is being restocked on February 20, 2021. The Papaya High Rise Legging, $90, comes in Black and Titanium and is available in sizes XS through XXXL. Run, don’t walk.

Photography courtesy of Knix

Last week, Canadian intimates brand Knix – which recently launched its newest range of Leakproof underwear – announced that it was teaming up with Sarah Landry of The Birds Papaya on a limited edition collection of custom items. The Papaya Box will launch on October 18 and has already garnered a waitlist of more than 30,000 people.

Taking to social media to announce the partnership, the brand revealed that the collab has been two years in the making. As for what you’ll get in The Papaya Box? Most excitingly, the box includes Knix’s first ever pair of leggings. Called the Papaya High-Rise Legging, the leggings “offer a smooth, sleek silhouette that hugs the body” according to a release and are finished in a high shine, leather-look foil print. The box also includes a pair of Knix’s high-rise thong in an exclusive print, and the longevity bra. There’s also a selection of products from other brands, too, hand-picked by Landry for inclusion including earrings from TISH Jewelry and sustainable drink labels from NOMI+SIBS – both of which are women-led Canadian brands.

Photography courtesy of Knix

The collab isn’t the first time Knix and Landry have worked together. In 2017, Knix founder and CEO Joanna Griffiths asked Landry to be shot for a Knix campaign in 2018 after spotting a photo of her on Instagram. From there, the relationship continued to blossom with Landry joining Knix as a consultant as she simultaneously built The Birds Papaya.

The box will be available in sizes S-XXXL and is $150. You can sign up to be added to the waitlist here and be notified when it launches.

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How Fashion Icon Inès de la Fressange Has Kept Busy During Lockdown

With her latest Uniqlo collaboration available today, French fashion icon Inès de la Fressange gives us a glimpse of breezy spring style by way of the seaside resort town of Deauville (where she spent many holidays when she was a child, hanging out with her undoubtedly stylish grandmother). The collection — the 15^th between de la Fressange and the Japanese mega-brand — includes separates like slouchy blazers and charming blouses, sailing-inspired knits and UV-blocking hats.

Meant to reflect a sense of effortlessness and calm when getting dressed, the looks all exude the same subtle sophistication the model, designer and perfumer is known for. “Many famous designers went to and were inspired by Deauville for a long time, and many photographers went there too,” de la Fressange said in a press release about the collection. “The city is very much linked with the fashion world. I saw many pictures of elegant ladies walking along the beach. It’s part of my culture.”

Here, De la Fressange shares with FASHION how she’s been spending her days in lockdown and what she’s optimistic about both for the fashion industry and life at large.

Photography courtesy of Uniqlo.

You’ve been considered a style icon for much of your life; what’s one thing people might not know about you?

Ah, thank you! Actually, I’m rather surprised when I hear that people know me, so I rarely think about what they don’t know. One thing that I’m always surprised by is that many people think the beginning of my modelling career was when I worked with brands like Chanel. I consider this to be more like the end of my modelling career!

What are you optimistic about now that we’re out of 2020?

People had time to think about their lives, their priorities and what they were missing. Today, with the vaccine, I hope things will get better and we will all be happy to find a sense of normalcy in life again with restaurants, museums, cinemas, travelling, kissing, et cetera. I think the fact that [because] most of these things disappeared during the pandemic, people will now appreciate how precious they really are. Now, I hope that everyone will be more grateful for what they have.

Photography courtesy of Uniqlo.

What do you think are some of the most important changes in the fashion industry in recent years?

Many things have changed over the last few years, like the fact singers and movie stars have become the biggest influence on fashion. I also think that e-commerce has completely changed the fashion landscape. With online shopping, the demand has changed, and designers have to shift clothing shapes and sizes to make it easier for consumers to find the perfect fit.

Did you pick up any hobbies during the pandemic? How did you keep busy and stay positive?

I have been very lucky to be in lockdown in Provence because I think it’s impossible to get bored in the country. There’s always something to do around the house! I did a lot of decluttering my closets and storage rooms. I also did a lot of gardening: cutting olive branches and planting vegetables. I found out quickly that growing vegetables was quite hard!

I also did a lot of work — drawing jewellery and doing virtual fittings. I always like to keep busy!

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Inside Dr. Liza Egbogah’s Closet Full of Pieces by Nigerian Designers

Dr. Liza Egbogah, a Toronto-based manual osteopath, fell in love with the flair of Nigerian dressing before she started wearing it herself. “I loved looking through my mom’s old pictures because everyone was wearing traditional wax print dresses,” she remembers. “I’d ask my mother how I could get those kinds of pieces and she’d say, ‘I never thought you’d be interested in Nigerian clothes.’”

This might be due in part to Egbogah’s international upbringing; she was born in Calgary and lived in both Libya and Malaysia while growing up. But she recalls that during visits to her ancestral home — her parents were born in the same Nigerian village — she was mesmerized by what women in the markets were wearing.

Egbogah wears a topper and shorts from Toronto-based brand Precious Threads by Abiola, founded by domestic abuse survivor Abiola Akinsiku.

It was when she was in Malaysia that she developed a love of batik — the centuries-old print work typically made with wax that also appears in the traditional dress of African nations. Attending an international school where uniforms were mandatory, Egbogah nurtured her interest in the creative potential of batik during art class, eventually making a small “collection of T-shirts and scrunchies.”

As a teenager, she moved back to Calgary and found herself “wanting to fit in”; her style throughout that formative time consisted mostly of hoodies and pieces from early adopters of the athleisure aesthetic, such as Triple Five Soul and Baby Phat.

Fleeing the Biafran war meant that Egbogah’s family lost many of their personal belongings. A “desire to be connected to [her] roots” is one reason why she’s drawn to the work of local craftspeople and designers.

Her sartorial appetites changed when she was in the early 20s — when her parents returned to live in their home country and her mother began bringing vibrantly printed Nigerian looks back to her family when she visited Canada. “That was a turning point for me,” says Egbogah. She started travelling to Nigeria more frequently, and a deep interest in the culture and style of the region took root.

Whether they be items given to her by her mom or the custom-made pieces Egbogah acquired for special events, the spectrum of craft techniques —opulent patterns, textures and embellishments abound in Nigerian fashion — is now stored in a specific closet space in her home.

Egbogah fell in love with Nigerian style through old photos that were taken before the family was eventually forced to abandon traditional ways of dressing during British colonial rule.

“I can’t say that I have a favourite — I have favourites,” she says with a laugh while mentally cycling through her collected wares, including purchases
from designers like Emmy Kasbit and JZO. The front-runners include pink-hued floral pieces crafted for her wedding festivities and an ornately detailed top, skirt and matching headpiece she had made for her father’s funeral.

Personalization is the cornerstone of Nigerian style; everyone who attends any social event is expected to arrive in an outfit that has never been worn by the wearer before. “You’re only supposed to wear them out once,” says Egbogah about occasionwear. “Afterwards, you give it to somebody else to wear or it’s given to a tailor to be reworked for more day-to-day wear.” Letting go of such significant couture-level wardrobe items nagged at Egbogah, which is another reason why she cultivates a personal collection. When she travels to Nigeria now, one of her favourite things to source is hand-painted clothing. “They’ll start with plain cotton and then paint each one by hand,” she says of these artisanal items. “I consider that wearable art. Instead of focusing on buying paintings to hang, I’m interested in wearing paintings.”

The luxe beadwork of a custom- made top and headpiece that Egbogah wore to her father’s funeral pays tribute to his refined taste. “He never wore jeans a day in his life,” she recalls.

In fact, Egbogah is so avid about preserving the creativity of Nigerian makers and designers that last year she attended Lagos Fashion Week (for only three days — it was all her busy schedule would allow). It was her first time at the event, and she returned to Toronto ready to start investing in the pieces she had seen. “It opened my eyes to so many contemporary Nigerian designers, and now I make an effort to collect their pieces and support them,” she says. This endeavour hasn’t been easy, though. Before she discovered Western-based African-focused e-commerce sites such as Ditto Africa, she wasn’t able to buy pieces from Nigeria due to monetary restrictions put in place by the Canadian government.

Thankfully, Egbogah has also been able to satiate her passion for Nigerian style from within Canada and has become a close friend of and collaborator with Precious Threads by Abiola designer Abiola Akinsiku. Akinsiku’s dynamic printed collections and the important story behind her brand deeply resonate with Egbogah, who owns over a dozen Precious Threads by Abiola pieces. “She’s a survivor of domestic violence,” she notes of Akinsiku, “and proceeds from sales go to help support other women who are victims of violence.”

Egbogah hopes to one day give her collection to her five-year-old niece, whom she describes as a fledgling fashion designer.

When she reflects on the connection she has with Akinsiku — who created a three-piece capsule collection along with shoe embellishments for Egbogah’s orthopedic footwear brand, Dr. Liza — she highlights an inclination that is pervasive, but rarely spoken about openly, in creative professions. “I don’t know if it’s because of the work I do with fixing people, but for some reason I’m always drawn to pain,” says Egbogah. “I find that so much beauty comes out of other people’s pain.”

She also feels she has a kinship with the talent she crosses paths with on the TIFF circuit, where she has a yearly charity event in addition to a studio set up to give medical attention to the stars. Egbogah says she’s genuinely interested in the “joy and beauty” that come from the trauma and sadness that many creatives grapple with.

Egbogah is so enraptured with eye-catching prints from Nigeria that she even developed iterations to use in her line of shoes, including the Ankara print seen here. “I look at fashion as art,” she says. “I’m investing in things that are beautiful and support creativity.”

In much the same way as she strives to turn suffering into something good through her occupation, Egbogah chooses to focus on how she can amplify Nigerian creatives through growing her collection and, of course, wear- ing it. “It’s my pleasure, and I feel a sense of purpose when I get to put Nigeria in a positive light,” she says. “One of the reasons I’m so active in promoting Nigerian fashion is that the country gets so much negative publicity. But when you look at the beautiful fashion and music and art — things that move people… You can’t have a negative impression of Nigeria if you love all the wonderful local arts. And there’s a joy in celebrating heritage. That’s my blood; that’s my people. They’re doing great things, and I want to share that with everyone.”

A dress by Emmy Kasbit featuring an Akwete fabric on the bodice is a favourite of Egbogah’s. the textile is native to the eastern region of the country where her family is from and reminds her of her grandmother’s old aprons.

Photography, Vai Yu Law; Hair and Makeup, Esther Kieselhof.

The post Inside Dr. Liza Egbogah’s Closet Full of Pieces by Nigerian Designers appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

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