Nigerian photographer Stephen Tayo lenses Lagos’ flourishing fashion scene Nigerian photographer Stephen Tayo lenses Lagos’ flourishing fashion scene

From L-R. ABSTRAKTT: shirt: Maison Martin Margiela via matchesfashion.com, trousers: ÀSSIÀN Offical, shoes: Marni, jewellery: Stylist's Own. CHRIS: shirt & pullover: Wooyoungmi, trousers: TJWHO, shoes: Acne Studios. CHUKA: shirt: Orange Culture, trousers: Y/Project, sneakers: NBDA. OLAMIDE: T-shirt: Hermès, shorts: Orange Culture, sandals: Hermès. Photography: Stephen Tayo.

For SLEEK 61, 24-year-old Stephen Tayo, a native of Ikere-Ekiti in Nigeria, photographed our spring/summer 2019 menswear on the sunny streets of Lagos. Tayo, who is currently based in the Nigerian city, says that the idea behind the shoot, titled Pedro Street Iwaya, was “to incorporate Nigerian designers with well-known brands” and “to show how beautiful these clothes are as well.” The shoot, which was styled by SLEEK’s Lorena Maza, pairs big name brands like Dior, Prada, Valentino, Wales Bonner and Off-White, with local upstarts such as Rick Dusi and Emmy Kasbit, in a colourful representation of the city’s thriving fashion scene. “The fashion scene in Lagos is growing and getting better and better everyday day,” Tayo tells SLEEK. “I think the fashion designers are working tirelessly to work with resources available to them to shape their style.”

Tayo, who has photographed for the New York Times and captured street style for Vogue, is quickly becoming a name to know in the industry. He considers his approach to image-making to be primarily documentary-led — “I love to explore real-life experiences in my photographs,” he enthuses. In this vivid shoot, Tayo worked with local models, shooting primarily along the lively student street of the title, Pedro Street, in an authentic, character-filled representation of the district. Besides mixing and matching brands, Tayo wanted to highlight the multiplicity of signage along Lagos’ busy streets that add to the vibrant texture of the city. Alongside street signs, Tayo photographed models against brightly-coloured backdrops — “these interesting pops of colour represent Lagos’ hustle and bustle.”

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