Deola Sagoe is a Nigerian entrepreneur and fashion designer and the founder of House of Deola- a women’s wear fashion label.
Background│Family
Deola Sagoe was born into a wealthy family who were also owners of the Elizade Group.
She got a Masters Degree in Finance and Management from the University of Lagos after studying Business Administration at the University of Miami.
She first entered the business world in 1989 when she helped run her mother’s tailoring house- Odua Creations and then went on to start her own label.
Deola Sagoe was married to Kofi Sagoe but the couple unfortunately had to separate. They however have three daughters- Teni, Aba and Tiwa.
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Career
Deola Sagoe is indeed one Fashion designer who is not afraid to break and bend the rules, her unique signature and style has endeared her to followers and critics alike across the globe. She has even attracted the attention and patronage of high profile individuals like Alek Wek, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Lydia Hearst.
She has broken into even the international scene with her lively and colourful designs that have proven to be hard to ignore.
She has also bagged the prestigious MNET Anglo Gold African Design award and it helped push her to limelight the more. Being one who is indeed a pacesetter at heart Deola Sagoe was the very first Nigerian to have her own stand alone show at the New York Fashion Week in September 2014. She was also the first black woman to showcase a collection at AltaRoma- A fashion week celebrated in Rome in 2004.
Deola Sagoe is also the creator of the famous “Komole” which she created to cater to the craving for original interpretation and crafting of lace all to the benefit of the African woman’s body. She merges the contemporary and traditional in a distinctive way.
Deola’s daughters take after her love for fashion and her talent too, they launched CLAN in 2011- a ready to wear fashion label under the House of Deola.
Deola has also proven that even outside her forte-fashion, she can still hold down her own. She made a cameo appearance in a film October 1 where she portrayed Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti.
