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Davida Okpara is a big name in the fashion industry, especially for her brilliance in designing shirts for women

• Davida Okpara.

The blouse shirt is unarguably one of the most classic elements of a woman’s wardrobe; a simple staple celebrated by most international designers like Gap, Ann Fontaine and Thomas Pink. In Nigeria, no designer has embraced it with as much candour as Davida Okpara, the lady behind Davida Shirtmakers label.

Davida first made her fashion mark in 1998 with a fresh take on the blouse shirt that has since become her signature. And on a regular basis, she introduces hundreds of single or double-collared, rouched and embroidered designs at fashion shows and exhibitions, which she organises in major cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt. With many stylish ladies swearing by her designs, it is little wonder that she currently enjoys a cult-like following.

Having sewn her own clothes as a teenager, Davida decided to exhibit her debut collection in 1998, and opened her first boutique the following year. And a business that began with a tight focus on shirts has now expanded to include dress shirts, casual shirts and corporate shirts with contemporary styling. Davida affirms that her designs appeal to individuals who want to make a statement with their style. “My style is very versatile, not in terms of use, but in terms of the person I clothe. However, Davida shirt is for every lady –– the young, the mature, the expressive, the bold, the adventurous, the vibrant and the outgoing woman. For me, I am just making shirts for the regular woman. And you can wear my shirts to anywhere and at anytime,” she said.

Obviously, Davida is overwhelmed by the positive response her designs have been eliciting from Nigerian women. This has inspired her creativity and propelled her to broaden her skills. Born into a close-knit family of seven, Davida hails from Aboda, Rivers State. She read law at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology. After graduating from Law School, she had a stint at the now defunct Pan Africa Bank in Port Harcourt. Later, she relocated to Lagos and got involved in missionary work. It was during this period that she decided to veer into fashion designing. Davida readily admits that the early years of the business were fraught with many challenges. However, 12 years after, she is satisfied with the stong structure she has been able to put in place. In her words: “It has been very tough and the journey has come with a lot of hard work. But I have had many rewarding times and also met with the most amazing people. So far, I have no regrets whatsoever. I have been able to get to that place where I know that everything is in order. The concept of our designs is to do something futuristic but wearable. And as part of our continued effort to establish structure, we will continue to strengthen our tentacles as we seek to move to the next level in the coming years.”

Davida admitted that she never thought that she would end up being a shirt designer. But by venturing into the business, she has been able to establish herself as a respected name within the fashion industry. “I don’t just have an interest in fashion designing, I have a passion for it. It is a passion I developed while growing up. I think most of it came from my mother who noticed I was good with sewing at a tender age. And she actually bought me my first sewing machine. I started by making shirts for myself and a few of my friends. Later, I found myself loving what I was doing. I have always loved wearing shirts. So, for me it has always been shirts, never really trousers, because I feel you can always get pants, but the tops might not be really what you want,” she told TheNEWS.

Although she participates in fashion shows, Davida confessed she is more inclined to organising what she calls private viewings for her clients. There are usually some catwalks because the models showcase the shirt collection. At her recent private viewing, held at Jade Restaurant, Victoria Island, Davida unveiled her latest designs, which she tagged the ‘Tsevona Collection’

“Tsevona is all about elegant shirts, which come with a lot of spicy colours, intricate detailing and hand-crafted finishes. The designs centre around exotic prints, retro blocks of colour, and Safari style celebrating the beauty of African fashion,” she said.

One might be inspired to compare the designer to a fountain, where a constant flow of ideas bubbles up and spills over into playful yet refined fashion. This is because Davida has masterfully conquered the world of fashion through her famous concept surrounding the feminine shirt. Her designs are exemplified by their variations around this theme and she uses textures such as poplin cotton, cotton, linen, stitched organza appliqués, and her creations are fastened with buttons made from mother of pearl, little ties, flowers made from fabric, zips or belts. Each year, Davida designs thousands of pieces, with each one drawing from her original concept –– femininity, elegance and flawless quality. Her creativity is so evident in her designs. “The beauty of my design lies in the detail, the colours and the fabric. I make use of quality fabric. I place emphasis on how the clothes fit. The clothes are not overbearing. They are timeless. I strive to make them timeless. I am very proud of my designs. I love the individuality that they give to those who wear them. When people see my work anywhere in the world, they are able to identify with it. I have been able to create a distinct signature. And it is a style I have developed and will keep improving on,” she assured.

—Kemi Akinyemi

Tags:  Ann Fontaine, Davida Okpara, Shirts Maker