Omoo Ajadi

This collection takes its inspiration from the Ẹyọ Masquerade of Lagos Island, a festival
where whiteness, movement, and ritual transform into living symbols of culture.
Traditionally, the Ẹyọ masqueraders appear in head-to-toe white, with veiled faces, tall
sculptural hats, and the opá staff held upright as a sign of order and dignity.

In my work, these ceremonial forms are reimagined into contemporary garments.
Flowing white fabrics echo the spiritual purity of the procession; embroidery speaks to
lineage and continuity; draped silhouettes honour presence; and structured details recall
the upright grace of the masquerader’s stance.

This collection is not costume, but continuation an interpretation that translates
ancestral codes into modern attire. It embodies the stillness, grace, and spiritual power
of the festival while bringing the masquerade’s energy into today’s cultural conversation.
It is dedicated to those who carry culture as second skin for those who, like the Ẹyọ,
walk in white not only to be seen, but to be felt.