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The Macallan and Mai Atafo Continue Empowerment Workshop In Abuja, Building on Lagos’ Success
Following the successful collaboration between The Macallan and Mai Atafo’s fashion workshop in Lagos, in March 2023, a second session was held on Sunday, April 23, 2023, in Maitama, Abuja, where 50 fashion entrepreneurs and designers were equipped with relevant business skills.
The workshop, themed “Fashion Conversations,” provided attendees with a unique opportunity to engage with Mai Atafo, Nigerian creative director and fashion entrepreneur. The mentorship initiative aimed to inspire and educate the next generation of fashion entrepreneurs, and its impact was reflected in the increased number of attendees for this second edition.
During the session, Atafo stressed the importance of creativity and innovation in achieving the projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.72% and market revenue of US$2.56bn by 2027 for the Nigerian fashion industry. He also encouraged the mentees to pursue excellence and quality in their work.
Speaking on The Macallan’s long-standing collaboration with Atafo and its continued investment in the fashion industry, the whisky’s Brand Manager, Edrington Portfolio, Nigeria, Hammed Adebiyi, stated, “As a brand that values quality, distinctive character and outstanding quality, we are proud to be associated with an initiative that promotes excellence. Events like the Fashion Conversations are crucial for the growth of the fashion industry in Nigeria, and we are committed to investing in such forward-thinking initiatives.”
Mai Atafo said: “It is a delight to bring the Fashion Conversations to Abuja. The Lagos edition was a success, and it prompted us to expand the Abuja session. Our goal is to provide a platform for fashion enthusiasts who are uniquely poised to become masters in their craft. And by collaborating with partners like The Macallan, we are able to focus our efforts on delivering as promised.”
One of the mentees from the workshop, Tarka Julian, a 22-year-old Fashion Designer, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the best in the business: “Fashion Conversations has been an absolute game-changer for me. It is helping me refocus my priorities when it comes to the business of fashion.”
In October 2021, The Macallan unveiled Mai Atafo as one of its influencer icons in line with its exclusive partnership with brands and exceptional individuals that have excelled and sit at the pinnacle of their crafts. After a three-year hiatus off the runway, the whisky brand and Atafo also hosted Nigeria’s entertainment and fashion industry to a specially-curated luxurious fashion show, The Atelier, on November 20, 2022.
The Macallan is recognised for its extraordinary, ultra-prestige single malt whisky. The brand’s outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by its founding father, Alexander Reid, since its establishment in 1824.
The ultra-prestige brand has plans to launch an exclusive collection in Nigeria within the coming weeks.
