When Reni Abina founded Rendoll, the idea was to create comfortable and timeless pieces for women, who want to look refined and exquisite without negotiating their comfort. Focusing on inclusivity as one of its major themes, the brand caters to women of all sizes, without any discrimination. Four years later, the womenswear brand made their first ever appearance at the Lagos Fashion week, opening the runway on day 1.
“When I first saw the schedule, I was a bit hesitant to open the show. I’ve been working on the collection for a couple of months and I don’t want to display it in an empty room.” Reni tells The Culture Custodian, only a few hours before the show would begin.
Originally scheduled to start at 5pm, the show eventually kicked off at a few minutes past 7 p.m, no thanks to Lagosians idea of African time and a delay in production setup, to a full house, all excited to witness a night of fashion and elegance.
For a first-time designer at the show, Abina didn’t feel like a rookie, and she attributes her optimism and confidence to preparedness. “A couple of days ago, I was quite nervous but I don’t feel like that anymore. I’m feeling quite excited now. The clothes are ready and they are on fire. I’ve had feedback from friends and family and I can’t wait for people to see them.”
The Rendoll Spring |Summer ‘24 collection features 26 looks and 40 pieces, with blue, green and orange as the main color scheme. “We used two prints—wild blue and lava. The wild blue print is a floral print. I picked it because it is symbolic of how flowers bloom against all odds. The larva print is inspired by molten lava and it’s a very radiating print. When Rendoll women wear this print, I want them to be reminded of their inner strength.”
The brand boasts of sourcing authentic fabrics from suppliers around the world but is also making sure that production is done in Nigeria by a crop of highly skilled artisans, operating a sustainable-slow fashion model. While Rendoll’s prints are quite unique and easy to spot, the creative director believes what makes the brand unique is its customer service.
“To be honest a lot of people resonate with the brand because of my personal style. However, a huge part of it is the customer service we offer at Rendoll. We prioritize satisfying our customers even beyond selling the clothes. We’re dedicated to creating a community of confident women.”
After curating a colorful and cohesive collection at one of the biggest fashion shows in Africa, Reni Abina reiterates that Rendoll remains steadfast in its goal to produce daring, luxury fashion pieces for women around the world. “ I want women to wear Rendoll for the most special occasions of their lives. I want them to feel audacious and most importantly, I want them to feel seen.”