A clothing designer who came to the Ƶ from Nigeria three years ago has set his sights on setting up Hull Fashion Week.
Seguntuyi Onakoya, 28, came to Hull to study a master’s degree in advertising and marketing having set up fashion brand Houseoftuyi in 2018– which is said to blend cultural storytelling and contemporary design. Now the entrepreneur is working with Hull City Council to develop a framework and secure investment for Hull Fashion Week, and is encouraging businesses to get on board.
It is hoped an inaugural event could take place in May or June next year, before making an annual return. The aim is provide a platform for a wide range of creatives – not just designers – including photographers, stylists, hairdressers and make-up artists.
Mr Onakoya said: "The dream is for people to eventually look at Hull Fashion Week the way they look at London Fashion Week. We want to draw national attention to Hull and the wider Yorkshire region. This is about more than fashion – it’s about culture, creativity and economic growth."
University of Hull and Hull College students will be invited to show their graduation collections as part of the event. "Hull welcomed me, and now I want to give something back,” Mr Onakoya said. “Fashion can be a tool for regeneration, for representation, for change."
Houseoftuyi was originally launched in Nigeria and specialises in clothing that features symbols, motifs and patterns that resonate with people from diverse backgrounds. Mr Onakoya's interest in fashion is said to have been inspired by his sharply dressed, lawyer father. And now he credits his time at the University of Hull for giving him the marketing know-how to grow Houseoftuyi internationally.
Talks are under way to stock the brand in regional outlets as it also moves into producing wedding attire and custom designs, supported by a team of five spanning Hull and Nigeria.
Coun Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure at Hull City Council, said: "There’s incredible talent in our city and it was a huge privilege to take Seguntuyi and other designers to BusinessWeek recently. We’re now working in partnership with Seguntuyi to develop a plan for Hull Fashion Week, starting with the pop-up event in June. Very exciting!"
