he story of Mobolaji Dawodu is one of a well-traveled individual that’s experienced and realized that this world as a whole, shares more similarities than differences. Currently residing in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights by way of Nigeria, and a few places in between, Dawodu has always leaned towards the arenas of style and fashion. Dawodu’s insight is deeply rooted in an affirming culture and family that would only assist in molding his direction and place in this cyclical and fickle fashion industry.
Growing up in Nigeria didn’t differ much from his adolescent experiences visiting New York. The outstanding differences were in the etiquette and tradition around the party scene. In America, when the parents go out, babysitters are usually called upon; in Nigeria, the children partied too. “Growing up in Nigeria as a kid, there were parties every weekend. You either went to the party or the country club. When I tell you there’s always a party in Nigeria, there’s always a party in Nigeria.” The contributing style editor at the Fader of seven years and counting, continues, “In Nigeria, when your parents went to a party, you went to the party. There was no staying at home while (the parents) go out, everybody goes out.” What the Nigerian party scene looked like? To hear Dawodu elaborate on it, it would seem as if every day was a fashion show, this would be the introduction to his perspective on style, “I think Nigerians are very stylish people. There were always colors and prints and always parties to go to. Nigerians are so social and both of my parents are kind of stylish and quite fly. I guess I would say it (sense of style), was already there. I grew up with style and extravagance.” Acquiring his worldview from his mother who had a clothing business, Dawodu would become her makeshift apprentice traveling with her to conventions and shows.
Editorial wise, it’s about capturing the right person with confidence.
Dawodu, who would later style a number of artists’ music videos including the Black Eyed Peas “My Hump,” moved to Richmond, Virginia at the age 10. He would, like many transplants, encounter a bit of culture shock during his transition. “My mom is American, so when I was young I would always come stateside for the holidays. Coming to the U.S. was a shock, I remember hearing for the first time the words awesome and tubular. And as much as it sounds funny, I was like ‘Yo, what the hell are they talking about?’ Coming from Nigeria I moved straight to Richmond, Virginia until the end of high school. Richmond was cool but lacked the openness.” When Dawodu visited New York it was similar to traveling from New York to L.A. for him in regards to the sense of pace. The speed of New York was manageable and didn’t engulf or overwhelm like it does so many others. “Lagos is 20-times what New York is in terms of craziness. It was hot because I would always come to New York; I would begin visiting since I was 11 or 12.”
With that natural training he received from Nigeria, constant visits to the states and numerous visits to the Big Apple, Dawodu got involved in a club at school called Deca around his 11th and 12th grade years. Deca dealt with fashion and merchandising which Dawodu would become president of. After completing his education in Virginia and a secondary education at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland, Dawodu decided to make the jump to New York because every where else didn’t fulfill his creative needs. It would be during this juncture while interning at Dolce & Gabbana that becoming a full-time stylist would become reality. “While I was in New York, I started working at Dolce & Gabbana but at the press office. So that was my first introduction into the world of styling and how it worked.” The man who specifically remembers packing a bag for the late Michael Jackson continues, “It was crazy because growing up I would see all these different people in magazines. I remember specifically packing a bag for Michael Jackson and I was like ‘Wow, what’s going on?’ and I was thinking, ‘What company am I in, what’s happening over here?’ That threw me into the zone where I was like this is something that I think that I can do.
After D&G, Dawodu would get more opportunities and gigs but the real change would come the same day Dawodu was let go from one of his many jobs. Friend, director and filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu called and asked, “Do you want to go to Jamaica for the Fader?” From that call, a positive domino effect would push Dawodu’s career to style all over the world. “I took that trip with the Fader and there’s been no turning back since. My next trip was to go to Nigeria and style and then it was Savannah, Georgia, and eventually I became the contributing style editor. I’ve been at the Fader for about seven years. And through the exposure and traveling I’ve been able to do quite a few things.”
What I think I’m really known for is embellishing real people.
Everyone has an opinion on fashion and style and what those two extremely intertwined words mean. Dawodu’s definition comes from a place of honesty, which is a pleasant step away from an industry that’s always being dressed up to evoke lives that aren’t necessarily reality for the normal individual, “What I think I’m really known for is embellishing real people. The aesthetic of the Fader is about capturing real people. Editorial wise, it’s about capturing the right person with confidence. A person that’s original in their own right. It’s basically the marriage of a person’s own comfort with my own ideals of what style is.”
Dawodu’s career has taken him everywhere and his work has humbly flooded the mainstream, everything from music videos, to style direction for companies like Puma, to the famous iPod silhouette commercials. What he’s noticed most through his travels is that style comes from the bottom up, “When you don’t have any money, you make style happen. Like the flyest kids are the kids that aren’t even aware of it. And they don’t have the money to buy like—because they do care, every kid cares.” Living in Brooklyn, style is something rarely spoken but witnessed on a daily basis.
Dawodu feels right at home in Brooklyn coming from Nigeria, “Both (places) have an extreme sense of pride. Both are fast paced, Brooklyn has a far slower speed than anywhere in Lagos, but still fast. I feel that both are places you can always find anything you need, people you like, and a house party on any given weekend!” he adds, “I love my neighborhood because of all the demographics that exist. The elderly folks that always remind you of home and young kids that always keep you current with new things stylistically and culturally. I also love the music that blasts from speakers in the summer.”
Dawodu has plans beyond the Fader that may include his heavy involvement with film, rest assured, with his extensive knowledge and diverse outlook Dawodu’s fashion will pristinely shine through while he quietly continues to give recognition to true style from Lagos to Brooklyn. 
