“If I had known, I wouldn’t have paid over 8 million naira in 2022 for an outfit that would be remade over and over again.”….Hafsah Mohammed….

A storm is brewing in the Nigerian fashion industry as fashion influencer –Hafsah Mohammed aka Hafymo has publicly accused renowned designer Deola Sagoe of plagiarizing one of her signature dress designs. The controversy erupted after Hafymo took to social media after noticing a striking similarities between one of her Deola Sagoe piece and a similar one worn by  she had previously showcased on her social media platforms.

Hafymo, known for her bold and distinctive style, has been vocal about her concerns. She claims that the Deola Sagoe dress in question bears striking resemblance to a design she had unveiled several months ago. She has shared side-by-side comparisons of the two dresses, highlighting the similarities in fabric, silhouette, and intricate details.

The allegations have sparked heated debates within the fashion community. Supporters of Hafymo argue that the similarities are too coincidental to be mere inspiration and that Deola Sagoe must have intentionally copied the design. On the other hand, Nigerian designers both home and beyond have showed their immense support ‘to Deola’s Sagoe’s post with over 5000 likes (despite her disabling comments ) in form of their Likes on the press release she put out on her instagram page  . Some of the designers are – Banke Kuku , Orange Culture , Zizi Cardow etc . A  bourgeoning designer – Nonnistics , put up a video to defend Deola Sagoe, stating clearly the distiction between custom made and exclusive rights .

Although , the controversy has raised important questions about intellectual property rights, originality, and the boundaries of inspiration in the fashion world. The incident has also shed light on the challenges faced by emerging designers and influencers in protecting their work.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this high-profile fashion feud will be resolved. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of the Nigerian fashion industry and set a precedent for addressing plagiarism claims in the world of design.