VOGUE
BY CHIOMA NNADI
February 14, 2022
Photo credit: Maya Suchak
Taofeek Abijako, the founder of Head of State, shares his story of starting his own fashion brand because of philanthropic intentions and watching his brand grow throughout the years. He launched his first womenswear collection: Homecoming, inspired by the Festival of African Culture in ‘77 (a festival in West Africa that celebrated Black culture). Homecoming was displayed to the public through a series of dance performances to African songs. Taofeek Abijako continues to donate today, as he is called the “Hometown Hero”, and influences other designers around him to do the same.
“‘I accidentally started a fashion brand,’ says the designer, whose label is named after Kuti’s landmark protest song, ‘Coffin for Head of State.’ ‘I honestly just wanted to sell enough T-shirts and hoodies to be able to help the folks back home.’ Abijako and his family moved to Albany, New York, from Nigeria when he was 12 after his father, a fashion designer by trade, won the visa lottery. He launched Head of State out of his bedroom as a senior in high school with no formal design training…”
Read full article here