Torlowei: The Lavish, Groundbreaking Lingerie Brand from West Africa

By ESTELLE PULESTON

Founded in 2017, Torlowei is a must-know luxury lingerie and womenswear brand based in Lagos, Nigeria that’s marrying classic silhouettes with incredible craftsmanship and a penchant for rich, saturated color.

The label is owned by mother-daughter duo Patience Torlowei and Mojisola Adegbile. Patience – who previously founded Nigeria’s first lingerie manufacturer and has a dress in the National Museum of African Art – leads design, while Mojisola handles the business side of things and lends her opinion on creative matters. This way of collaborating, says Mojisola, “has created this beautiful marriage between generations and viewpoints of life where we always aspire to find a middle ground that satisfies everybody.”

The result is a collection of versatile garments that can be worn both in and out of the home, and eventually passed down to future generations thanks to their superior quality and timeless appeal.

Everything is made from the finest of fabrics – primarily silk and French Leavers laces – and with a West African-inspired flair that sets it apart from similar brands. Camisoles, briefs and kimono-sleeve robes sit alongside billowing free-sized boubous, floor-length shawls and the most beautiful, flowing dresses that use these premium fabrics in truly luscious quantities.

“From a delicacy angle, the materials that go into making them like the silks and the laces, there is such a level of craftsmanship and detail that is required to create these delicate pieces of art, and that has always drawn my admiration,” says Torlowei. Such craftsmanship and detail are in absolutely no shortage in her designs: extensive and perfectly-executed lace appliqué work is central to the brand aesthetic, as are its signature, handmade silk tulip tassels.

One style that particularly stands out is the cozy-looking, lace-appliquéd silk satin ‘coats’, which spare no expense with their 100% silk padding. The five-piece Okoye in Bloom range is also something truly special, made from an incredible silk lamé fabric with a large-scale floral print. And I can’t forget to mention the swimwear! Closely following the aesthetic of the rest of the Torlowei collection, these swimsuits and bikinis are appliquéd with the same Leavers laces for an unmistakably high-end look at the poolside.

All garments are made in Nigeria or Morocco and the company is committed to ethical and sustainable manufacturing, which includes everything from prioritizing biodegradable fabrics and carefully vetting their suppliers and subcontractors, through to providing a repairs service to ensure that your Torlowei purchase truly lasts a lifetime (and beyond!)

Five years on from Patience’s dress design becoming the first ever piece of couture to enter the National Museum of African Art’s permanent collection, her brand Torlowei has once again made fashion history by becoming the first West African womenswear label to be stocked by iconic British department store Harrods, where you’ll also find a selection of exclusives.

Contact information:

Website: https://patiencetorlowei.com/

Instagram: @torloweiworld

Email: info@patiencetorlowei.com

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