Mowalola Ogunlesi is a Nigerian-born fashion designer and singer working and living in London. She is known for working with a wide variety of textiles such as leather and PVC to produce non-traditional silhouettes inspired by Nigerian and London youth culture.
She was born to two Nigerian fashion designers, her mother, Adenike Ogunlesi of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble specializing in children’s clothing and her father working in traditional Nigerian menswear.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion at Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London, debuting a collection at the Graduation Press Show in 2017.
After leaving Central Saint Martins, she applied to the Fashion East mentorship and support programme. Her 2019 London Fashion Week debut took place on Fashion East’s stage.
Ogunlesi came under scrutiny in September 2019 when Naomi Campbell was spotted wearing a Mowalola gown with a bullet wound design. The dress was interpreted as a statement on gun violence, the garment was meant to convey a sense of being a walking target.
Mowalola has attracted the attention of artists like Drake, Solange, Steve Lacy, Kelela and Kanye West.
In October 2020, she was named by Elle Magazine as one of “10 Trailblazing Women Changing the Future You Need to Know”, the others being: Tobi Kyeremateng, Ngozi Onwurah, Simi Lindgren, Balanda Atis, Magdalene Abraha, Koffee, Holly Fischer, Celeste and Margaret Busby.
Collaborations
In 2019, she created outfits for Skepta’s “Pure Water” music video and was one of six designers approached by British Vogue to style Barbie dolls for the brand’s 60th anniversary.
On June 26, 2020, the Yeezy GAP 10-year partnership was officially announced, with Mowalola appointed by Kanye West as Design Director.
In 2022, she joined with MGA Entertainment as a designer for a line of their Bratz dolls featuring two of the doll franchise’s characters: Jade and Felicia. The collaboration line is set to be released in fall.
Music
She also releases music under the name Mowalola. In 2021, she released two singles, “Truck” and “Wawa”. She was later featured on Namasenda’s single “Banana Clip”.
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Biography
Mowalola Ogunlesi is a Nigerian-born fashion designer and singer working and living in London. She is known for working with a wide variety of textiles such as leather and PVC to produce non-traditional silhouettes inspired by Nigerian and London youth culture.