CLOVIS, the Nigerian-born fashion house founded by designer Louis Akorede Awode, is relaunching operations out of Atlanta following a five-year hiatus, debuting a refined brand identity and a new line aimed at international markets.
The company, previously known as ClovisCasuals, unveiled The Renaissance Collection on Sunday as its Season One comeback capsule.
The moves mark the label’s transition from a regional West African streetwear brand into a global direct-to-consumer house positioned around high-end, heritage-inspired apparel.
Founded in Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2014 with 15,000 naira ($10 at current exchange rates) and a single sewing machine, CLOVIS built a cult following across West Africa.
The label moved its footprint to Lagos, eventually selling more than 20,000 garments and dressing prominent Nigerian musicians and media figures, including Asake and Olamide.
Awode paused operations in 2019 to relocate overseas and expand his management credentials, completing a Master’s degree in International Business and Marketing in Scotland before enrolling in a STEM-designated MBA program in the U.S.
?’This is not a debut; this is a return,’ Awode said in an interview. ‘We paused to grow, and we are back to build something permanent.’
The rebrand to CLOVIS reflects a shift toward what the company calls ‘Tradurban’-a positioning strategy that blends traditional West African textiles like Aso-Oke with minimalist, contemporary tailoring.
The updated aesthetic features a restrained color palette of black, white, and sand, alongside bespoke detailing aimed at the upscale ‘quiet luxury’ segment.
The Renaissance Collection introduces three core product families: Lagos Loom, featuring woven denim and fringe outerwear; Afroform, centered on geometric print sets; and a City Graphics line commemorating the brand’s expansion from Ibadan to Atlanta.