Abah Folawiyo Biography (2025): Real Name, Age, Origin, Family, Faith & Legacy
Abah Folawiyo, popularly known as Sisi Abah, is an iconic fashion designer whose indigenous African designs ran the show on global runways in New York, Paris, and London. Sisi Abah is the founder of the prestigious Labanella Creations, which championed local African textiles and designs. Her influence on the fashion industry is undeniable. It’s a known fact that she’s one if not the major reason why African fashion exploded in popularity over the last few decades.
Quick Facts
| Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zainab Abah Folawiyo |
| Date of Birth | 22 July 1942 |
| Age (2025) | 83 years old |
| Place of Origin | Ghana (maternal), Nigeria (paternal) |
| Spouse | Chief Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo (deceased) |
| Children | Segun Awolowo Jr. |
| Faith / Religion | Converted to Islam |
| Profession | Fashion designer, entrepreneur |
| Legacy / Contributions | Founder of Labanella Creations, pioneer of African textile fashion |
Early Life and Background
While growing up, Sisi Abah discovered her passion for fashion and design. Her mother, who was a dressmaker at the time, significantly contributed to this. She used to spend a lot of time in her mother’s studio. In 1963, she won an award that granted her a first-class ticket to London, where she stayed to deepen her fashion education.
Career and Achievements
She founded Labanella Creations in 1978, a fashion house that would later elevate the status of African and Nigerian fashion. By 1981, the designs of Labanella Creations had gained significant traction, appearing in the fashion capitals of London, Paris, and New York. She took Labanella Creations on a major tour across West Africa in 1986 under the slogan Labanella Goes Ecowest.
Her designs centered on African patterns and local textiles, and she was highly celebrated for creating patterns that celebrated the perfect curves of Nigerian women. She won a plethora of awards over the years for her work in Nigeria and other African countries.
Personal Life & Legacy
Sisi Abah was married to the late Chief Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, a Nigerian industrialist and philanthropist. She had a son with Segun Awolowo Snr, the late Segun Awolowo Jr, who would go on to make a name for himself in public service. She is a convert to Islam, her late husband’s faith.
Sisi Abah made a massive contribution to the Nigerian fashion space. She opened doors for so many and tore down barriers for so many designers after her who wanted to showcase to the whole world the wealth of African prints, textiles, and patterns. She defied the odds and won anyway, and made the whole world recognize and appreciate the beauty of African and Nigerian fashion.
