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Vishal Khairnar
इस खबर को सुनने के लिये प्ले बटन को दबाएं।
She may be the sister of Nigerian soccer legend Sunday Oliseh, but Tessy Oliseh-Amaize is carving out her own legacy in the world of fashion. As founder of the Tesslo brand, she has become one of the bold new voices redefining African fashion on the global stage, bringing mathematics, culture, and creativity together in her designs.
A former science student, Oliseh-Amaize draws heavily on geometry and optical illusions for inspiration. Her “Africa to the World” collection embodies this unique vision, with vibrant ankara wax prints reimagined through meticulously calculated shapes. Each piece can take up to eight weeks to create, crafted with the precision of equations and the flair of high art.
“My designs are all mathematics,” she explains. “You need to think of shapes and even calculate shapes that do not exist.”
Among her standout pieces are:
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“Pyramids” – a knee-length dress inspired by the pyramids of Giza, with alternating prism-like structures.
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“Mpi” – a bold take on the varsity jacket, adorned with cone-shaped embellishments, echoing the horns used in Nigeria’s Igbo culture for ceremonies and music.
From Nigeria to the US Runway
Oliseh-Amaize’s journey began at Middlesex University London, where she studied Fashion Product Management. Returning home, she was crowned Best Designer at the 2006 Nigerian Fashion Show, a breakthrough moment that set her career in motion. After designing for television, she relocated to the United States, starting afresh in a market less familiar with ankara fashion.
Her resilience paid off. Based now in Washington, DC, her designs have graced major events, including the Ankara Festival Los Angeles, Philly Fashion Week, and the Congressional Black Caucus. Celebrities like Folake Olowofoyeku (of US sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola) and celebrity stylist J. Bolin have also championed her work.
“African fashion is rich, diverse, and deserves to be seen as sophisticated and high-quality,” she declares.
Beyond Borders: The Global Mission
Oliseh-Amaize is not only focused on her own brand. Through her “Fashion Professor” project, she mentors aspiring designers via online sessions, offering lessons on fabrics, pricing, and industry survival skills. So far, she has held 35 mentoring sessions, inspiring the next generation to think beyond local markets.
Her mission is clear: she wants African designers to be recognized as global creators, not confined to “ethnic” labels. “I don’t want to be put in a box,” she insists. “I want to be identified as a global brand designing for the global market.”
With her blend of mathematics, cultural heritage, and uncompromising craftsmanship, Tessy Oliseh-Amaize is not just designing clothes—she is designing a new narrative for African fashion.
