ABOUT
Exclusive womenswear inspired by West Africa
made with love in London
“Fashion For Bold Beautiful Dreamers” is the vibe for the London based womenswear brand Yemzi. The label's founder, Elizabeth ‘Yem’ Akingbade, is influenced by her Nigerian heritage and British upbringing. Bold prints, soft fabrics and youthful cuts, all designs are made for fearless dreamers who are ready to show up in the world unapologetically feminine and fierce.
THE DESIGNER
Elizabeth ‘Yem’ Akingbade is a British-Nigerian multi-disciplined Creative. She has an eye for bold patterns, a love of vibrant colour palettes, and a mission to empower women. All of her clothing designs feature fashion prints that she has created by hand before digitalising. For her the most rewarding part of YEMZI is the positive feedback from customers and seeing how the striking pieces enhance their confidence.
Yem entered the fashion industry upon graduation from UAL’s London College of Communication by pitching her designs to independent boutiques across Europe. She went on to study MA African Studies at SOAS (UCL) for an in depth understanding of West African art and culture, which is a core pillar of YEMZI's brand identity.
Yem’s creative talent and anything is possible attitude, serves as a catalyst for the business that she is committed to building.
Alongside fashion, Yem works as an Art Director/Copywriter in the central London office of a global advertising agency, where she enjoys applying her mind to brands as vast as luxury cars to cat food.
It’s not necessary for people to die because the corporations consumers buy their disposable fashion from doesn’t want to invest in its workers or the infrastructure of the building… As an emerging designer I have control over this for my business and I will continue to be the change I want to see in the fashion industry
YEMZI THROUGH THE YEARS
2022
- Collection, Phoenix’s Vengeance
- RAY BLK in Egan bikini set
2021
- Fashion Show, St James, London Fashion Week
- Featured, Shae Universe, Live Performance
- Featured, Nao ‘Antidote’ ft Adekunle Gold Live Performance
2020
- Collection, Egan Ododo
- Featured, Julie Adenuga press shots
- Featured, Beyonce’s Black Parade website
2019
- Exhibition, Hackney’s Got Style, Hackney Museum
- Featured, Brandon Ingram, press interview
- Featured, Shae Universe, live performance
- Featured, Patoranking ‘Lenge Lenge’ music video
- Featured, Dj Tunes, Wizkid, Blaqjerzee music video
2018
- Collection, The Wild Is Within Me
- Finalist, British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN
- Finalist, Alara Lagos Emerge
- Hosted Event, A Self Love Guide For Female Creatives, Peckham Levels
- Pop-Up, Soboye, Shoreditch
- Featured, Alicai Harley live performance supporting Shaggy
- Featured, Tiwa Savage ‘Sugar Cane’ music video
- Featured, IAMDDB on Tokyo Tour
- Featured, Davido ‘Assurance’ music video
2017
- Collection, Down & Out In London & Lagos
- Hosted Event, #YemziGirlTalk, Africa Week Dalston
- Fashion Show, Africa Utopia, Southbank Centre
- Pop-Up, Afro Fashion Week Milano
- Pop-Up, Pentlja Store, Slovenia
- Fashion Pre-Show, London, Congo Fashion Week
- Fashion Show, Africa Fashion Week London, Freemasons Hall
- Featured, Y’akoto, live performance
- Featured, Shae Universe, ‘Melanin’ music video
2016
- Collection, Straight Out of The City Via The Motherland
- Hosted Event, Vibes On The Roof, Dalston Roof Park
- Graduation, University College London (SOAS) - MA African Studies
- Fashion Show, Africa Utopia, Southbank
- Tradeshow, Streetwear:Mastered (Virgil Abloh), BRIGHT, Berlin
- Popup, Africa Fashion Now, Berlin Fashion Week
2015
- Tradeshow, GO Fair, Amsterdam
-Tradeshow, Labo International, Paris
- Popup, Paris
- Hosted Event, Yemzi Design Workshop, Peabody Pembury Circus & Bootstrap Building
2014
- Tradeshow, Labo Ethnic, Paris
2013
- Graduation, University of the Arts (LCC) BA Hons Surface Design
- Finalist, Zandra Rhodes CAMAC Wallpaper Design, Fashion & Textiles Museum
- Launched, organic t-shirt’s printed with ‘Wild Cat’ illustration
PEOPLE IN YEMZI
IAMDDB IN YEMZI
Bold and beautiful musician IAMDDB wears YEMZI silks on tour in Japan, Tokyo #slayedinthesilks - October 2018.
TIWA SAVAGE IN YEMZI
Tiwa Savage is wearing Yemzi in her music video Sugarcane, the second single of Tiwa Savage’s chart topping Sugarcane EP.
SHAE UNIVERSE IN YEMZI
The incredible Shae Universe is wearing Yemzi in her music video Melanin.