Mowalola Ogunlesi

Mowalola Ogunlesi is a Nigerian-born fashion designer and Central Saint Martins graduate who founded the eponymous Mowalola label. She is known for independent runway work and has also served as Yeezy Gap's design director and collaborated with New Balance.

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About Mowalola Ogunlesi

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

Nigeria / United Kingdom · Fashion designer · 1 affiliation

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Known for: Fashion design; Runway fashion and independent fashion labels; Fashion collaborations
Country: Nigeria / United Kingdom

Fashion designer

At a glance

Ogunlesi founded the independent fashion label Mowalola.
Mowalola joined Fashion East's menswear presentation program for its first on-schedule runway showing in January 2019.
Ogunlesi became design director for Yeezy Gap in 2020 and confirmed in June 2022 that she was no longer working with the venture.
New Balance released its first collaboration with Mowalola, the Mowalola 9060 footwear collection, in November 2022.

Background and education

Ogunlesi was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to Surrey, England, for boarding school at age 12. She later completed a BA at Central Saint Martins, where her 2017 graduation collection was presented under the title "Psychedelic." Fashion coverage commonly describes her as Nigerian-British or British-Nigerian, although the reviewed sources do not establish her formal citizenship.

Mowalola and runway career

Ogunlesi developed her public profile through the Mowalola label and Fashion East, which selected the brand for its January 2019 menswear presentation. She also opened the "Silent Madness" exhibition at London's NOW Gallery in December 2019. In September 2024, Mowalola presented its Spring 2025 collection in a show that incorporated Ogunlesi's live musical performance.

External roles and collaborations

Ogunlesi announced her appointment as Yeezy Gap design director in June 2020. By June 2022, she had confirmed her departure and said her focus had returned to Mowalola. Later that year, New Balance announced the Mowalola 9060 as its first collaboration with the label.

Affiliations

Mowalola Founder present

Timeline

2017 Central Saint Martins graduation presentation of Ogunlesi's "Psychedelic" collection.
2019-01 Mowalola joined Fashion East's menswear presentation program for its first on-schedule runway showing.
2019-12-06 The "Silent Madness" Mowalola exhibition opened at NOW Gallery in London.
2020-06-26 Ogunlesi announced her appointment as Yeezy Gap design director.
2022-11-14 New Balance announced the first Mowalola collaboration, the Mowalola 9060.
2024-09 Mowalola staged its Spring 2025 presentation, integrating a fashion show with Ogunlesi's live musical performance.

Additional verified details

Current context

Ogunlesi was no longer working with Yeezy Gap. This dated confirmation does not establish her employment or organizational status after June 27, 2022.
Ogunlesi was actively presenting work under the Mowalola label at the documented Spring 2025 presentation. This is the latest strong editorial evidence located for label activity and does not independently establish a current 2026 executive title, residence, or company structure.

Biographical facts

Ogunlesi was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to Surrey, England, for boarding school at age 12.
She completed a BA at Central Saint Martins, where her graduation collection was reported as a 2017 presentation titled "Psychedelic."
Fashion-industry coverage has described Ogunlesi and her label as Nigerian-British or British-Nigerian.
Mowalola was selected for Fashion East's January 2019 menswear presentation, and later reporting said Ogunlesi had shown two full collections with the London talent incubator.
Ogunlesi announced on June 26, 2020, that she would serve as design director for Yeezy Gap.
By June 27, 2022, Ogunlesi had confirmed that she was no longer working with Yeezy Gap and that her focus had returned to Mowalola.
New Balance announced its first collaboration with Mowalola, the Mowalola 9060 footwear release, in November 2022.