00:00all over the world handbags are a status symbol but in Nigeria it takes on a whole new meaning
00:09because whether at work at leisure or in a colorful traditional dress the designer
00:13bag on the arm attracts all eyes why are style-conscious Nigerians so inseparable
00:18from their handbags there's a saying that goes a lady always carries a purse I feel
00:23like it complements your outfit and if you're a fashion person you know that the epitome of
00:28your styling really comes from how you accessorize those pieces and your bag is one of the most
00:32important accessories that you can have Lerai Kwasal wondered if it was possible to teach
00:37Nigerians to love locally handcrafted luxury bags instead of the ever-popular Birkins from Hermes
00:43but what if the expression of individuality status and style that has become an accessory
00:48could also be adequately served with local designs I think what really makes our bags the most
00:53mysterious and the most unique especially from the inception of our first design was the fact
00:58that we were doing beaded bags but we really took it to a fashion level we carefully select the beads
01:05the materials the threads that we use for our inner pouches and delights beaded bags have been around for
01:13a while but we really wanted to give that ornamental and fashion feel to it I'm sure everyone has probably
01:18seen at what they call the masquerade bag everywhere I designed that first I'm just saying and really
01:25it stands out in your look when you carry anywhere inspired by the fusion of Nigeria's rich cultural
01:33heritage and contemporary sophistication the brand redefines luxury with its carefully designed statement
01:39pieces it goes from a sketch on paper and that sketch then has to be translated to a real life product
01:45so I sketch everything and everything is sourced here in Nigeria to then bring that sketch to life
01:51the lawyer turned designer isn't just creating expensive containers to carry things
01:57Lirai is crafting legacy and behind all the glitter is the sincere intention to support women
02:02I think the biggest thing for me making a brand that supports women is being in a country that is very much
02:08male dominated in most industries and male led in most industries
02:13I feel like we need to create more spaces for young ladies to be able to thrive and I think it's very
02:19important to be able to empower young ladies to know that we can be more than just the housewives anyone
02:25who's run businesses in Nigeria in general know that there are many many challenges from electricity to
02:31being able to maintain your staffing especially when you're far away so those are the initial biggest
02:37challenges for me being able to work around the Nigerian market keeping my craftsmanship
02:43you know very culturally rooted as well as still touching that international base
02:48I think it comes from being a diaspora is really what sort of helps me sort of tap in a little bit into birth so
02:57I will always always always want to hold on to my cultural roots and that's been always very important to me
03:05for Lirai her bags are about identity legacy and making african luxury bold and proud
03:11okay so today we're going to be working on our famous bucket bag right so what the ladies are doing
03:19currently um is they are matting and beading the body of the bag so obviously these are made from
03:26sugar beads we make the choice of sugar beads because they are the most lightweight but still very
03:32beautiful and shiny as you can see they catch the light people that really know who Lirai is um really
03:41know that fashion has always been one of my biggest strong points I think they were probably even more
03:46surprised when I decided to go study law in university because they always thought I was really going to
03:52be that fashion girl why is it important to highlight Nigerian craftsmanship in a luxury context defining
03:58modern african luxury I would put myself as a good example of that I've seen how we've really taken
04:07the traditional what we're used to and elevated it to a fashion point of view I think we have really
04:14elevated the whole ashebi scene with designers such as you know the two balls and the vicky jameses
04:20they've elevated and taken african fashion to a whole new playing field everybody who knows the
04:26maison mystique knows that the brand gives it gives chic right it gives black excellence it gives a lot of
04:33like it gives luxury when you see these bags you know that they are handcrafted so there's intention
04:39behind every like bead that has been placed or every ornament you see that has been added to the bag
04:46and that's why I like the brand oh I like this it's so you and they also come in custom colors as you
04:53know we always do custom everything Lirai's bags from maison mystique are genuine Nigerian
04:59it bags that oscillate between hot couture and craftsmanship with hand knotted beads some
05:03self fringes and lots of creativity
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