2022 Trends

The year 2021 is finally out, and we are hopeful with stars in our eyes and prayers in our hearts that 2022 will be good to us all. The fashion industry over the last two years, has been foiled with the unprecedented wave of the covid pandemic. But now that we are slowly all returning to normalcy, new fashion trends have emerged and we predict they will take hold in Nigeria’s fashion industry this year!

FASHION.

‘‘Made in Nigeria’’ is here to stay.

The Made in Nigeria brand has gone the full circle and now become a trend. With the recent pandemic, traveling out of Nigeria went straight to the back burner and people began to look more inwards than ever before. More so with a shortfall on foreign currency and travel restrictions constantly changing from strict to relaxed, and right back to the latter, more and more people are looking inwards. Made in Nigeria designs are now a popular trend in the fashion industry. Way gone are the days when people purchased 90% of their clothes abroad or buy ready-to-wear clothes from international big and small labels. Nigerian designers have upped their ante and can stand shoulder to shoulder with their foreign contemporaries. 

Emerging designers will take centre stage.

Just like the Made in Nigeria fashion brands will be a mega hot trend in 2022, there will also be many more emerging designers to watch. Banke Kuku, Weiz Dhurm Franklyn, Hudayya, Ziva Lagos, Tubo, Fruche, Tubo and many more are brands that have considerably impacted their young careers. Their designs are anything but bland. They are young, fresh and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and most especially, affordable. They have also added more spice to the creative space and are carving out their own niche in an industry that is ever evolving. More and more people will have the power to purchase from these emerging designers giving them the much-needed boost for their fashion career.

Comfort Shoes.

If the pandemic has taught anything, it has taught us comfort is key. Long gone are the days where only high heels were the accepted footwear for occasions and outings. More and more people are pairing  

comfy flats like trainers, crocs and the likes with fancy outfits. 2022 will certainly see an increase in the number of people trading comfortable shoes for high heels because people now realize that you do not have to wear skyscrapers to get the desired dose of sex appeal. COVID put paid to that myth. 

Fast Fashion.

As we continue to look inward, more fast fashion stores are cropping up and becoming popular, thanks to the power of social media. The likes of Zephans and Co, Templa8e, Ziva Lagos, For Style Sake, DT Clothings provide people inexpensive, quick designs off the runway. This year, like the last two years, fashionable ones will hit local fast-fashion stores for their quick runway fix. 

Red Carpet trends.

Celebrities turned out some fantastic red-carpet outfits in 2021 with the help of a new set of bespoke designers making waves on social media. These occasion designers who are fast becoming pros are designing heavily embellished statement gowns for brides, award ceremonies, movie premieres, galas, dinner parties, etc. We have the likes of Veekee James, who designed Tiwa Savage’s reception dress for her father’s burial, Xtra brides, dressing the likes of Toke Makinwa, Kiki Osinbanjo in show-stopping gowns for red carpet appearances and more, Matopeda Atelier dressing the likes of Chioma Ikokwu, Lilian Afe for similar occasions and many more. 2022 will be no different; celebrities will seek similar designers to dress them on the red carpet for awards shows and events of the sort instead of going to international brands as they did in the past. 

BEAUTY

Beauty consumers now understand that good skin has the power to make any makeup product look well applied, and hence the shifted focus more on upping their skincare games and routines. Also, we see a lot of clinical enhancement and predict more people will be open to the idea of altering, sculping, pumping in areas where, as and when necessary.

Brazilians Butt Lifts (BBLs) and Liposuctions 

Heavily driven and influenced by the Kardashians and social media, the fat transfer butt surgery has become one of the world’s fastest-growing cosmetic surgeries despite the high mortality concerns. Celebrities and social influencers constantly flaunt their hourglass figures on their timelines, promoting the beauty of both procedures influencing more women to take the plunge. 

Going back five years, plastic surgery was spoken about in hushed tones, but now with the emergence of more plastic surgeons in Nigeria, this trend is openly discussed. 2022 will be no different. Seeing the number of successful procedures in Nigeria, more women will do this surgery locally to get back the body they lost during childbirth, depression, hormones, etc. 

Botox and Fillers.

The demand for Botox injection, fillers and other minimal invasive procedures is also on a high. Though these beauty trends are a thing in the western world, Nigeria women never really cared much for these procedures, before but with the introduction of these procedures locally, more women are latching on to the opportunity to look their best with the help of fillings to fade out wrinkles and laugh lines, jawline sculpting, plump pouts and more. Last year, people openly spoke about adjusting their looks with these invasive surgeries, and this year will be no different. We expect that more women will join the bandwagon to give themselves the needed self-esteem boost they need. 

Skincare.

Acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma are common skin conditions that many people tackle daily. Before, it was common for women to cover all these flaws with makeup, but with the introduction of affordable skincare products, people have gotten into the habit of treating all these conditions from the comfort of their homes. They realise that good skin is the beginning of getting that perfect makeup trend you love. Also, when the pandemic hit, people had more time on their hands to try different skin routines and products to know which helped achieve the best results. That trend is here to stay as more skin brands were launched and reintroduced in the last two years. It’s common to hear words like Hyaluronic Acids, Vitamin serums, sunscreen, retinol etc. 

Vitamin C IV Injections

While the IV vitamin C drip might not be new to the beauty and wellness scene, with the pandemic, we have seen an increase in demand for IV Vitamin C IV drips. It helps boost immune systems, treat deficiency of Vitamin C, for glowing skin, and more; the use is endless. More people got into the habit of weekly Vitamin C drips in 2021. This year, the use of these drips will skyrocket and so will a cocktail of other vitamins.

A new era of self care .

A poll was conducted and 76% of people agree that covid-19 has impacted the importance they place on wellness. Self-care and wellness goes beyond just the physical, it also includes social, mental, and emotional wellbeing which have become a daily routine for many.

Keeping Fit.

In 2022, taking care of yourself through exercise won’t be just a thing you do when you have time rather it will become a part of who you are. People have found ways to count in the ‘steps’ on a daily basis. Some do it by running, others by walking and surprisingly for those who hate both, you can do it by dancing! Yes…dance all you can because the movement is what counts. 

Spa.

Whether it’s a bubble bath or a facial at the spas, self-care is an important part of taking care of your body and mind. And in 2022, going to the spa more often will be a hugely popular form of self-care. Many a massage will become a ritual for most as an avenue for tension release. 

Staycation.

Another trend that set to pick up pace is “Staycations”. The lockdown restrictions forced so many to set up offices and work stations at home but this year ‘staycations’ will become so popular as people are seen leaving their homes and spending quality relaxing time in hotels/apartments away from home strictly for leisure and not work. The good thing about ‘staycations’ is that you don’t have to board a plane to get one!

Mental health.

Mental health is a key element in self-care and wellbeing, it has helped many people learn the health risks of their life. With the level of daily challenges faced in our daily existence, mental health is an ailment that one ignored, is now being given the full attention it requires and deserves. Many platforms are being out in place to accommodate and educate people on how best to deal with this prevailing issue. 

INTERIOR DESIGN

Biophilic design.

Considering we have spent a lot of time indoors in the past two years due to the pandemic, it’s no surprise that the biophilic design tops the interior décor predictions for 2022. The biophilic design concept is centred on bringing nature indoors. While this trend has been around for a while now, we are seeing more and more home furnishings and decor items around the concept lately. People will experience the therapeutic benefits of mother nature at home with it. They will also experiment with indirect natural elements by incorporating natural shapes, materials, and textures into their spaces or bringing the greenery in with planters and vases.

Modern Maximalism

Minimalism always seems to be on-trend, but maximalism has been rising to the top in recent times. With the embrace of art and luxury, more and more people will opt for a tastefully furnished and luxurious space. We will see more spaces with bold colours, eye-catching artwork, pretty patterns and geometric shapes, etc. – anything to make our eyes dance around and be happy as we continue to embrace spending time indoors.

SOCIAL MEDIA.

Video remains as popular as ever.

Following the decision of Instagram to prioritise moving images, we will see a significant difference in the quantity and quality of video content shared on the social media space, particularly amongst younger users. Platforms like TikTok or Instagram Reels will be prioritised going forward and become extremely popular. According to an individual study by Cisco, in 2022, 82% of all online content will be video content. This clearly shows how important it is to start utilising video content to stay relevant in social media. If you’re not currently creating videos, it’s time that you include them in your content.

Celebrities will top Influencer lists.

Influencer marketing isn’t a new trend, but it will stay for a while and become even more prominent in 2022. This year we will see brands now opting for actors, sports stars, musicians and mega influencers to use the strength of their following to cut through the noise and create impactful moments. This year it will be all about numbers and, more importantly, engagement.

TECHNOLOGY.

More females to shine in the male-dominated world of tech.

2021 was when we got the news that US Digital Giant Equinix was acquiring Funke Opeke’s MainOne for a whopping  $320M. It was the largest acquisition of a tech company in Nigeria and the first landmark deal made by an African woman tech CEO. It was also the year that Honey Ogundeyi’s free learning app Edukoya raised $3.6m pre-seed funding.

These are not the only women in tech who made an impact in the past year, and from all indications, there will be a lot more of these amazing success stories in 2022.

In the world of technology over the years, female participation and access have been overwhelmingly slow, revealing a gap in a supposed gender-equal world. However, this year, the tech world will record several fast-rising female technology entrepreneurs breaking through the barriers of gender inequality in the tech space. They will introduce innovative ideas that create a better world and inspire more participation of women in technology.

The rise and rise of the Podcast.

Within months of launching his Podcast, Tea with Tay pod, Temisan Emmanuel has racked up over twelve thousand listeners and counting. That is how popular the Podcast has become lately. From millennial experience to comedy, inspirational talks, lifestyle and religion, Nigerian podcast listeners’ preferred topics and themes have extensively focused on issues that garner more and more interest amongst the younger generation.

Even though it has been around for a while, podcasts have become mainstream and influential to global pop culture. In 2022 everyone will either have a podcast or be listening to one.

Ever heard of NFTs?

Non-fungible tokens, popularly known as NFTs, were among the most searched terms of 2021. NFTs are transforming art, music and sports and enabling the monetisation of digital assets. They’ve become a part of popular culture, with brands like Pepsi and Adidas also joining in. While NFTs are in their early phase, they’re likely to attract a much larger audience this year.