Street Souk has become a Lagos streetwear mecca since its inception in 2018. The annual conference now brings together over 100 brands to celebrate the culture through pop up stores, skate ramps and DJ sets. And for its trailblazing founder Ireti Zaccheaus, this is only the beginning. “We are taking over Africa. One day there’s going to be a Street Souk in every country in Africa and our brands will be seen on every level as brands in Japan and England,” she asserts.

The December edition of Street Souk collaborated with major names including Nike, NBDA, Wafflesncream, Places + Faces, CréerMagnus, and High Fashion By J.O.L to create limited merch celebrating the convention’s fifth anniversary. These and other now established Nigerian labels such as Motherlan, Severe Nature and Vivendii have been on board since the beginning and grown in tandem with the conference. But it’s the brands that are just starting out now that speak to Street Souk’s core mission to support youthful self-expression. Nataal caught up with three emerging Lagos-based brands that stood out at this year’s event.

wwyd

Ayanfe Olarinde established wwyd (an abbreviation of ‘What Would You Do?’) out of a longing for individual style, sexuality and feeling without the fear of restriction. “wwyd provides a safe place for free thinkers, nonconformists and go-getters who wish to explore and express themselves through streetwear,” Olarinde says. A fresh out-of-the-water brand, it launched earlier this year with a five-panel logo cap and beanie introducing its happy face logo. These were swiftly followed by a sweater vest popularised by Boj and Stephen Tayo and a rainbow-hued racer vest, taking the wearer from rave to wave.

With a look that’s equal parts sporty and street, wwyd exudes an air of confident, tongue-in-cheek exuberance that is sure to fly. As a first-timer at Street Souk, it was welcomed into the world with open arms. “We are optimistic about introducing the Street Souk community to wwyd with hopes of amplifying the culture through our colourful and premium products,” Olarinde says.

Pièce Et Patch

Pièce Et Patch is the brainchild of multidisciplinary artist Wavy the Creator who has long had sustainability front of mind. “We had the idea three years back but it finally came to reality in November 2021 as an upcycling brand,” she explains. “The fashion industry produces the most waste, which is very toxic to the environment, so our main goal is can re-use this waste. What we do is turn already-made items into new designs.”

Pièce Et Patch’s custom patchwork leather looks have been spotted on The Cavemen while Obongjayar wore a full denim look – pairs of jeans transformed into a vest, trousers, shoes and sunglasses – for his ‘New Man’ video. Their current collection, entitled Reviviscent Uns, also includes one-of-a-kind looks such as a punk-attitude ‘rude blue’ two-piece made from a jumpsuit and leather trousers chained together by silver hoops. As another first-timer at this year’s Street Souk, Pièce Et Patch’s conscious creations certainly proved an alluring pull.

Man Acquired Knowledge

Mark Kotun initially set out with the label Antisociety in 2017, which provided a hands-on education in the fashion game, allowing him to relaunch as Man Acquired Knowledge in 2019. “Our first ideas were not up to our workforce and execution so during that period of two years I had to re-learn how to design, do patterns and drafting, illustration and graphic designs. I had to acquire all that knowledge,” Kotun says of his journey. The new brand is all the stronger for it and lends an innovative take on staples such as t-shirts, caps and hoodies. Bespoke prints, distressed finishes and reconstructed details lend each piece an edge. Signature prints such as ‘Crucifix Denim’ and ‘Born Again’ look to the bible to remind us that we must bear our burdens.

MAK can count musicians YCEE, BNXN, Alpha P and Cruel Santino as supporters and Kotun is currently focused on fostering a community that perpetuates and supports itself. “Right now, we are doing outreach and tutorials, where we teach people how to make clothes. For one event at our studio, we had a bunch of interns come to learn and become part of the team,” Kotun says, adding: “This was our second year at Street Souk and we always look forward to it as it helps to amplify our brand and motives us to get better and better over time.”