Celebrity designer, Toyin Lawani, has sparked widespread conversation after unveiling a gown crafted from more than 500 loaves of bread for reality TV star Queen Mary Atang to wear at last week’s Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards.
Photos and videos of Atang making her way across the red carpet in the unconventional outfit quickly gained traction online, drawing reactions from fashion enthusiasts and social media users alike. Lawani, the chief executive officer of Tiannahs Place Empire, later revealed the creative process behind the headline-making design. Describing herself as an “innovative designer,” the Lagos-based fashion entrepreneur said she is known for creating unique pieces while helping brands gain visibility through fashion.
According to Lawani, the original concept required 350 loaves of bread, but production demands forced the team to increase the number by an additional 150 loaves. She said, “This dress was so last minute. We used foam as base and mixed flour, water and glue, and then added texture with paint. The surface was sealed with resin to keep the bread in place to maintain the realness of the bread.”
The design was also intended to promote Atang’s bakery business, Switcakes Desserts, which recently expanded into bread production. Explaining the inspiration behind the concept, Lawani said, “I want people to look at you and know what you do without you speaking. Everyone now wears their brand on their body, due to my wear-your-business trend.”
Although the concept appeared unusual to many observers, bread has long been linked to fashion and artistic expression in various forms. Flour sack and feed sack dresses were once popular homemade clothing items in rural communities across the United States and Canada between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries. The historic 1912 “Bread and Roses Strike” in Lawrence, Massachusetts, also connected bread symbolism to workers’ demands for fair wages and better living conditions.
In recent years, bread-inspired fashion has resurfaced on international runways and in art spaces. Luxury fashion house Fendi showcased baguette-inspired accessories during Milan Fashion Week in 2023, while designer Olivia Cheng of Dauphinette introduced bread-shaped handbags earlier that same year. Artist Salvador Dalí also famously incorporated a baguette sculpture into his artwork “Retrospective Bust of a Woman,” currently displayed at the Museum of Modern Art.
Lawani explained that the AMVCA dress was designed as an interactive art piece. She said the intention was for people on the red carpet to remove pieces of bread from the gown while shouting the bakery’s name, “Switbread.” However, the concept did not fully materialize due to restrictions from event security personnel. “But the security guards weren’t having it. So to people the dress looked like an incomplete work of art and they didn’t get the concept,” she said.
Despite mixed reactions, both Atang and Lawani viewed the project as a successful promotional strategy, noting that the brand gained international attention from the stunt. Lawani also expressed pride in the growing recognition of Nigeria’s creative industry on the global stage.
Speaking further on the motivation behind the concept, Lawani emphasized the challenges of marketing a new business in Nigeria. She said, “Do you know how hard it is to promote a new business in Nigeria and get everyone talking about it? It cost a lot. While the AMVCA had center stage, it was the best idea I had for her.” She added that Atang’s previous appearance on “Big Brother Naija” helped amplify public attention.
Lawani noted that one of the biggest challenges was dressing Atang in the extremely heavy outfit and transporting it safely to the event venue. She praised the reality star’s dedication to promoting her business, saying, “Queen works so hard and goes all out for her brand. I really wanted to help her push her brand out there. I gave her the idea and she was sold. I executed it and it worked.”
Over the years, Lawani has worked extensively across the fashion, entertainment and art industries, styling dancehall artist “Spice” as well as actors in productions such as “King of Boys” and Netflix’s “Shanty Town.” Reflecting on the evolution of creative expression in Nigeria, she said, “Nigeria is warming up to art being infused with fashion.”
She added, “I used to set trends that they had never seen or experienced, but finally AI came along and a lot of people are finally embracing art. It just feels like the veil is finally off their faces. My love for fashion and the arts opens doors for me locally and internationally and I’m glad it’s taking center stage now.”
