If you’re looking for impeccable tailoring and modern African sensibilities, you won’t go far before you are pointed in the direction of AMA Lagos. Whether you need a tuxedo for a special occasion, want a modern take on the traditional agbada or kaftan, or just need a work wardrobe upgrade, AMA, helmed by designer Afolabi Moshood Adekoya, offers an exciting, high-quality offering. One could say it’s not for everyone, but only because AMA does not do boring. What he does with classic menswear options is push the shapes and silhouettes to be more interesting and elevated with strong craftsmanship and technical know-how apparent in the design and execution.
The 12th edition of the AMVCAs comes on the heels of AMA’s 10th anniversary, and it’s no surprise that they are the choice of young media personalities and veteran actors alike. We caught up with founder and designer Afolabi Moshood Adekoya to find out how the label identifies now and what the future promises.
Who is AMA?
AMA Lagos was born from my name — Afolabi Moshood Adekoya. Interestingly, I tried changing the name a couple of times because I wanted the focus to be entirely on building the brand itself, but eventually I realized AMA already carried the authenticity and identity I wanted the brand to stand for.
The brand started from recognizing a real need. People naturally trusted my opinion when it came to style and what to wear, and over time I saw the opportunity not just to create fashion, but to build something meaningful for myself and for the people around me. AMA was created to help people feel confident, elevated, and seen through what they wear.
What makes AMA different is our client-first approach. We are very intentional about building genuine, lasting relationships with our clients. It’s beyond fashion for us — there’s a family-like connection and a level of dependability people have come to trust. We do whatever it takes to make sure our clients are happy and fully taken care of.
Creatively, AMA has a very calm, sophisticated identity with a modern African approach to fashion. We’re versatile in what we do because we have a strong understanding of traditional African fashion while also applying refined Western craftsmanship techniques. That balance allows us to create pieces that feel culturally rooted but globally relevant at the same time.
At its core, the brand is inspired by growth, excellence, and the desire to always do better as a team. There’s a certain fulfillment that comes from helping people look and feel their best, and for us, that feeling never gets old. That’s really who AMA is.
For people just discovering AMA Lagos, how would you describe the brand?
For people just discovering AMA Lagos, I would describe the brand as a contemporary fashion house that blends both Western and African bespoke tailoring in a very refined and sophisticated way. We create everything from corporate wear to ceremonial pieces, and over the years, we’ve built a team with the versatility and technical capacity to execute both worlds seamlessly.
Our signature is really rooted in sophisticated minimalism. AMA has a mature, wearable, and timeless aesthetic. Even when we step outside our comfort zone creatively to meet a client’s vision, there’s still a certain restraint and elegance that remains consistent in our work.
We’ve also developed the ability to work across a wide range of fabrics and styles, which gives us flexibility creatively while still maintaining our identity as a brand. One thing people often say is, “When you see an AMA piece, you know it’s AMA,” and I think that comes from the consistency in our finishing, structure, and overall design language.
As a brand, we lean towards affordable luxury — contemporary pieces that feel elevated and premium, but are still accessible to a wider audience. We want people to experience quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design without it feeling out of reach.
How would you describe the AMA man or woman?
Honestly, my first experience I have to say was amazing as we were very proud of the products we put out. They were very AMA, and regardless of the pressure AMVCA brings, we decided to stay true to our core with the amazing stylists we worked with. I think the craftsmanship on our pieces spoke for themselves. I am proud to say the list. I literally was in a different time zone, having to join in for fittings on video call not because my team could not handle it, but I really wanted everything to be perfect, you know. I was not in the country, and all the looks slapped. I woke up to see all the great work Nigerian designers put in, and honestly, it felt good to have contributed to that in our own way. Glory to God. It feels good to create something out of nothing, have people admire it so much, and also for me in a space where everything might be slightly exaggerated, it's important to still have control and that's what we did.
This year’s AMVCA was a major moment for the brand. What was the experience like for you?
Honestly, the experience was amazing, especially because we were genuinely proud of every single look we put out. The pressure that comes with the AMVCAs is real, but one thing we were intentional about was staying true to the identity of AMA Lagos. Even while collaborating with incredible stylists, we still made sure every piece felt authentically AMA.
I believe the craftsmanship really spoke for itself this year. Every look had structure, intention, and that refined sophistication the brand is known for. What made the experience even crazier for me personally was the fact that I wasn’t even in the country during the process. I was literally operating in a different time zone and joining fittings over video calls because, even though I completely trust my team, I still wanted everything to feel perfect.
Seeing everything come together successfully despite the distance was incredibly rewarding. I woke up on the night of the event and saw the amount of amazing work Nigerian designers contributed overall, and honestly, it felt good to know AMA was part of that conversation in our own way. Glory to God for that.
For me, there’s something very fulfilling about creating something from nothing and then watching people connect with it and admire it. Also, in an industry where things can sometimes feel exaggerated, it was important for us to still maintain control, clarity, and authenticity in our designs — and I think that’s exactly what we achieved with this AMVCA moment.
Let’s talk about some of the celebrities you dressed this year. Starting with Adedimeji Lateef — how did that collaboration happen?
Honestly, the experience was amazing, especially because we were genuinely proud of every single look we put out. The pressure that comes with the AMVCAs is real, but one thing we were intentional about was staying true to the identity of AMA Lagos. Even while collaborating with incredible stylists, we still made sure every piece felt authentically AMA.
I believe the craftsmanship really spoke for itself this year. Every look had structure, intention, and that refined sophistication the brand is known for. What made the experience even crazier for me personally was the fact that I wasn’t even in the country during the process. I was literally operating in a different time zone and joining fittings over video calls because, even though I completely trust my team, I still wanted everything to feel perfect.
Seeing everything come together successfully despite the distance was incredibly rewarding. I woke up on the night of the event and saw the amount of amazing work Nigerian designers contributed overall, and honestly, it felt good to know AMA was part of that conversation in our own way. Glory to God for that.
For me, there’s something very fulfilling about creating something from nothing and then watching people connect with it and admire it. Also, in an industry where things can sometimes feel exaggerated, it was important for us to still maintain control, clarity, and authenticity in our designs — and I think that’s exactly what we achieved with this AMVCA moment.
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With Darey Art Alade, this isn’t the first time you are working together, how has the experience been ?
Working with Darey Art Alade has honestly been a great experience. He’s the definition of a true gentleman, and one thing about him is that he always knows how to show up and show out effortlessly.
This wasn’t our first time collaborating, so there was already a level of trust creatively. Previously, he wore our Heritage Waistcoat beautifully, and this time around, knowing he would be attending alongside his amazing wife, we wanted to create something that felt equally refined, intentional, and memorable.
We decided to pull a look from our Trunk of Dreams collection — the Noob 3-piece — because it embodies a different level of craftsmanship and sophistication that you don’t come across every day. The detailing, structure, and finishing on that piece really speak to the kind of elevated tailoring AMA represents.
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We were also very intentional about making sure his look complemented his wife’s presence without competing with it. I think there’s something beautiful about seeing couples present themselves with that level of harmony and elegance, and it was important for us to capture that visually.
Honestly, we already knew the look was going to deliver. The Noob 3-piece is a showstopper anywhere it goes, so we were confident it was going to command attention in the best way possible — and thankfully, it absolutely did. I’m definitely looking forward to working with him more in the future.
You dressed some of the most talked-about people at the AMVCAs this year, like Kola Omotosho. How involved was he in the creative process?
Kola Omotosho is honestly a superstar — you just have to love him. The way he carried that outfit was incredible. In fact, I liked the look so much I told myself I definitely need to make one for myself too.
Kola was extremely involved in the creative process, and I genuinely appreciated that because it showed how intentional he is about his image and presentation. From the early design conversations to fabric selection and the overall fit, he paid attention to every detail. He’s someone who doesn’t joke with the way he looks, and that level of intentionality aligns perfectly with the AMA Lagos aesthetic.
His stylist is also an absolute genius. I really appreciated the “less is more” direction he pushed creatively because that kind of understated sophistication is very true to how AMA likes to show up. There was elegance, confidence, and restraint in the final result, which made the look feel even more powerful.
Honestly, that outfit almost had me joining fittings and calls from miles away again because I wanted everything to land perfectly, but thankfully, the synergy between everyone involved made the process worthwhile. In the end, I think we created something really special — a true masterpiece.
Was there a particular look this year that challenged you the most?
I would say Kola Omotosho’s look was probably the most challenging for us, interestingly, because of how simple and refined it appeared. Sometimes the cleanest looks are actually the hardest to execute because there’s nowhere to hide — the craftsmanship, structure, and fit have to be absolutely perfect.
That suit required a different level of technical precision to achieve the silhouette and structure we wanted while still keeping it effortless and elegant. Every detail had to be intentional.
What makes me even prouder is the fact that all of this happened while I was away, which says a lot about the strength of the team we’ve built at AMA Lagos. Even from a distance, everyone stayed committed to the vision and executed it beautifully. Seeing it all come together the way it did made me incredibly proud of my team and the level of craftsmanship we’re capable of delivering.
What’s next for AMA Lagos after this AMVCA moment?
What’s next for AMA Lagos after this AMVCA moment is our new collection titled NOISE!!! — and honestly, I’m really excited about it.
It’s a very interesting concept creatively because it explores expression, presence, and impact in a way that still feels true to the AMA identity. The collection pushes certain boundaries while still maintaining the sophistication and intentionality people know us for.
Right now, we’re fully focused on bringing that vision to life properly, and I genuinely cannot wait for people to experience it. I think it’s going to start a lot of conversations in the best way possible.
And who knows… you might just see some of your favorite Nollywood stars featured in it too. You never know.
Who would you like to see in AMA?
There are honestly quite a few people I would love to see in AMA Lagos, but I’m especially looking forward to dressing Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Timini Egbuson, and Tony Elumelu.
Ebuka naturally understands fashion and presentation, so I think it would be exciting creatively to interpret that through the AMA lens. Timini also has a strong presence and confidence that aligns really well with the brand aesthetic.
And Tony Elumelu… Tony is just clean. I really like his approach to style. It’s refined, intentional, effortless, and powerful without trying too hard — which is something I personally appreciate a lot. I think AMA would complement that energy beautifully.
Finally, what do you want people to feel when they wear AMA Lagos?
Finally, when people wear AMA Lagos, I want them to feel the intention behind every single fit. Every piece we create carries a level of thought, discipline, and craftsmanship that has been built through years of training, consistency, and working tirelessly with my team to understand what it truly means to place the AMA label on a garment.
For us, it’s never just about making clothes. It’s about creating pieces that elevate the person wearing them. Not because they lack confidence without the clothing, but because the clothing complements who they already are and enhances that presence even further.
I want people to feel refined, confident, seen, and completely themselves in AMA. The goal is always for the outfit to work in harmony with the person — never overpowering them, but helping them step into the best version of themselves effortlessly.
