For many, this Valentine's Day may look very different from last year’s. While the pandemic was only beginning to inch its way into our lives last February, it has significantly changed all our lives since then. Reni Abina, the 26-year-old creator behind Lagos-based women’s clothing line, Rendoll, hopes that we all find ways to feel loved and give love this season.
We caught up with Abina in anticipation of her latest collection, Love Riviera, which releases to the world on February 7.
On the genesis of the brand —
After studying abroad, I moved back to Nigeria and found that I was still shopping from my regular stores abroad for a few years. It wasn’t that Nigeria didn’t have fashionable clothing stores, but we didn’t have enough options.
I wanted to create a brand that people like me could resonate with, a brand with a personal story. So, I came up with the plan to start my clothing brand, a fusion of my name. It was born of a desire to create fashionable clothing that matched my style.
Rendoll is a women’s clothing line providing stylish and comfortable pieces for a wide range of dress sizes. We believe that everyone should have the freedom to express themselves through clothing without any judgment. We’re big on femininity and body positivity; we’ve designed our clothes to give that extra dose of confidence.
On releasing Love Riviera —
The first Riviera print in green launched last summer, and it was a hit. It was our first exclusive print, something that was uniquely ours. We then released a subsequent blue version of the print in October. This year, we introduced a color that was reflective of the upcoming Valentine’s season. We decided to create a collection that included all these exclusive prints in different styles. Valentine’s Day is all about giving and receiving love, whether self-love or love to another. We named it Love Riviera because we wanted those wearing these pieces to celebrate this season, loving our prints, as well as themselves and others.
On bringing positivity after a tough year —
I hope people feel like the best version of themselves in these pieces. During this pandemic, I’ve personally struggled a lot with feeling bubbly and positive. One thing that has always helped me is glamming up and looking good. I feel my best when I’m in bright colours. We’ve made this collection particularly vibrant with the hopes that when you wear a Riviera piece, you’re immediately happy and confident. We want people beaming with self-love and excitement, irrespective of whether they chose to celebrate in a big way or not. Even if it’s to get dressed up and take personal pictures, we hope to bring a little bit of positivity and love to the current uncertain climate we’re living in.
