Discover – Ohimai Atafo, a 46-year-old Nigerian Fashion Designer and Bespoke Tailor is the founder and Creative Director of the self-named fashion enterprise – Mai Atafo Inspired, now known simply as ATAFO.
Atafo’s educational record reveals an interest in knowledge. Having studied Agricultural Economics and Extension at Edo State University, Ekpoma, he further bagged a master’s degree in Information Systems and Technology from City University, London. His major fashion training took place at Savile Row Academy in The United Kingdom.
In 2010, he took a leap of faith and resigned his role as Senior Brand Manager for Guinness Nigeria, so that he could focus, full-time, on his fashion label.
“I started the fashion business when I was in Guinness but when I could no longer combine the two, I decided to go for fashion full time.” he shared in an interview with The Punch Newspaper.
From its inception, ATAFO, the brand, aimed not only to create beautiful garments but also to redefine the standards of luxury fashion in Nigeria. Atafo’s unique blend of traditional African aesthetics with contemporary designs quickly captured the attention of fashion enthusiasts across the continent.
In 2011, he launched “Weddings by Mai”, a line that displayed his talent for designing perfectly fitting wedding dresses and tailored bespoke suits.
What sets Mai Atafo apart is his ability to infuse his creations with a sense of grandeur and sophistication, while still maintaining a distinct Nigerian identity. From exquisite bridal couture to impeccably tailored menswear, each piece reflects his attention to craftsmanship and his passion for storytelling through clothing.
He has been recognised with several awards and accolades, including the Designer of the Year at the 2013 Glitz Style Awards and the Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2015 Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week. In 2017, he was honoured with the Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards for Lifestyle/Style Fashion Icon Achievement.
In February 2021, Atafo released a bridal collection which was inspired by the new trend of small weddings caused by the lockdown. He would later go on to release ‘The Atelier’ in 2022, in collaboration with the whisky brand, The Macallan.
On the 24th of October 2023, ATAFO showcased ‘Sartorial Reverie’, his latest collection, on the ATAFO SS24 Show. The beauty of this collection lies in the seamless fusion of Edo native attire with modern sartorial elegance.
He is married to Christine Atafo, and they have a child together.
