Super SAE on Sound, Style & Building a World 🌍

1. Can you tell us about your upbringing in Lagos and how your environment shaped your creative journey? I’d say my parents played a bigger role in shaping my creative journey than the city itself, especially since I didn’t always live in Lagos and moved there later on. But no matter where we were, I’ve always felt like myself creatively. They gave me the space to explore whatever I was curious about and really encouraged me to give my best in whatever I chose to do. That kind of creative freedom led me to fall into a bunch of different hobbies over time, from music to art to fashion and all of those experiences now feed into how I create.



2. You split your time between Lagos and New York. How do these two cities differ in terms of fashion community, energy, and opportunities? New York and Lagos are really on the same frequency when it comes to having a fashion community. There’s a lot of passion, and I see just as much love for fashion here as I do back home in Lagos. The real difference is accessibility, infrastructure and the amount of opportunities there are for people to deepen their skills/knowledge and start houses. The talent is already there.



3. Music seems central to your work—your "Dance Continues" collection features a glowing treble-clef motif. How did music first become integral to your design sensibility? I wouldn’t say music is always at the core of my work, but for my undergrad collection, it played a major role. The glowing treble clef was one subtle way I chose to reflect that connection visually. Music really heightened my design sensibility  because, like design, it’s something that’s carefully built and layered with patience. It holds history, emotion, and movement all at once. Working with sound in that way also taught me to trust the process more, to let things unfold and evolve, rather than forcing them into shape.

4. As both a designer and a DJ, do you find that your sets inform your sketches (or vice versa)? Can you share an example of a time your music selections inspired a garment? For me, DJ-ing doesn’t directly inform my design process in a literal way-  like a set inspiring a specific sketch. But what does happen is, when I’m digging for new music, I often come across artists who inspire me beyond just sound. I get curious about their style, the era they were part of, and how fashion played into that world.That always sends me down a rabbit hole - and those visuals or styles eventually find their way into my creative process.

5.. What's your process when you build a new "look" or mini collection? Do you start with a beat, a sketch, or a concept? That’s actually a really interesting question because for my last collection, making a song was literally part of my process. Once I decide on a direction I want to explore, I go all in. I surround myself with anything that connects to it , music, film, visuals - whatever helps me fully immerse in that world. I think I naturally work on everything at once, kind of subconsciously blending it all together which can be a lot at times . But over time, I’ve realized the importance of having some structure, especially when there’s a deadline involved, lol.



6. How do you balance sculptural or avant-garde elements with wearability? Who do you envision wearing your pieces? A lot of my sculptural work starts on the body. I have the model wear a base garment and then I start building around the body, so that even with movement, the garment is still functional. A lot of my sculptural work starts directly on the body. I’ll have the model wear a base garment, and from there, I build around them - shaping and adjusting in real time, so the piece responds to movement and still feels functional because I don’t believe that wearability should mean sacrificing imagination. It’s really about finding that balance where form and function speak to each other. I design for people who see clothing as a language and a way to express confidence, emotion, or intention. Storytellers, really. People moving through the world and using what they wear as part of their narrative.



7. As a designer from West Africa now navigating a global fashion scene, how do you see your identity informing your brand's voice? When I think of how being West African informs my design voice I think although there’s glimmers of visual influence, it’s more of an intrinsic one, rooted in attitude and the idea of having a presence. There’s this unspoken confidence in the way people back home dress. Being the best dressed in the room doesn’t always mean wearing the loudest outfit, but wearing something that also feels powerful to you. It’s about dressing for yourself first — to express individuality,  not to impress or conform. That mindset definitely shapes how I approach design.



8. When you play a DJ gig, do you ever wear your own creations on stage? How does it feel to literally embody your art in front of a live crowd? I get asked this a lot, and it’s funny cause honestly, not yet. I haven’t really worn my own pieces while DJing. I think it’s because I genuinely just love dressing other people ,helping them feel powerful and confident in their bodies ; so I rarely prioritize making things for myself. That said, every now and then, if I have a last-minute party and absolutely nothing to wear, I’ll whip something up. But even then, it’s more out of necessity than intention. I think the moment I step on stage fully dressed in my own work will be a special one.

9. Do you incorporate sustainable or ethical practices into your design or production process? Are there specific materials or techniques you're excited to explore next? Sustainability is definitely something I’m becoming more intentional about as I grow as a designer. Right now, I’m being more mindful of what and how I create.I think sustainability isn’t just about materials , it’s also about the mindset behind the work: creating things that are meant to last, be loved, and tell a story over time. I’ve been experimenting a lot with environmentally friendly liquid latex to develop my own textiles, which has been such an exciting process. It gives me full creative control and opens up a door of endless possibilities. I first used this technique in The Dance Continues, where I incorporated scarification motifs and the results were beautiful .

10.. What's coming next for SAE? Any upcoming collections, DJ residencies, or city-based initiatives you can share?

Lately , I’ve been focused on bridging all my interests in a way that still feels true to me. I’ve always envisioned myself on a path where music and fashion work seamlessly together’ feeding Into each other .  Right now, I’m working on the first collection for my brand which I'll be releasing soon. It’s really just going to be an embodiment of everything I love/ enjoy doing and I’m really excited to apply the knowledge I have towards building a world . Over the summer I’ll definitely be doing a lot more too cause at the end of the day it’s something I respect and love doing.

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