On a recent trip to Atlanta, Araoluwa Popoola brought a touch of Nigerian elegance to Bentley Atlanta, unveiling his collection of luxury tunics in a private showroom event. Mix Master David was on the wheels of steel. Ludacris’s longtime manager, Chaka Zulu, was the host. But, Araoluwa, Ara as he is known, stole the show. While he stands 6’5”, the bespoke outfit he wore was the talk of the night. His brand, Àràmàndà, is all about the details. Ara was inspired by his father’s impeccable style and the challenge of finding well-fitting clothes.
“There were two moments that pivoted my life into fashion. One is my dad, who dresses fantastic,” Ara explains. “He’s a retired judge, but while on the bench, used to dress impeccably. And the second was, I never used to get an outfit that really fits me, because I have really long arms, and if I’m buying an outfit, I have to alter them. So back then, we didn’t really have passion. There was not an item in Nigeria at the moment where you can really produce what you wear. As I grew, I began to try to produce what I wear, because I like to draw. So once I started that, I started shifting my focus into designing things for myself and then for my friends. And then that’s how the journey began.”
Àràmàndà’s Big Break comes from Hip-Hop
Ara’s big break was Nas wearing a tunic by Àràmàndà while performing on tour with Mary J. Blige in 2019. But, he thought it wasn’t real until it actually happened! Ara cried after verifying the request and he knew he was shifting the culture.
“When Nas’s team informed me that is going out on tour with Mary J. Blige, they were wondering if I could make an outfit for him,” Ara explains. “And I’m like, ‘how would you be wondering if I could make an outfit for Nas? Like it is Nas!’ I realized, I felt like this is something that will actually turn into something really big.”
Jidenna and Jeezy also were spotted in Aramanda on various red carpets, invoking vibes synonymous with the Motherland and royalty…