The End or a Fresh New Start? Designer Bunmi Olaye exits the label she founded – Bunmi Koko

We received an interesting press release today from PR representatives of UK-based Nigerian label, Bunmi Koko.
Creative Director and Co-Founder of the label, Bunmi Olaye has decided to step down as creative director. This is a unique situation for the African fashion scene though it happens more regularly on the international fashion scene where investors and shareholders often hold joint rights to the trademarks. It will be great to find out the reason behind this move.

Read the Press Release below;

Bunmi Olaye, London-based Nigerian designer and Creative Director behind the fashion brand Bunmi Koko has decided to step down from her position with the company she created with Francis Udom in 2009.

In two years, the brand has been catapulted in the limelight and won many international accolades including ‘Emerging Designer of the Year in 2010’ at the African Fashion Awards, ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ 2010 and has been featured in magazines and newspapers such as Drapers, Evening Standard, Grazia, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Arise & Vogue. Bunmi Koko caught the eyes of many celebrities such as Nelson Mandela, Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph & former Spice Girls Melanie Brown to name a few.

Bunmi Koko has also been invited by HRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to attend a reception at St James’s Palace, celebrating West African culture in July this year and then went on to be commissioned by ITN to give ‘expert commentary’ on the wedding gown worn by HRH Catherine Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, on the ITV Royal Wedding Coverage during the day of HRH Prince William and Duchess Catherine Middleton’s Royal Wedding.

Bunmi Olaye is not quitting fashion but moving onto new horizons and is currently working new projects: ‘I have not giving up on my dream, however the time has come for me to pursue a vision that is entirely my own‘. Bunmi Olaye

No further information will be released of yet as for the reasons behind Bunmi’s resignation, but all
can rest assured to find out more about it in the near future.