Meet the Team
From when she was a little girl, Lady NayoGrace Gyan (Nayo) has always been mystified by the fashion industry. Growing up in London, surrounded by the arts, she developed a keen interest in fashion and sewing, learning to apply her creativity to making clothes. As she got older and the pressures of career choices came down on her, she drifted from fashion and began her Psychology degree at Essex.
The fashion society is an opportunity to return to her first love of fashion.
Contrasting her journey, vice-president and co-founder, Gabriel Aibogun recently uncovered his interest in fashion. As he ventures out on his modelling career, Gabriel has signed with Enrole Modelling Agency and made his London Fashion Week debut last year. He has been gaining experience in runway and editorial, hoping to utilise these tools to grow within this society and help others to grow as well.
So, when Nayo approached him asking him to help her form a fashion society on campus, he says she caught him at the perfect time. Together the duo formed the rest of their executive team and got to work, noticing a lack of creative spaces on campus. Whether you view fashion as your desired career path or as a casual interest, they hope this society can be the place for you.
“It’s been really great and exciting. Everybody wants to get involved, everybody wants to know what’s going on, everyone has ideas.” Nayo shared, expressing her gratitude for the outpouring of support from students. She shared her understanding that students who love the arts often decide to stray away from it when picking a course but should still receive the opportunity to explore their passions alongside their studies.
The team is made up of 8 members, each with their own unique style and motivation towards fashion. Yet, uniting all of them is the common goal of creating a space for art to thrive, careers to start, and community to blossom.
The members are as follows: Lady NayoGrace Gyan (Nayo) (President & Co-founder), Gabriel Aigbogun (Vice President & Co-founder), David Adesokan (Treasurer), Chaey Okoro (Head of Social Media and Events), Isabella Etukoit (Secretary), Onyinyechi Uzoma (Onyin) (Welfare Officer), Adaeze Kamsiyonna Okorie (Ada) (Social Media Officer), and Kwaku Nsarkoh (Events Officer).
Isabella is a second-year Law & Philosophy student who uses fashion as a means to express her truest self. She takes inspiration from Korean fashion, Japanese fashion, Y2K, and Gyaru fashion. She loves all things pink and enjoys styling and being her own
"personal avatar", growing more into her personal aesthetic and discovering which parts of fashion interest her.
"Community and inclusivity is a core value," Isabella stated, "this is a place where it's okay to try and fail and try again." She stressed that the goal of the execs is to form a closeness with the members, helping students to make friends and feel connected through their shared interests.
Onyin is responsible for the welfare and smooth functioning of the society, creating a warm environment for all of the members. She encourages everyone to come out and find what they enjoy within the society, emphasising that it is a space for everyone to be at their most comfortable. She is a law student and loves all varieties of fashion, eager to gain more experience. Onyin also runs her own business, selling beauty products and accessories called “Zuru Wrld”, you can get in touch with her via Instagram @zuru.wrld.
“I want people to know that they are enough, they don’t have to have a certain look, I just want everyone to feel a level of self-esteem. Come as you are, you are enough.” Onyin shared.
David studies Psychology with Neuroscience and is in his final year. For the remainder of his time at Essex, he hopes to grow his interest in fashion through his role as treasurer. He expressed his interest in fashion grew through exploring his personal style online, leaning into streetwear, Y2K, and other styles.
“Whether you want to learn to dress better or have other interests, everyone's welcome," David said, pushing that fashion transcends budget and you can find your personal style in a multitude of ways.
Kwaku, who studies Law, shares that his goal is to see the society grow to be a safe space for those “obsessed with fashion” and to act as a learning opportunity about the industry. Aside from his work as events officers, he aims to continue to build his clothing brand Nr4 Clothing.
What to Expect
The team have been hard at work preparing a variety of events for students to look forward to, they kicked off with their mixer on November 22nd, meeting new members and introducing their society.
They encourage students to look forward to their upcoming fashion show, promoting the budding talent at uni from backstage to runway through styling, designing, set up, modelling, and more.
The team are also planning a variety of other events such as workshops displaying crocheting, jewellery making, clothing design, modelling experience, and more.
"I want to remind people to exercise their creativity because it really makes you who you are," Nayo says, encouraging everyone to join and stay tuned to see what the fashion society has to offer. This is only the beginning.