‘Style With Attitude’ – Jo Black Craze Debut Collection
Posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 11:38 AMBy Ijeoma Ndekwu
It has now been established that there is talent in Nigerian Fashion, and there are amazing designers, the question now is, How do they differentiate themselves?, What is their story? For young label Jo Black Craze its the delivery of sophistication, class and style for the cosmopolitan and the distinctively cultured man or woman.
Owned by Sola Elegba , fashion label Jo Black Craze (JBC) specializes in ready-made and bespoke blazers, polo t-shirts, sweaters and velvet loafers. The designer holds a BSc. in Politics & Administration, an MSc. in Public Policy & Programme Management and a Professional Certification in PRINCE2-Project Management but chose to pursue his passion for fashion design.
Although the label launched at the beginning of the year, JBC has received recognition home and abroad, showcasing at ARISE Magazine Fashion Week and is scheduled to showcase at the Africa Fashion Week New York this summer.
“‘The Jo Black Craze label is targeted at the fashion conscious gentleman and lady who both appreciate the true essence of style and grace as the label represents style with attitude, be it formal or informal. The aim is not to look good, but also to feel good. This collection brings you the ultimate luxury experience by using rich fabrics to construct expensive looking pieces.“- Sola Elegba
View debut collection below:
Head Designer JBC: Sola Elegba
www.joblackcraze.co.uk
Twitter.com/JoBlackCraze
For enquiries and purchases contact the fashion PR team for Jo Black Craze: Lucy Revolution.
Contact number: 08181419768.
Twitter.com/LucyLurrve
Credits:
Photographer: Mario Schwartz
Assistant Photographer: Jesus Rodriguez Piay-Veiga
Styling: Sola Cash
Makeup: Jo Black Craze
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Follow me on twitter: @ijeomandekwu
Tags: Jo Black Craze, Lookbooks
nice.. and first.. lol
9ice pix…..
Cool!
is that Chikodi Ukaiwe (male model in picS 1 and 3)
If you ask me na who I go ask? . . .lol
Kool designs anyway!
Don’t know who he is but God knows am dying to
. Cute!!! Lovely collection!
yeap thats him.
kudos to sola…nice… chikodi…blush…
I am seeing his collection on the runway later today at the AFWNY. Excited!!!
Jo Black Craze… Awesomeness.
Really cool stuff…the guy is super cute!!!
Why would anyone name a brand Jo Black Craze?!!!! Don’t get it. And, what is with all the logo business?!!! I get it, if you like Ralph Lauren, you’d like…….
LMAO!!!! “if you like eternity for men you will like everlasting for men and women”!!
V.v.v Nice… I like the simplicity and the dapper aspects… I want
http://www.th3rdculture.wordpress.com
Cool, but where are my very beautiful and exquisite black sisters.
At least, the label is Jo Black and not Jo White.
Thank you oh! My sentiments exactly. In fact ehn, I tire!
they are cool , but i thnk the logo/ batches are too big.. like a signboard or sumtin
my thots exactly.
I would like to query the opening line “It has now been established that there is talent in Nigerian Fashion”…
Talent is not slapping a logo on a standard t-shirt or polo neck, neither is it photo-copying a Zara blazer…
Nigerians really need to stop calling anyone who can connect 2 pieces of fabric together a designer… Seriously lets raise our own standards…
You took the words right outta my mouth….God bless you. Plsssssssssssss if we really want the fashion industry in Nigeria to grow we need to stop celebrating mediocre things (I refuse to call ‘em anything but ‘things’ pls) like this. Bella naija plsssssssssssss keep the standard. This copy copy of all things high street is enough.
my thots exactly…………smh
exactly….+1
ds is pretty impressive…..
chhhiiiikkkkkooooddddddiiiiiiiii :* :*
@The real miss pinky God bless u…my thoughts exactly…I’m in eye-rolling heaven right about now////BellaNaija abeg publish my comment ooo…we need to stop encouraging nonsense bcos y’all want to be the main website!!!! Thanks in advance
cool collection……………. d male model is cute
male model is a fine boi
pls where is rikokomasta miss him so much on twitter. his actually very cute for an igbo guy (i shall not be crucified by the igbo community)
I liike.
Always trust people to bring in comments like they are the Committee for right & wrong. In my own opinion, this is a good job and impressive. Keep weak negative comments to yourselves!
Your opinion, which you have expressed freely so, let people express theirs! Isn’t that fair enough?!
abeg all of u loving chikodi hw much r u willin to pay?i cn give u his full details oh
plus i agree dis collection doesnt show any talent jo….y copy something and then b silly enuf to make it just as expensive as the known brand? hian!!!!! y would i buy dis wen i cn buy a ralph one for about d same price or a lil extra…step up ur game Mr “Cash Elegba”
@Ayomide, Thank you very much for your comment. I for one do not see any form of copying here, all i see is innovation. there is no polo tshirt ever that comes with gold buttons and he came up with that and any1 who disagrees with it and saying its “not fashion” is clearly just a hater and Zara does not and has never made any of these blazers! Keep up the good work and the Almighty would continue to crown your efforts.
NO NO NO NO NO NO….thats all i have to say.
love love love the designs n pictures…despite all d criticism
THe blazers aint bad….the gold button detailing esp on the cream one are a welcome novelty, I think! However, the T-shirts are a BIG FAT NO! C’mon guys, seriously? In pic 7 you can actually see the rough edges of the insignia coz it was badly glued on…you mean you don’t even embroider the da** things on? Sheesh! I think it should be back to the drawing board for you re the T-shirts.
Ralph Lauren made those shirts. So wth are you talking about? Kindly keep your negative comments to yourself!
people are always too quick to criticize.the jackets are nice and the shirts are nice too. if it’s ralph lauren that made it now everybody will be hailing its ‘awesomeness’. the logo is a bit big though but i guess that’s the point- to be bold and stand out. i love it and the model looks great.
i dont understand why yall are hating…. even if its just polo shirts or blazers from ‘ZARA’… I think they need to be applauded for what they doing…Can you wake up and start something like this?. NO.. so shuush
He def has taste, but i would say maybe focus on styling others first (as the pieces are put together very well) before you start making your own pieces to go on runways etc. There is lack of creativity in what I have seen so far and the title of “Designer” has been wrongly used….. or maybe go into logo designing.
Men haters every where. Pls what male fashion house doesnt have stuff that looks like everything else. All the haters here are the – that”ll spend $500 on tom ford shoes that look exactly the same as steve madden shoes. The blazers are awesome, you rarely see stuff like that outside. Break you colonial mentality and appreciate a fellow Nigerian doing his thing. #The young shall grow, haters get a deal or a job!
d guy wan fight?? see the way hin carry shoulder..
Talking about no creativity? Yet the guy was invited to showcase in New York and London Fashion Week. Selected by professionals in the industry. Please your comments are irrelevant. This is Innovation!!!
Amm.. hate to break it out to you but you pay to get into those show. Go check out their websites and get your facts straight. With only $650, you can show in New York.
Go Sola Boy! I told you, there would always be criticisms but as long as your doing a good job its expected! xx
Go Sola Boy! I told you there would always be criticisms especially when you are doing something right! xx
Trust Nigerians to always hate at something good. Its sad really. Please take your negativity some place else!
- What stands out about the blazers is great tailoring rather than innovation, therefore I think this should have been pushed more as a service than as a brand.
- The model looks a smidge constipated in the 3rd photograph where he could actually have done a fantastic job given better direction (predominantly a photographer fail here)
- Having caucasian women in your shoot does not give it any sort of edge unless they are upcoming Giselles or Bar Rafaelis. Not particular about the ethnicity of the models, just that they are in fact, models. These ladies look out of their element & don’t do the Tees any justice. A plain item like a Tee requires a professional to really sell it
- PS. NIGERIAN DESIGNERS I beg of you.. be patient and GROOM your talent before you release a debut collection. I constantly draw on the example of Bridget Awosika and Zed Eye who have been in this industry for years under the radar taking the time to perfect their craft before attempting to take the world by storm with international standard collections. One page from their books will do you a world of good!
xxxo
several months later, i still don’t get the Bridget Awosika collection…i mean i haven’t seen anyone at any Lagos or Abuja function rock the one shoulder blazer but maybe i no ja si
But I quite like this collection tho. Ok not everything but the blazers are very well cut. Have to agree with passerby though totally adore and respect designers like Bridget Awosika, Zed Eye, and how can I forget MakiOh and them lot! Those ones understand its what they will be doing for a long time so no need to rush things and its those ones that stay under the radar taking time to work on their art that last. Emm Joan rivers you probably haven’t seen her stuff abi the jacket dress you mentioned at “abuja functions” because she is not looking for yeye publicity like some other new designers just dashing clothes on anyone that is not doing anything for their brand. Even listen to that…abuja function ke?? LOL! Awon designers toh smart. Me I’m just waiting to see more.Anyways much kudos to JBC. I see potential!
Very well said! Your better off calling yourself a fashion entrepreneur like Jessica Simpson and not a designer because you really havent designed anything here!
the boys stuff is very nice than girls
The fact that people think this collection is amazing, is proof that nigeria isnt ready for actual high fashion (menswear) . Anyone can do tthis. Put badges on things, so why is it impressive. Nigerians pls move forward with fashion, enough of the stagnancy
where is the originilaity here? even the photoshoot, poses , demographic is reminiscent of Polo by Ralph Lauren. abeg, let’s stop celebrating mediocrity jare
PPL OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! its nt hating its just plain truth…d blazers i like but d tshirt n polos i dnt c d sense in…deola sagoe had made a name for herself in the fashion industry b4 she started bringing up polos n jeans…her prices are worth it n i dnt think dis is. n come on…d name is kinda shitty *myopinion* n all of u sayin “keep negative comments to urself” should go n sleep jo dis is a public forum if u dnt agree wiv wat any1 is sayin state ur case n gerrout dnt bash oda ppls views.
clothes are bought from primark labels are torn off and then the crest is sewn on, jo black craze im getting uuuuuu!!!!!!!!
Styling on point! Models on point! Welldone Sola!!!!!!
The more you look, the less you see. The better you look the more you see. iSee good stuff but iDont see creativity. As an undergraduate back in school then, iWas making Tees like these, BC-George Apparel (BCG for short) that was 2004. This 2011, iAm expecting better things.
Peace.
His clothes are wack, his clothes are this, yet he killed it at the AFWNY only just yesterday. please put constructive criticisms into place.
hmmm! nice one Sola, keep em coming.
omg d guy model looks gorgeous!!!!
If you sew a T- shirt/ Jacket that is already in existence or can be gotten anywhere…. you are a tailor not a designer. All the fine boys , oyibo girls and massive badges in the world can not change that fact. Nice finishing on the clothes by the way.
nice one
i find it interesting that some people keep mentioning deola sagoe makioh etc in comparison to JBC. those names are already established, they DID NOT just start. how do you get somewhere if you just begin a new phase in your life, how do you sell your product? you publicize. He is publicizing his label, he calls himself a designer, and this is he product. i do not believe one should say ‘o! don’t call yourself this don’t call yourself that’. yes criticism is is key with anything in life (if you want to move forward) after all, the public is indeed the one the product is being sold to. But, there is a difference between criticism and plain putting someone down. the person that said, ‘i can see the rough edges of the badges etc,’ yes, now thats criticism, you are saying some flaws you noticed and this would in turn help etc. but saying stuff like buying primark clothes and sewing badges on it, now thats just plain low.Anyways, not everyone likes when they see something good or possibility of something good happening for a person. we talk about o lets stop promoting mediocre and all that, but if you do not promote how do you expert one to just become great? This is something I have noticed amongst WE nigerians. We do not know how to give an objective opinion. … Rome was not built in a Day. To the Designer, take the criticism(NOTE: I said Criticism and not random comments) given here into thought and help aid your JBC. As some people here have been shouting about Deola Sagoe etc (Great designers btw), one day you’ll get there and higher. Persistence and Motivation is the key. I congratulate your efforts. All the best
BN like button is much needed!
God bless u for this comment. Very well said.
BTW BN pls take note of d ffg extracts from this wonderful comment:
yes criticism is is key with anything in life (if you want to move forward) after all, the public is indeed the one the product is being sold to.
To the Designer, take the criticism(NOTE: I said Criticism and not random comments) given here into thought and help aid your…
Why did I copy and paste the excerpts? Because I noticed that commentary on d last Ezinne’s styling adventures has been disabled. I am not sure why BN did it, but I suspect it has to do with the comments on d shoot. Yes, no, maybe so?
marry me
This is nice.. but its very generic. Those colors are drab and over-used. As a new designer, you should come out with authentic styles that will warrant the extra price your clothing lines will cost, for example the butter jacket grabbed my attention, but everything else looked …. More eye-catching designs and colors will for sure launch his obvious talent.
What happened to using nigerian GIRLS!!!!! ehh rubbish they shud have even used white MEn with Black girls!
I love all the stars
Abeg I won ask 1 questn… dat oyibo gal, na small pikin ani na adult? take a gud at her in pic8. Answers pl!!!.
YES!! @ Kemchi, noticed too cos I wanted 2 comment but no way…. I think it’s bcos pple hv already condemd d Zimu-nkata’s lol! or whatever so called creative work…..
But honestly, rily love d Tshirt n face cap… to match. Pls can I hv it……. gud start tho.
is there even enuff room for him to lift up his arms…i came to naija a year ago and had a naija designer sew me a custom-fitted suit, this after seeing others wearing his designs (a year later) i’m yet to have the piece on becos i cannot lift up my arms – it fits just like what they have in the above photoshoot!!!
not quite, but you’ll get there
try and reduce d logo size.it is too big
to my guy chokodi. u r cute. IT compliance turn model
yes we can all go on about how the line shows no talent, or its a replica of ralph lauren, or there is a white model in it, but lets look at it in a different view, this is a young man who is doing something with his life, he isnt spending daddys money, or doing criminal activities online like most nigerians, he has gotten his education and is now following his passion, if you dont like it, dont buy it, or go start your own line since u have a good eye for faults. everybody starts from somewere, he will get there someday, good look jbc, am sure the line will grow to perfection
Loving the preppy look although not so sure about the women’s wear. In my opinion, I think he should stick with men’s wear……………nailed it.
Personally I think men’s fashion in Naija is so boring and stale that it is appalling. I mean what is this guy doing that is any different from what MAI or Bankers Wardrobe or countless other ppl, whose names I cannot remember, are doing? I think he has good tailors, which is fantastic, he should go ahead and hire a creative director to create a look for the brand. He can act as managing director or sumn because this right here is pretty blah in my opinion. His qualifications will mean that he can run the business effectively but this whole splashing of ugly logos/crests on Made in China polos and hats is just not on!
To be honest, I cannot buy or, in good faith, encourage anyone to buy Naija male fashion. I mean seriously the real thing is only a six-hour flight away anyways and it costs about the same. Naija womenswear started to boom when the designers started adding value by incorporating African fabrics into Western styles. These men should take a cue and act right! By the way, I don’t mean that they should start making Ankara suits ( who wants to see that horror show) but they should do something different.
hmmmm dats Chikodi Ukaiwe ma neighbour doing his tin, i av so many fly neigbours, #watch out for d highrisers# its about time u started modelling, bt hope pops wont mind, *giggles* nice one bruv
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
These designs are so pedestrian and have the “been there done that” feel. Calling JBC’s(Is that his name? Too lazy to scroll back up) work uninspired would be putting it mildly.
Can you draw anything on your own that’s actually from your own imagination as opposed to a piece of clothing hanging on a Hanger somewhere in an H&M or Zara store?
I didn’t think so.
Impresssive stuff
4 basic things 1. d badges re too big 2. it makes it luk lyk a sec skul uniform 3. d designs re nyc 4. d male model’s fyn bt pissd off