Press

WWDMonica Barbaro Contrasts in Plunging Black and White Brandon Maxwell Gown for GQ’s Men of the Year Party FashionistaICYMI: Hanifa's Relaunch, Nuuly Is 'Spring Awakening''s Styling Partner & Amber Valletta and Teddy Charles on Their New Hair-Care Brand FashionUnitedMr Marvis surpasses 25-store target and eyes new European markets Field NotesMilan: 25,612 looks from 549 houses, now on the map WWDCamila Cabello Embellishes Paris Texas’ Lidia Mules with Rosary Anklet at the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards FashionistaESP Showroom Is Hiring A Wholesale Fashion Showroom & Sales Coordinator In New York, NY (Hybrid)FashionUnitedWho is David Epstein, Hugo Boss’s next CEO?Field NotesParis: 11,161 looks from 267 houses, now on the map WWDFlorence Pugh Wears Gothic Mourning Dress with Vivienne Westwood Pumps at an East of Eden FYC Event in Los Angeles Fashionista'Angels Among Us' Winner Solange Omon Shares Advice for Aspiring Models FashionUnitedRimowa and Maison Margiela release limited-edition travel set Field NotesNew York: 2,080 looks from 49 houses, now on the map WWDAlexander Skarsgård Glistens In Liquid Satin COS Men’s Shirt with Dusty Pink Cummerbund FashionistaMust Read: Smart Glasses Launch Reopens Debate Over Privacy, How Fashion Helped Protect Great Bear Rainforest FashionUnitedMade in France: Mélenchon wants to revive French textile industry Field NotesTokyo: 1,743 looks from 54 houses, now on the map WWDDrake’s Nocta Brand Will Debut a New Nike Technology on Its Next Sneaker Release FashionistaHow This Former Teacher Built a Business Selling and Archiving Vintage Luxury Fashion FashionUnitedBrand Radar: Kardo - the Indian brand turning artisanal textiles into modern menswear Field NotesCopenhagen: 1,455 looks from 51 houses, now on the map Field NotesLagos: 1,409 looks from 50 houses, now on the map Field NotesLondon: 1,164 looks from 33 houses, now on the map Field NotesBerlin: 985 looks from 41 houses, now on the map Field NotesSão Paulo: 287 looks from 8 houses, now on the map Field NotesMexico City: 267 looks from 9 houses, now on the map Field NotesFlorence: 137 looks from 3 houses, now on the map Field NotesMadrid: 131 looks from 3 houses, now on the map Field NotesSydney: 127 looks from 4 houses, now on the map Field NotesSeoul: 37 looks from 1 houses, now on the map

WWDMonica Barbaro Contrasts in Plunging Black and White Brandon Maxwell Gown for GQ’s Men of the Year Party FashionistaICYMI: Hanifa's Relaunch, Nuuly Is 'Spring Awakening''s Styling Partner & Amber Valletta and Teddy Charles on Their New Hair-Care Brand FashionUnitedMr Marvis surpasses 25-store target and eyes new European markets Field NotesMilan: 25,612 looks from 549 houses, now on the map WWDCamila Cabello Embellishes Paris Texas’ Lidia Mules with Rosary Anklet at the 27th Annual Latin Grammy Awards FashionistaESP Showroom Is Hiring A Wholesale Fashion Showroom & Sales Coordinator In New York, NY (Hybrid)FashionUnitedWho is David Epstein, Hugo Boss’s next CEO?Field NotesParis: 11,161 looks from 267 houses, now on the map WWDFlorence Pugh Wears Gothic Mourning Dress with Vivienne Westwood Pumps at an East of Eden FYC Event in Los Angeles Fashionista'Angels Among Us' Winner Solange Omon Shares Advice for Aspiring Models FashionUnitedRimowa and Maison Margiela release limited-edition travel set Field NotesNew York: 2,080 looks from 49 houses, now on the map WWDAlexander Skarsgård Glistens In Liquid Satin COS Men’s Shirt with Dusty Pink Cummerbund FashionistaMust Read: Smart Glasses Launch Reopens Debate Over Privacy, How Fashion Helped Protect Great Bear Rainforest FashionUnitedMade in France: Mélenchon wants to revive French textile industry Field NotesTokyo: 1,743 looks from 54 houses, now on the map WWDDrake’s Nocta Brand Will Debut a New Nike Technology on Its Next Sneaker Release FashionistaHow This Former Teacher Built a Business Selling and Archiving Vintage Luxury Fashion FashionUnitedBrand Radar: Kardo - the Indian brand turning artisanal textiles into modern menswear Field NotesCopenhagen: 1,455 looks from 51 houses, now on the map Field NotesLagos: 1,409 looks from 50 houses, now on the map Field NotesLondon: 1,164 looks from 33 houses, now on the map Field NotesBerlin: 985 looks from 41 houses, now on the map Field NotesSão Paulo: 287 looks from 8 houses, now on the map Field NotesMexico City: 267 looks from 9 houses, now on the map Field NotesFlorence: 137 looks from 3 houses, now on the map Field NotesMadrid: 131 looks from 3 houses, now on the map Field NotesSydney: 127 looks from 4 houses, now on the map Field NotesSeoul: 37 looks from 1 houses, now on the map

← The Designers

Founder and designer, Cynthia Abila

Cynthia Otiyo-Abila

Nigerian

Nigerian designer who launched the Cynthia Abila label in 2016. Based in Abuja, the brand makes womenswear from concept to construction in Nigeria and works with local artisans, drawing on Nigerian heritage and textile techniques. It is recognised for its sustainability focus and has shown at Lagos Fashion Week, including Spring/Summer 2020.

Houses

Founder and designer
Cynthia Abila
Since 2016 · about 10 years

Their runway, measured

22 looks in 1 show

Next to every runway we track, Cynthia Otiyo-Abila's looks are lighter, more saturated, less neutral and warmer.

Colours

Black20%
Red · 7.4× the average16%
White · 2.4× the average11%
Ivory / cream · 1.6× the average9%
Chocolate brown5%
Mustard / ochre · 11.4× the average4%
Orange · 12.1× the average4%
Yellow · 17.3× the average3%

Share of garment area across their looks; × is against every runway.

Colour and surface

Lightness49/100lighter · all runways 39/100
Colour saturation29.1more saturated · all runways 12.6
Neutrals45%less neutral · all runways 60%
Warm hues82%warmer · all runways 70%
Tonal looks41%more tonal · all runways 33%
Colour-blockingΔE 46more colour-blocked · all runways ΔE 35
Surface texture9.05more textured · all runways 5.06
Sheen0.075shinier · all runways 0.065

What sets them apart

Shapes, fabrics and details they use far more often than other designers.

Heritage / traditional dress 6.9×Strappy heeled sandals 6.9×Maximalist 6.0×Craft / artisanal 5.8×Fringed 5.6×Fringe 5.1×Playful 4.2×

Silhouettes

Straight / tubular 36%
Column 36%1.8×
Tiered / layered volume 23%3.4×
Fitted / bodycon 23%2.3×
Balloon / bubble 23%4.0×

Materials

Cotton / poplin 68%2.2×
Fringe 27%5.1×
Wool / tailoring cloth 14%55% less
Silk / satin 14%42% less
Jersey 14%

Details

Gathering 41%2.8×
Fringe 36%4.1×
Raw / frayed hems 32%3.3×
Oversized collar 27%2.3×
Embroidery 18%2.3×

Patterns

Stripes 18%2.6×
Abstract stripe / brushstroke 14%7.7×
Abstract print 14%2.9×
Check / plaid 14%2.5×
Colour-block 14%2.5×

Mood

Playful 73%4.2×
Powerful 50%3.3×
Dramatic 41%3.1×
Relaxed 32%
Elegant 23%47% less

Era references

1970s 9%
1980s 5%

From the AI tags on 22 of their looks. A designer is credited with a house's shows while they lead it; ×: how much more often than across all 25,892 measured looks.

Opening looks

The first looks of each collection

Collections

Cynthia Abila Spring/Summer 2027 — Cynthia AbilaSpring/Summer 2027 · Lagos · 22 looks