FashionandCoECO debuts with SO Beautiful Collection
by FashionandCo
FashionandCoECO (FCoECO) debuts with the SO Beautiful (Sade Olarewaju Beautiful) Collection!
FCoECO, an artisanal fashion brand based in Lagos, Nigeria, recently unveiled the 8-piece collection tagged SO Beautiful at the Fashion ShowEVO Show and Summit.
SO Beautiful (Sade Olarewaju Beautiful) chronicles the life and legacy of the creative director’s mum who explores the beautiful and colourful life of her dear mother, as well as her love for bright colours all rolled into a story of simplicity, love, and resilience.
The nod to the Aso-Oke explored in the collection saw her mother’s ancient Aso-Oke as part of the display. Her one-of-a-kind ancient basket-style woven aso-oke made with aged raw silk took center stage. Akwa-Ocha was custom designed to chronicle the bits and pieces that made up her beautiful life.
Look 1 Bandeau Maxi with trapeze Aso Oke cut out details in custom ‘Shapes’ printLook 1 Bandeau Maxi with trapeze Aso Oke cut out details in a custom ‘Shapes’ print.Look 2 Ancient Basket Aso-Oke Kimono over the Zoe body dress in FCoECO Shapes print
Look 3 Basket Aso-Oke – Short paired with Zoe Body Dress in Shapes styled with a custom marbling design headwrap in Akwa-Ocha
The prints, all custom-made, are hand-drawn and hand-dyed by local textile designers. According to the brand’s creative director, Olamide Olarewaju,
“I just want to design what people would love to wear. Something fun that makes them feel that we created with them in mind. Naturally I love black and neutral colour but for this and a lot more of our offerings, we are going colourful and happy because everyone deserves colours in their lives, and if it has to be on the clothes we wear, then so be it.
Teacup Set in custom marbling print. Shirt is free with ‘Jawu’ Aso-Oke details on the collar and all the way inside the button panels The shorts feature a wrap overlap detail for a sultry peek-a-boo.Look 5 The Mono strap Maxi with lavish Aso-Oke & pocket details
Look 6 The Party Rocker ft. Loose lace top with Aso-Oke straps over 40s-styled flared pants in custom raindrop prints
Look 7 The KIITO Romba-Aso-Oke dress with faux buttons covered in marbling prints Akwa-Ocha & Tassels from custom Marbling Prints Akwa-Ocha Styled with custom dyed Akwa-Ocha as sash
The inspiration to create the SO Beautiful collection came from my mother, her legacy, and her rich colourful, and beautiful life and wardrobe. The recent devastating loss of cherished items of hers gave me the boost to go back and create in colours – Creative Director, Olamide Olarewaju.
Look 8 The ‘ETU’ Bustier X White Akwa-Ocha Cullottes
The other pieces from the FashionandCoECO collection are crafted in custom hand-dyed prints and handwoven Aso-Oke, handmade across Osogbo, Oyo, Abeokuta, and Lagos, using the finest linen, mulberry silk, and cotton.
