Reni Folawiyo had one goal in mind when she opened her renowned luxury concept store, Alára, in Lagos, Nigeria, six years ago. “Alára is a Yoruba word that means ‘wondrous performer, somebody who thrills endlessly,’ ” Folawiyo, an attorney turned lifestyle entrepreneur, explains, “and we wanted to thrill.” Designed by celebrated Ghanaian-British AD100 architect, Sir David Adjaye, the three-story temple to style not only delights, it offers a painstakingly curated mix of fashion, art, and design. Home to both African and Western brands, it’s a place where Jacquemus trousers and Saint Laurent slingbacks mingle effortlessly with Hassan Hajjaj photographs, woven baskets from Burkina Faso, and designer Kenneth Ize’s signature aso oke suits.
It’s little wonder that in its relatively short existence, Alára has earned comparisons to Milan’s 10 Corso Como…