Who is Adebayo Oke-Lawal?
Adebayo Oke-Lawal is a Lagos-based fashion designer, also known as Orange Nerd. He is the founder and creative director of the Nigerian clothing brand, Orange Culture.
Oke-Lawal is one of the rising big names in the Nigerian fashion industry. His audacious designs have served to promote diversity and self-expression.
Full data profile of Adebayo Oke-Lawal (Orange Nerd)
| Full name | Adebayo Oke-Lawal |
| Nickname | Orange Nerd |
| Age | 31 years |
| Birthday | March 4, 1990 |
| Gender | Male |
| State of origin | Lagos |
| Parent | N/A |
| Height | 5″11 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Tribe | Yoruba |
| Career | Fashion designer, stylist, fashion writer |
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s childhood
Adebayo Oke-Lawal was born and bred in Lagos State. He grew up struggling with issues of hyper-masculinity, prescribed identities and high expectations attached to men in society. This contributed to Adebayo’s love for fashion, as he used fashion as a means of expressing himself right from his childhood days.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s education
Adebayo Oke-Lawal attended an all-boys high school in Lagos. He studied Finance at the University of Lagos and International Business Management at Northumbria University.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s career
Orange Nerd’s interest in fashion started at quite a young age. When he was just 10, a mini-store decided to make some of his sketches into clothes.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal started his own fashion brand, “Orange Culture” in 2011 at the age of 21. He had an official runway debut at Lagos Fashion and Design Week the same year. Prior to establishing his own fashion company, Oke-Lawal worked for several Nigerian designers.
He has also done editorial work for foreign magazines like Vogue Italia, Natal and many more. He worked for three years as a fashion editor for WOW! Magazine.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal has styled many Nigerian top celebrities, including the likes of Chimamanda Adichie, Kate Henshaw, Rita Dominic, Munachi, Lala Akindoju, Tiwa Savage, Mo Chedda, Noble Igwe, Emeka Obi-Uchendu, Ice Prince, amongst others.
Orange Nerd is known for his gay (bright) and colourful designs, sometimes incorporating elements of androgyny and alternative fashion. Oke-Lawal has revealed that his first collection was far from being warmly received.
“My first collection got the worst reviews ever,” he says.
“Someone said I should kill myself for showing a man wearing a red suit! But I also got a DM from a person who said my brand really inspired them.”
Adebayo Oke-Lawal and the Orange Culture brand
Today, Adebayo Oke-Lawal is one of Nigeria’s most-recognized young designers, especially in the area of “pushing boundaries” with fashion. His brand, “Orange Culture” has gained both local and international recognition and has been featured in some of the world’s most notable magazines and publications, including Vogue (US, UK, Italy), WWD, BOF, The New York Times, CNN, L’officiel, Style.com, Fair, ELLE, Marie Claire and many others.
Orange Nerd partnered with Nigerian singer Davido in 2017 to create a limited-edition collection of his work sold exclusively at Selfridges stores in the UK.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s fashion label “Orange Culture” was part of the 20 finalists selected from over 1221 brands all over the world for the first-ever Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Prize (LVMH) for innovative design in 2015.
Bayo was among the 25 Nigerians that made Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list in 2018. Orange Nerd won the Future Prize Award for Fashion and Designing in 2016.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s latest collections
- Orange Moon, Spring Summer – 2019
- Goodbye To Me, Spring Summer – 2020
- The Flower Boy, Autumn Winter – 2020
- Faces In The Clouds, Spring Summer – 2021
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s marriage and girlfriend
Adebayo Oke-Lawal is not currently married and has not revealed he has a girlfriend. The fashion designer has kept his relationship affairs away from the media.
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s net worth
Based on available data, Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s current net worth is estimated at $200,000 (over N80 million naira).
Abebayo Oke-Lawal’s social media
Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s Instagram handle is @theorangenerd. Orange Nerd is not active on Twitter at this time.
Other interesting facts about Adebayo Oke-Lawal
Adebayo Oke-Lawal is good friends with Nigerian actor and model, Denola Grey.
Pls sir i want to work as a fashion in your industry
wow this is really magnificent.Everything about him just speaks greatness.