From sixth-grade sewing projects to New York Fashion Week, UCLA alumnus Bisola Amudipe has always led a fashion-forward life.
In spring, Bisola, or “Bisi,” graduated from UCLA and went on to pursue the journey she embarked upon long before she arrived at UCLA. Describing her passion for fashion from a young age, Bisi said she has always dreamed of being a fashion designer. After four years of honing her craft in on-campus fashion clubs, such as the Fashion and Student Trends at UCLA, Bisi said she is making that dream a reality and debuting her fashion label, LovexBisi.
“I just go by that (idea) that fashion is just a statement,” Amudipe said. “I never like to cater to the social norm. … Especially with my brand, I won’t cater to everyone, and that’s fine.”
Growing up in a Nigerian American household, Amudipe added that her culture has heavily influenced her fashion sense and her design philosophy as well. She said she acted as her family’s personal stylist since childhood for cultural ceremonies and parties, helping her parents choose the most stylish iteration of traditional Nigerian garments. Rayo Soyemi, a close family friend of Amudipe, said she recalls these styling sessions fondly, adding that she knew Amudipe had both a keen interest in and a natural acuity for fashion early on.
“I’ve been a firsthand witness to her perfecting her craft,” Soyemi said. “I think it’s inspiring to not just have a skill, but also wanting to diversify that skill and strengthen that skill in different areas. … I constantly see her engaging with fashion to make sure she’s aware of trends and her skills stay sharp.”
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Although Amudipe’s had an eye for fashion from a young age, she said her first foray into the more technical side of the craft came from a sixth-grade sewing project. Tasked with sewing a pillowcase, Amudipe said it was the first time she began questioning how her clothes were made. Looking at articles of clothing such as T-shirts and jeans, Amudipe said her curiosity only grew from there.
With four years in FAST under her belt, Amudipe said she felt confident in pursuing her passion for fashion in a bigger showroom. After cold-emailing companies, Amudipe said she was able to work the backstage of fashion shows for F/Row and Bernard James. She said although her experience was a whirlwind of safety pins, jewelry repair, label-making and steaming clothes, she got the most out of her first fashion week. Amudipe added that while in New York, she was able to attend other fashion shows, inspiring her further.
“I did attend a few fashion shows, so that inspired me as a designer, myself,” Amudipe said about her experience at New York Fashion Week. “One day, I’ll be at New York Fashion Week, just (to be) very optimistic.”
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As a designer, Amudipe said she synthesizes Y2K styles with Nollywood – or Nigerian Hollywood – glamor. She said she’s drawn to garments with bold colors and prints. In previous pieces, Amudipe has used culturally significant materials such as ankara wax print fabric, adire fabric and raffia – a fiber made from segmented leaves of raffia palm trees. Amudipe added that she has also used Indian hand-beaded fabrics for her latest collection. Amudipe said in her designs, the garments are styled with a modern flare, outside of their usual ceremonial contexts. Also heavily influenced by other Nigerian and women-owned clothing brands, such as Meji Meji, Amudipe said she is inspired by her generation’s hunger for nostalgic fashion.
Amudipe said in FAST, she mostly focused on creating experimental pieces with little regard for their function or whether she would personally wear them. With her most recent brand launch, the Sabi Edit, Amudipe is marrying drama, nostalgia and style to create ready-to-wear pieces that will appeal to the everyday shopper.
“That (the Sabi Edit) is a fusion of early 2000s nostalgia and the drama of Y2K Nollywood, but just reimagined in a modern lens,” Amudipe said. “It was designed for people that don’t just follow the trends … but more are defining it through clothing.”
Another aspect to Amudipe’s fashion journey that she recognized from a young age, she said, is entrepreneurship. Inspired by her parents, who own businesses both in the United States and in Nigeria, Amudipe said she was motivated to own a fashion business, and credits her participation in clubs at UCLA for helping her along the way. Amudipe’s mother, Adenike Amudipe, added that no matter what, her daughter has remained passionate, focused and most of all, authentic.
“Whether she’s styling myself or Dad for special occasions, or maybe assisting a friend with looks, she brings thoughtfulness, originality and a clear sense of identity within a piece,” Adenike Amudipe said. “As her style has evolved over the years, one thing I did notice is her authenticity remains constant.”
