Toyin Lawani has spoken out on how people steal our hard sweat fashion designs and culture.
She said this during her speech yesterday after she was unveiled as the new Youth Ambassador for FADAN, the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria.
“People steal our designs, our culture,” She said after she pointed out American stores like Top Shop where foreign designers sell ankara pieces, passing it off as their original designs and making ‘millions of dollars and pounds from them’.
“We all need to start helping one another so our nation can grow. Designers need to start protecting their intellectual property. You post a design you have not registered or create a look book for online. Trust me it’s gone.
“[I] found a website who is selling my designs and even doing 90dollars off. And to make it worse they used me as the model. When we ordered, they sent it in Jersey instead of my actual one. We need to copyright all our creations.“
