About Us
Chi & Stainless Fashion was established in 2019 by Nigerian designer Chisom Ilo, a creative visionary whose work reimagines the elegance of vintage African fashion for today’s global audience. Her label has become a distinctive voice in contemporary African design known for its bold use of Ankara, refined tailoring, and the art of transforming old-world beauty into modern classics.
Chisom’s love for fashion began in childhood. Raised in Nigeria, she was inspired by her mother’s effortless style and the glamour of earlier generations. She often borrowed and restyled family garments, unknowingly laying the foundation for her unique design identity; one that values heritage, individuality, and timeless grace.
In 2018, she developed interest in Garment Construction and Couture Techniques and attempted formalising her deep interest in design. Around this time, she also began teaching herself additional techniques through online tutorials, combining formal training with hands on exploration. As her style evolved, friends and acquaintances began asking how her outfits were made and when they discovered she created them herself, they became paying clients. That organic demand became the spark that launched Chi & Stainless.
Chisom continued her development by apprenticing under a local designer, Happy Designs, and later earned a National Diploma in Fashion Design and Clothing Technology from Kaduna Polytechnic, where she deepened her knowledge of garment structure, storytelling through fabric, and the nuances of professional dressmaking.
In 2019, she officially launched Chi & Stainless Fashion named after her nickname “Stainless,” a tribute to her signature clean lines, polished style, and commitment to excellence. The brand’s mission became clear: to revive vintage African fashion from past decades especially the 1970s and owambe culture and reinterpret it for the modern woman.
Chisom’s early collections featured standout wide leg trousers, structured tops, and dramatic ball skirts crafted in Ankara and other heritage fabrics; garments that felt bold, nostalgic, and new. Her work gained early acclaim at shows locally, and as the brand evolved, so did its reach. Chi & Stainless collections have since been presented at Black Culture Runway, and New York Fashion Week (Spring 2023) as part of Fe Noel’s “Little Caribbean” collection.
Chisom’s designs have been featured in publications including Style Today Magazine, ThisDay, Vanguard Allure, and The Sun, highlighting her growing international presence. Her work also achieved notable commercial success, including securing thousands of dollars wholesale order with Canadian luxury retailer Boboli, expanding her reach into the global market.
Most recently, Chi & Stainless has expanded into menswear, with Chisom designing shirts and trousers in cotton, chiffon, and Ankara. These new pieces reflect the same thoughtful tailoring and storytelling approach, this time through a masculine lens.
Though still an emerging label, Chi & Stainless is steadily building a creative legacy rooted in African identity, cultural memory, and modern luxury. With a growing profile across Nigeria, the UK, and North America, Chisom continues to bridge worlds blending ancestral craftsmanship with contemporary relevance.
She believes fashion should do more than follow trends. It should carry memory, inspire confidence, and make people feel seen.