Deola Sagoe

EARLY LIFE

Adeola Sagoe (née Ade-Ojo) was born in August 1966 as the first child of Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, founder of Elizade University and his first wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Wuraola Ade-Ojo. She is Yoruba. Her parents are originally from the town of Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State. She pursued her undergraduate studies in Business Administration at the University of Miami in Florida, United States, graduating in 1987. Following her return to Nigeria, she enrolled at the University of Lagos to complete a Master's degree in Finance and Management, finishing her formal education in the late 1980s.

CAREER

Deola Sagoe began designing in 1988 when she joined her mother’s tailoring business, Odua Creations, with a view to expanding the label’s repertoire to encompass more contemporary designs. She is known for her use of African hand-woven materials and contemporizing traditional African techniques. She was the first Black woman to present a collection at AltaRoma, Rome’s celebrated fashion week, in 2004, and the first Nigerian to have her own stand-alone show at the New York Fashion Week in September 2014. Her brand, House of Deola, focuses on meticulous craftsmanship, diverse body inclusivity, and reviving nearly lost traditional weaving techniques. She also had a cameo appearance in the 2014 film October 1 where she portrayed Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and served as the costume designer for the film.

PERSONAL LIFE

Deola Sagoe was married to Kofi Sagoe, a Ghanaian executive, and they had three daughters: Teni, Aba, and Tiwa. The couple later divorced. Her daughters launched their own label, CLAN, in 2011, operating it under the umbrella of the House of Deola. Sagoe has cultivated a public image as a trailblazing icon in African haute couture, frequently dubbed the 'leading lady of African fashion'.