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where she works closely with
textile artisans and tailors to
create heirloom-quality pieces
for men, women, and children,
providing mentorship, jobs,
and new markets for the com-
munity. As ever, Wunmi had
performance in mind. “The
same things I created on stage
were lived off stage,” she says.
“My fellow dancers asked for
my creations, and a collection
was formed.” The name has
layered meaning. It refers toWunmi in her Brooklyn
studio where she sews
costumes for the stage
and works on new
designs for her Wow
Wow fashion line, pro-
duced in partnership
with artisans in Nigeria,
Lagos, and Togo.waaw in the Wolof language,
meaning “yes-yes” and also
translates as the motto for the
line “want it – own it – wear
it, Wunmi Olaiya Wear.”
Empowering women and
celebrating the individual are
key components of the brand.
“Every family event in Nigeria
was something to celebrate.
Women dress uniformly as
a way to express solidarity,”
Wunmi notes. “However, I
want women to express theiramerican craft aug/sept 19 39