Exceptional,
transcendental, timeless and daring are but a polite adjectives to describe and
summarize the creations of this Nigerian designer. Weiz Dhrum Franklyn
graduates form the level of safe silhouettes to textured and appliqued
creations. Wisdom Chidiebube Anaba was born in Nigeria on 12th December,
1990, the youngest out of four children. At an early age, he aspired to be a
pilot but fell into the arms of the arts. He embraced the vivacious feel around
theater, music, fashion & photography. While growing up, he was part of a
musical group which consisted of himself and his three siblings called “The
Sweet Psalmist”
Aged 13, he
began shopping for fabrics, sketching, read fashion journals which enlightened
his senses on art and craft. He fathered his education in the University of
Lagos where he studied Theatre Arts. During his studies, he distinguished
himself with his over the top dress-sense and extra-ordinary creativity where
he showcased in a campus fashion show. As he grew, his fashion sense became
more defined and precise; paying great attention to high fashion, haute couture
and Ready-to-Wear pieces. He has shared the runway alongside Orange Culture, House
of Nwocha and other great designers at the Lagos Style Week 2011.
Wisdom’s collections
focus majorly on craftsmanship which is evident from first to last piece. The
true nature of Weiz Dhurm Franklyn is the evident infusion of contrasting
elements; tradition and modernity, femininity and masculinity, strength and
weakness, death and life. Being influenced by art and craft, great attention is
paid to detailing, sharp cutting, pattern creation which all embraces body
forms. Each piece is crafted and created from an in-depth knowledge on
bespoke tailoring, hand bead detailing which heightens great workmanship for
couture pieces and impeccable finishing.
"Autumn De Crocus collection"
"Autumn De Crocus collection"
“Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves and, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys they’d just walk around naked at all times.”
"Autumn De Crocus collection"
"Autumn De Crocus collection"
"Autumn De Crocus collection"
“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn”
― Orson Welles
"Autumn De Crocus collection"
"Bridget Bishop is King". Pre-Fall Collection
For this collection,
he explores the intrigued story of Bridget Bishop who was
accused of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials in 1692. He dives into her
sense of fashion, living and lifestyle and how it differed from the puritans
and the women in the society causing the uproar of the accusation.
I particularly love
this collection as it captures the rebellious and audacious personality of the
late Bridget Bishop whose style was characterized by black cap or a black hat, and a gown with a
red paragon bodice bordered and looped with different colors. A fashion
expression that was considered both scandalous and unfit for
a Puritan society.
Franklyn portrays
Bridget as a dominant, provocative, powerful and outspoken figure in a time
where she had the heart of a man in the body of a woman, making her King.The
collection is filled with black as a re-occurring colour, strong silhouettes,
feminine and provocative cut-outs, embellishments, voluminous gowns, velvet and
silk betraying the lust for cheap values while combining it with rich textures.
The piece in this collection are more than
mere mermaid cuts and flares, they are aired with pride and
unapologetic audacity with mesh, appliques, satin, velvet, fabrics for a woman
willing to test the world outside the conservative dictates.
"Bridget Bishop is King". Pre-Fall Collection
"Bridget Bishop is King". Pre-Fall Collection
"Bridget Bishop is King". Pre-Fall Collection
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”
"Bridget Bishop is King". Pre-Fall Collection
"Welz Dhurm Franklyn". Spring Summer 2014
His
Spring 2014 collections has a Tribal Queen feel as the white bulb hair compliments perfectly the buckles and applique embellishments on the dresses. The silhouettes
are conventional but redefined by the meticulous use or red, gold and white.
The Franklyn woman of this collection is not just an African but also one that
has become fully initiated into the 21st century with her roots as an aura; an
audacious yet prefect merger.
"Welz Dhurm Franklyn". Spring Summer 2014
"Welz Dhurm Franklyn". Spring Summer 2014
"Florisis"
“Clothes as text, clothes as narration, clothes as a story. Clothes as the story of our lives. And if you were to gather all the clothes you have ever owned in all your life, each baby shoe and winter coat and wedding dress, you would have your autobiography. You could wear, once more, your own life in all its stages, from whatever they wrapped you in when you emerged from the dark red naked warmth of the womb to your deathbed.”
......indeed a dynamic designer with iconic contributions to the Nigerian fashion industry.......
http://www.historyandwomen.com/
