A Day in the life of: Zainab Ashadu

The world of fashion is dynamic, fast paced, interesting and something to be shared, that’s why we insist on sharing what really goes on in the life of fashion industry players from time to time. First it was Hazel Aggrey Orleans, wife, mother of two, and a successful fashion designer. This month, we introduce Zainab Ashadu - multi talented accessories designer who merges the world of fashion, arts and entertainment seamlessly. Zashadu handbags are delicately handcrafted one off signature pieces designed by Zainab and come in a variety of colours and size guaranteed to make any bagaholic purr with delight as they snap one up.

Zainab Ashadu, Assistant Director, African Artists’ Foundation and Leather Handbag Designer for Zashadu, shares….

6.00 am – On a good day I make the dawn prayer, today is a good day. I ‘reward’ myself by lying in till eight, missing my early morning run. I will suffer later but for now I am in heaven with this stolen time.

8.00am – Jump in the shower and done in ten minutes flat, pick my outfit according to my hair which is a wavy chestnut bob at the moment, was rocking my afro last week, it’s not easy! Decide on a coral silk Malene Birger blouse, white Zara cigarette pants and nude suede pointy kitten heels. I get approval from my other half, “You look beautiful” he purrs, I giggle like a schoolgirl.

9.00am – Make a few calls, and sift through emails. After thirty minutes, I am unable to proceed. Hunger. Wolf down fried yams and eggs and some Russian star green tea, my favourite.

10 am – The African Artists Foundation (AAF) HQ office is alive; NaS is blaring out of the speakers, the gallery space is set up in video exhibition/installation entitled “Prêt a Partager”, a transnational artistic dialogue on fashion and sports about Africa and its Diaspora. Organised by the German based Institute For Foreign Cultural Relations (IFA), and in collaboration with the Center for Contemporary Arts, (CCA Lagos) and AAF, it has transformed our usually bright and colourful space into something more subdued and almost ethereal.

11am – Receive four new season Zashadu aso oke and leather travel hold alls from the production warehouse. Each Zashadu bag is unique; as only one of each style and colour combination is ever made, you will never see anyone else with the same bag as you. I have been awaiting their arrival all last week and they do not disappoint. They are stunningly beautiful and on their way to London pronto.

12pm – The third annual Nigerian Breweries/African Artists’ Foundation National Art Competition is underway and today, we have the huge task of whittling down three hundred entries to fifty finalists. The competition aims to unearth and invest in budding and emerging Nigerian artists. This year there are three potential winners with cash prizes of 1.5 million, 1 million and 500,00 naira in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place, respectively. The finalists’ works will be exhibited on Wednesday 21^st of July at The Civic Center, Lagos and is open to the general public. The three winners will be announced on the day. How exciting!

2.00pm – I am so hungry but can’t decide what to eat, thus have been snacking on nuts, fruits, and drinking water and juice like a fish. I know my hunger won’t be abated for much longer, but I have so much to get through that having to think of something nutritious and delicious to eat is too much work. AAF has three interns at the moment and it is fulfilling to be able to contribute to another person’s professional development. Stacey, one of the interns keeps me engaged, she is an art student at Unilag and a professional singer. She was recently in “High School Musical”, the stage version, in Lagos. “I play Sharpay Evans”, she said and I looked at her blankly, I hardly ever watch TV and when I do, it’s certainly not High School Musical. I always look forward to her super girly outfits, the antithesis of mine.

3.00pm – We never actually take our designated lunch breaks at the office, we are always too busy working, but Omotayo Adeola, our Project Coordinator, has started making sure we take our full hour break; we gist between mouthfuls of jollof rice and plantain.

4.00pm – We have a scheduled Art and Fashion Fair and Open House Party on the 31^st of July at our HQ, it’s going to be a fun filled day, giving back to our supporters and friends and showing off talented designers and artists all based in Nigeria. There’s so much to do, people to invite, venue to prep, DJ to book. As the party also falls on my birthday, I am however, daydreaming of cakes. Choices, choices…

7.34pm – I am still at my desk. Just finished round one of the short listing and will continue tomorrow, God willing. My present task is interviewing potential embroiderers for a new line of ornate, heavily beaded Zashadu clutches in time for our Christmas show, I am so looking forward to a nice relaxed dinner at the Sky Lounge. Desert, desert, desert…

Feast your eyes on Zashadu pieces.

 

@greyprojects Love you loads and congratulations on a successful launch. Many more to come. Xx