By Abiola Adeniran • Beautiful People, Fashion • 12 Aug 2011

This week on Beautiful People, we bring you the talented and stylish creative director of the edgy brand Orange Culture, Adebayo Oke-Lawal. We did an interview with him so you can get to know one of the youngest designers changing the Nigerian fashion scene.
Orange Culture is a young and fast growing brand that caters to young men and women. This brand is not for the shy and retiring, rather it’s for people who aren’t afraid to make a statement and let their personality shine through well made tailored clothing.
Besides being a fashion designer, Adebayo is also a stylist. His styling company is called Bubaai. He runs the company with two others: Bubu Ogisi and Aisha Bello

What is a regular day like for you?
I don’t think I have a regular day if that makes any sense. Lol
How would you describe your style?
My style is very me, very personality and temperament driven; playful, diverse, fun, sometimes a bit dark. My style is very much influenced by how I feel at the moment, or what is going on with me at the moment, so I’ll say my style is very self influenced.
What or who inspires your designs?
My designs are very experience driven, like the first collection was inspired by something I had been through and that is how most of my collections are created.
Tell us all about “Orange Culture”
Orange Culture is more than a line; it’s a movement. A movement for men and women who don’t allow clothes determine who they are. It’s a line for people who just enjoy fashion with a colourful disposition, pieces with an edge and collections that tell stories. It’s a line for people who enjoy being different and don’t care how much they are judged based on that.
 If you could do anything else, what would it be?
A stylist (which I already am- Bubaai) lol
 How did you get into fashion design?
I’ve always wanted to design. So mid last year a friend of mine introduced me to these guys (Dapo, Seun and Oyahire) who were interested in building a fashion based company, and they wanted me in as a creative director, I was like uhmm ok, let’s try it out, we did the first collection “The Haunting” and the label was called onyx and pearl, we showed for d first time at a church show which ended up being a competition and we won, that secured my place in the design part of the industry.
University of Lagos, I studied Banking and Finance
Did you have to train or apprentice with another designer? How was that?
I did. I worked under Kiki Kamanu and Ugoma Adegoke of Zebra Living. Beautiful experiences, learnt sooo much from them.
What inspired you to get into fashion design?
I just loved creating pieces that I could wear and envision other people wearing as well, plus it’s my own way of expressing myself, believe me everyone needs a form of self expression.
Describe your philosophy about the art of fashion.
I really don’t have any ingenious philosophies about fashion. But I do have my own philosophy I run by in this industry; The industry is very powerful, don’t get carried away by it, remember your passion and work hard to fulfill them.
What did your classmates think in school when they saw your designs and original creations?
A lot of people thought I was joking, they thought it was just the hobby of a misguided young boy, thank God it wasn’t and isn’t.
Who is your inspiration?
God o! I know it sounds cheesy but really he gives me experiences I can build on, the fact that I’m able to interpret them and make them fashion worthy pieces is beyond me. So it’s definitely God
Which fashion designers or fashion houses do you admire (home and abroad)?
Basil Soda, Marc Jacobs, Ituen Basi, Kemkem Studio etc
Who is your style icon?
Don’t really have one actually
When you create something, what goes through your mind?
“Do I like it?” That’s all. lol
How do you intend people to feel when wearing Orange Culture clothing?
I want them to feel like they’re a part of something different, something unique 
You design for both men and women. How does that work? Do you prefer one to the other?
I do, and it works fine, it makes me enjoy what I’m doing a lot more and makes me work harder, because it’s hard to satisfy both genders honestly.
Hmmm. In some collections I definitely prefer one to the other, but it’s never the same, so can’t really say.
What is your take on the fashion industry in Nigeria?
It’s not ideal just yet, but it’s definitely growing, and tending towards that.
What projects have you been involved with lately?
As a stylist and designer Music Meets Runway, The Making, Meet and Greet orange culture and IamIsigo, the afro show in nottingham and loads more to come
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Every where possible.