Lisa Folawiyo

Lisa Folawiyo is a Nigerian fashion designer known for interpreting Ankara and other West African textiles through contemporary tailoring and hand embellishment. She founded the label originally called Jewel by Lisa in 2005 and later presented it under her own name.

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About Lisa Folawiyo

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria · Fashion designer · 2 affiliations

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Known for: Contemporary Ankara and West African textile design; Hand-embellished womenswear and accessories; Nigerian and African fashion
Country: Nigeria

Fashion designer

At a glance

As of July 2026, Folawiyo was identified as chief executive officer and creative director of Lisa Folawiyo Studio.
She founded her Lagos fashion label in 2005 under the name Jewel by Lisa.
Her label is associated with contemporary womenswear and accessories made from West African textiles and finished with extensive hand embellishment.
Jewel by Lisa appeared in the Arise Promise of Africa Collective show during New York Fashion Week in September 2009.

From law to fashion

Folawiyo studied law at the University of Lagos and has said that she practiced law for about a year before moving into fashion. Her subsequent career has centered on designing womenswear and accessories.

Label and design practice

Folawiyo founded Jewel by Lisa in Lagos in 2005; current official materials present the label under the Lisa Folawiyo name. Its distinguishing practice is the use of Ankara and other West African textiles in contemporary designs, often with handmade beading and embellishment. Lagos Fashion Week reports that artisans spend an average of 240 hours hand-embellishing a piece.

Public and international profile

Her work has appeared at fashion events in Lagos and abroad. Jewel by Lisa was included in the Arise Promise of Africa Collective show at New York Fashion Week in 2009 and was featured by Vogue Italia in 2012. Coverage by Lagos Fashion Week and Vogue has situated her work within the development of Nigerian and wider African fashion.

Affiliations

Lisa Folawiyo Studio Chief executive officer and creative director present
Lisa Folawiyo Founder 2005–present

Timeline

2005 Founded the Lagos fashion label Jewel by Lisa, later presented under the Lisa Folawiyo name.
2009-09 Presented Jewel by Lisa as part of the Arise Promise of Africa Collective Spring 2010 show during New York Fashion Week.
2012-09-20 Jewel by Lisa was featured by Vogue Italia.
2026-07-05 Punch Newspapers identified Folawiyo as chief executive officer and creative director of Lisa Folawiyo Studio.

Additional verified details

Current context

Chief executive officer and creative director of Lisa Folawiyo Studio. Reported by Punch Newspapers in an interview published on July 5, 2026; the role should be rechecked if used after this profile's as-of date.
The official contact page listed an address at 13 Ribadu Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria. This is commercial contact-page information and establishes a listed business address, not necessarily the full scope of operations.

Biographical facts

Folawiyo studied law at the University of Lagos and has said she practiced law for about one year before moving into fashion.
Her fashion label was initially known as Jewel by Lisa; current official brand materials use the Lisa Folawiyo name.
Lagos Fashion Week presents the Lisa Folawiyo label as a womenswear and accessories brand.
Lagos Fashion Week describes the label's garments as handmade and reports that its beading artisans take an average of 240 hours to hand-embellish a piece.