Toyin Lawani

Early life

Toyin Lawani was born into the Lawani family of Ekiti State in the South West of Nigeria on the 1st of March 1982 to her father, Yisah Lawani a former commissioner of Police and her mother, Princess Atinuke Babalola, a serial entrepreneur (also royalty).

Toyin’s grandfather was Pa Elijah Are Babalola, who was the first Minister of Works in the Western Region and her grandmother was Chief Justice E.A. Babalola and also the Adele Oba of Ikole Ekiti. She attended Ebire Nursery and Primary School in Ibadan, Oyo State and in 1992 she was admitted into the prestigious St John’s college in Lagos. Having passed the West African Examination Council and being named as the overall best student in food and nutrition in her final year. She was admitted to study English at the University of Lagos in 1998. As a student of the University of Lagos, she also enrolled at the Opral Benson training institute, a decision that helped pin point her lifelong career path. Toyin is graduate of English Language from the University of lagos. At the age of 16, her business career kicked off; and it began with the trading of clothes, shoes, bags, hair attachments to her fellow mates in the University. She sold her items and wares in a boutique, located in Hall 36- of her university accommodation, but within months, the boutique expanded to include a supermarket and a hair braiding salon. A year later, a Spa was opened along Akoka Road, in Yaba, a suburb of Lagos, and the clientele flocked towards the extraordinary seventeen-year old entrepreneur who eventually went on to study in Los Angeles School of Fashion for a Diploma Course, Exodus Hair School in india and Johnyim Fashion and Beauty Institute in Korea.

Toyin’s mum played a huge role in shaping her daughter’s pathway; from the age of 17 to her mid 20s, she introduced Toyin to a number of dealers in fabric and hair products all across the middle east and Central Asia where she mastered the art of hair processing, colouring, hair treatment, and wefting. Many years of hard work and perseverance has earned Toyin Lawani, a business empire-Tiannahs place empire, which consists of over 20 divisions -Tiannah Spa (Spa Treatments), Tiannah’s Dance Studio(choreography), Tiannnahstyling Music Video (Shoots, Directs and Styles Videos), Tiannah’s Glow (Cream and Consultation), Tiannah’s Hair Goddess, Barbing Saloon, Nail Studio, Tiannahstyling (style outfits, Elegante Boutique, Fashion Academy, Elegante by Tiannahstyling, Elegante Kids, Amala Dot.Com, Tiannah’s Travel and tour, Tiannah’s Make up Studio, Tiannahs Photography, Tattoo Parlour, Tiannahs Home&Furniture Company and more. Furthermore her humanitarian side is seeing Toyin Lawani manage a Charity Organisation called I Rep For Hope, two of the beneficiaries (living with impairments) of the said charity are Mercilin (trained in the skill of Hair Making) and Gladys (trained in the skill of Tailoring). Gladys has sewn some of the most creative outfits for celebrities.

Career

Toyin Lawani began her career at a very early age in her life, as an undergraduate at 16 she already owned a boutique and a mini supermarket . She started by giving fashion advice and styling her friends for events. She has since then developed her own styling outfit and grown become one of the most sought after stylists in the Nigerian Fashion Industry. As a stylist, she has worked with celebrities such as WizKid, Banky W, Niyola, Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Dr Sid, Wande Coal, D’Prince, Terry G, Mercy Johnson, Emma Nyra, Juliet Ibrahim. Trybe Records, 3LiveChicks, Waje, Stephanie Okereke Linus, Sean Tizzle, May D, Funke Akindele, SamKlef, Pasuma, Vonne Vixen, Tipsy, Iyabo Ojo, Toyin Aimakhu,Lami Phillips, AY the comedian, DJ Baggio, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, Korede Bello, LAX, Skales, Samklef, Mocheddah Olamide, Lil Kesh, Adekunle Gold, Style Plus, Denrele Edun, Goldie, Kenny Blaq, Blacky, Jazzman Olofin, Dare Art Alade, Fathia Balogun, Eniola Badmus, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, Madam Haba Folawiyo, Victoria Kimani, Emma Nyra, Toke Makinwa, Ariyike Akinbobola and other foreign superstars like Keri Hilson, Natalie Nunn, Ciara and many more.

Editorials

Toyin Lawani has worked on several Fashion shows within and outside the country showcasing different lovely designs or coordinating the shows. She coordinated the Mademoseeile Agliaia Fashion show in 2012, Showcased even while she was four months pregnant at the 2013 Africa Fashion Week London, Showcased the Iro and Buba Evolution at the 2015 Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and also showcased her kiddies line (Elegante Kids) at the same event. in 2016, Toyin Lawani made headline all over the world as the first Nigerian Designer to organize a celebrity and kids runway show simultaneously. She was also a guest judge on The first Nigeria's Next Top Designer show which was held in Lagos and was one of the three main judges on the season II of the same show. Her work ethic got her a leading role as the only stylist for the Love Like A Movie show in 2016, an event which was headlined by Ciara. Toyin Lawani had the task to create outfits within 5 hours to style the songstress and her dancers for the street dance off in Lagos and she delivered. Her designs and styling skills have graced editorials for major Nigerian magazines, the likes of Complete Fashion and more. Toyin Lawani is also the creative director of Exquisite Magazine. She is the first to create the Denim Agbada designs and also infused the designs in different ways. Some of her other notable collections includes The Transformer Collection, Dream Collection, Asiko Collection, Face Collection, Ready to wear Collection and more. Wow, Fab, Mania (T.Y Bello cover), Y Naija (Tonto, Wizkid, Funke Akindele covers), Exquisite (Waje cover), Allure (Juliet Ibrahim) and The Red Sheet (Ini Edo).