This Androgynous Fashion Label Maxivive Is Redefining Menswear In Nigeria

Nigerian menswear brand Maxivive is celebrating a decade in the fashion industry and that is no easy feat!  To commemorate their 10th anniversary, they will be hosting an exhibition at the African Artists’ Foundation on September 4.

The eccentric brand makes a conscious effort to push boundaries while offering rational fashion to adventurous Nigerian men who aren’t afraid to rock bold designs and out-of-the-box silhouettes.

A decade ago, Maxivive started out with the aim to redefine contemporary menswear which still has its roots grounded in Nigerian tradition, and today, that aim still remains. The designer Babatunde Oyeyemi has a background in child psychology and aims to infuse ideas from that into his designs.

With their androgynous clothes that have a dominantly distressed look to them, Maxivive’s designs are very daring and creative. Genderless clothes are yet to make a grand wave amongst the Nigerian people, therefore it will come as no shock that the general public accepts Maxivive’s designs but might not particularly like it.

The lukewarm reception doesn’t hold the brand back, as the design and manufacturing processes are the most important parts for Babatunde. Speaking with Konbini about the inspiration behind their latest collection for Wet ’17, frequent collaborator Kadara Enyeasi said:

“Rainy season is the best time for fashion in Nigeria, and a lot of Maxivive pieces are suited for that.

 The collections feature waterproof wearable pieces that are outrageous yet functional” 

Maxivive is the parent brand to two other lines: Bodun and MXVV, which the brand would love to gain more popularity in the future.

Bodun is a ready to wear line, which aims to be more accessible to the average Nigerian. MXVV, however, is more the high-end line and focuses on pieces that cater to sports luxe wear.