Why this ex-lawyer makes genuine Nigerian it-bags

DW (English)

Handbags are an important fashion accessory in Nigeria, and demand for international luxury brands is on the rise. But what if stylish accessories could also be adequately served by local designs?

Transcript

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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