The King of Fashion: Why Toyin Lawani’s Creativity is Unmatched
Toyin Lawani photographed by Segun Wealth
For a country finding its footing in an ever-advancing world of fashion and art, Nigeria is doing well. But have we reached the stage where we celebrate fashion as an art form rather than just for aesthetic purposes?
Well, Tiannah’s Place Empire, created by Toyin Lawani, has been a prominent presence in the fashion scene for quite some time, and she has made a significant impact. As a designer and stylist, she has created several outstanding looks for various public figures, ranging from red-carpet events to socialite outings and photo shoots.
The creativity behind most of her looks is “Out of this world” or “Out of Nigeria.” It would be fair to say that Tiannah creates art pieces and not just ready-to-wear attire.
Her designs are not only beautiful but also timeless pieces. She doesn’t just focus on creating a beautiful outfit; she focuses on making a statement. From the fabrics she uses, the inspiration behind the pieces, and how they are made, everything is art.
It is also worth noting that Tianah is a costume artist in addition to being a designer.
Let us discuss two of Tiannah’s most iconic looks.
The Million Pins Dress
Mercy Atang in the Million Pins dress, photographed by Segun Wealth
This dress was made for Queen Mercy Atang to attend the 2025 AMVCA. As the name suggests, this artistic masterpiece is a dress embellished with millions of pins. On her TikTok page, Tiannah generously takes viewers on the creative process behind the dress.
She shared how she had to mix and spray the pins to match the color of the dress. She had only five days to make the dress, and she made the most of every one of those days. The addition of the pins to the dress was described as quite tricky, as Tiannah’s team had to unpin and pin back multiple times. The team had to take shifts to ensure that the art piece came out as expected. The creative process was grueling, but the outcome? Immaculate.
Now, this isn’t the only dress at the 2025 AMVCA with a mindblowing creative process, but it stood out because no one was doing anything remotely similar. A lot of the scintillating designs at the red carpet event focused heavily on exquisitely beaded dresses and well-tailored suits.
No one was making a dress from an office staple…except Toyin Lawani.
The Eagle AI Dress
Kentazz in the Eagle AI dress photographed by Segun Wealth
This is another iconic dress conceived by AI technology, but birthed by Tiannah. Once again, Tiannah walks us through her creative process.
And to the surprise of anyone, her first material was clay, and then cast. You may know that she uses unusual materials in her dresses, but you never know what to expect.
The eagle AI dress has two eagle heads facing each other, forming the bustier, with wings, and a feather-like bodice. Essentially, the style incorporated significant elements of an eagle, hence the name.
This dress was an exact replica of the AI image, giving truth to her title, the King of Fashion, as this is a feat only a few designers can achieve.
Caroline Hutchings in the Swarovski dress photographed by Onuchukwu Timothy
This piece was designed for reality TV star Carolina Hutchings. Although Tiannah is known for her unusual materials, she used one material that wasn’t unusual but ethereal - Swarovski crystals.
This dress features Swarovski crystals. In addition to the beauty of the crystals, Tiannah had crafted a design that is yet to be copied. The neckline and hemline of the dress were intricately designed. Although she did not share her creative process for this dress with us, it was clear that the bottom and top of the dress were created with a very high fashion IQ.
It’s this kind of innovation that keeps Tiannah miles ahead. She’s not reacting to trends- she’s defining them. Whether she’s turning pins into glamour or turning digital art into reality, one thing is clear: Tiannah is not just participating in fashion; she’s rewriting the rules.
And that, undeniably, is why she remains the King of Fashion.