Virtuoso was a suc...cess as it hit the right notes with young professional women who wanted unique expressions through their fashion accessories. Virtuoso designs offered stunning yet unconventional creations that not only redefined the norm, but were ahead of their time in style. This pioneering award winning accessories design brand soon became a household name and propelled Yemisi into the lime lights as one of the most creative young designers in Lagos.
The products gained global recognition and acceptance in fashion shows and exhibitions in Nigeria, South Africa, Europe, England and America, alongside other recognizable industry brands and talent, thus creating a global outlook for the brand. In 2007, Virtuoso evolved into YEMISII (a derivation of her first name), to reflect an authentic African brand with a global perspective.YEMISII like Virtuoso set out to change the world of fashion through imagination and art. With a strong desire to celebrate the beautiful African heritage to utmost levels of sophistication and elegance YEMISII is firmly positioned as a fine connection between art and fashion, a new dimension to the word ‘style’.Being a Nigerian, Yemisi understands the instinctive nature of Nigerians to always look good and cosmopolitan. It is no secret that Nigerians across the world are always amongst the best dressed and styled in their circles.
In a nutshell YEMISII is the timeless essence of a beautiful African heritage with utmost levels of sophistication and elegance that can be embraced by the entire world.
''All I wanted for Virtuoso was to help women be more expressive of their personal style. I created Unusual and innovative accessories that redefined the norm and also kind of set the pace in terms of desi...gn aesthetics in Nigeria. I was a self taught designer for whom accessories design was simply a passionate means of self expression. I had no idea my brand would grow as quickly as it did or that my work would travel and be so well embraced in different parts of the globe......My work is inspired largely by people, history, cultures different from mine, and more recently by travel. Design has always been for me a means to sharing my unique experiences and the amazing journey that is my life.....For me, it was the beautiful way people presented themselves, the preservation of their history, the celebration of their unique though different cultures. Practically everything I saw influenced my work. In Europe, It was Art: the expression and the preservation of it. In South Asia, it was the strong sense of culture, the United States just has a freedom in thought you find contagious. All these are elements that have greatly impacted me as a person.''
--Yemisi Makinde, Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur.
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