Folake Coker
{{Short description|Nigerian fashion designer (born 1974)}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Folake Coker
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| birth_name = Folake Folarin
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1974}}
| birth_place = Lagos, Nigeria
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| nationality = Nigerian
| education =
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| occupation = Fashion designer
| known for = Founder and creative director of Tiffany Amber
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| spouse = Folorunsho Coker (divorced)
| parents = Bode Akindele{{cite web | last=Ayanda | first=Tunde | title=It’s a double wrap for Designer, Folake Coker | website=Tribune Online | date=30 March 2024 | url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/its-a-double-wrap-for-designer-folake-coker/ | access-date=23 June 2025}}
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Folake Folarin-Coker (born 1974) is a Nigerian fashion designer and creative director of Tiffany Amber.{{cite web |date=10 April 2014 |title=Magnificently Brilliant Folake Coker Covers TW Magazine's April issue |url=http://www.thebbbuz.com/magnificently-brilliant-folake-coker-covers-tw-magazines-april-issue |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=BBBuzz}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite web |author=Olamide Olanrewaju |date=10 April 2014 |title=The 'Forbes' Designer! Folake Folarin Coker Is Stunning On TW Magazine April Cover |url=http://pulse.ng/lifestyle/fashion/the-forbes-designer-folake-folarin-coker-is-stunning-on-tw-magazine-april-cover-id2788518.html |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=Pulse}}
Early life and education
Folake was born in Lagos, Nigeria in 1974. She is ethnic Yoruba and of Ibadan descent. After her education in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, she earned a postgraduate degree in petroleum law and returned to Nigeria to pursue her fashion interests.{{cite web |title=Fashion Designer:Folake Folarin -Coker |url=http://afrobougee.com/folake-folarin---coker.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606231443/http://afrobougee.com/folake-folarin---coker.html |archive-date=6 June 2014 |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=Afrobougee}}
Career
Her fashion brand, "Tiffany Amber" was launched in Lagos in 1998. The brand has four stand alone stores and boutiques in Lagos and Abuja.{{cite web |author=Belinda Otas |title=Tiffany Amber & The Business of Fashion |url=http://www.belindaotas.com/?p=11071 |accessdate=4 June 2014 |archive-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026150200/http://belindaotas.com/?p=11071 |url-status=dead }} She has staged several fashion shows in Africa, Europe{{cite journal |date=13 September 2011 |title=Tiffany Amber presents her Fearless Luxury at the London fashion Week |url=http://www.fabafriq.com/articles/tiffanyamber |journal= |publisher=FabAfrique Magazine |access-date=4 June 2014}} and the United States.{{cite web |title=Folake Folarin Coker and the Tiffany Amber brand |url=http://www.lifestyle.ng.msn.com/features/folake-folarin-coker-and-the-tiffany-amber-brand |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727142917/http://lifestyle.ng.msn.com/features/folake-folarin-coker-and-the-tiffany-amber-brand |archive-date=27 July 2013 |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=MSN Lifestyle}} In 2008, she made history as the first African-based fashion designer to stage a show twice at the New York Fashion Week. She was the first recipient of the "Designer of the Year" award at the African fashion week in Johannesburg in 2009 and was also awarded "Fashion Brand of the Year" at the ARISE Magazine Fashion week in 2011. In 2013, she received an Enterprise Award at the 2013 Women, Inspiration and Enterprise (WIE) Symposium{{cite web |title=Folake Folarin-Coker of Tiffany Amber Nigeria, scoops WIE Enterprise Award |url=http://www.womanistworld.com/folake-folarin-coker-of-tiffany-amber-nigeria-scoops-wie-enterprise-award/ |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=Womanist World |archive-date=1 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701092851/http://www.womanistworld.com/folake-folarin-coker-of-tiffany-amber-nigeria-scoops-wie-enterprise-award/ |url-status=dead }} and made the Forbes Power women list.{{cite web |date=10 April 2014 |title=Folake Coker covers TW Magazine's April Issue |url=http://www.jaguda.com/2014/04/10/folake-coker-covers-tw-magazines-april-issue/ |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=Jaguda |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306065357/http://jaguda.com/2014/04/10/folake-coker-covers-tw-magazines-april-issue/ |url-status=dead }} She unveiled her 'Nirvana' spring/summer collections at DOII Designs launch.{{cite web |author=Noble Ezeala |date=8 February 2014 |title=Tiffany Amber Debuts 'Nirvana' Collections |url=http://www.thefancyhub.com/tiffany-amber-debuts-nirvana-springsummer-2014-collection-with-models-posing-as-live-art-at-do-ii-designs-launch/ |accessdate=4 June 2014 |publisher=the Fancy Hub |archive-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606222558/http://www.thefancyhub.com/tiffany-amber-debuts-nirvana-springsummer-2014-collection-with-models-posing-as-live-art-at-do-ii-designs-launch/ |url-status=dead }}
When asked if her father ever influenced her career in any way, Folake Coker said her father never influenced their career as his children but would direct them choices of career they decide to venture into.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2020 |title=Dad joked about living till 103, wasn't ready to die — Folarin Coker's daughter |url=https://punchng.com/dad-joked-about-living-till-103-wasnt-ready-to-die-folarin-cokers-daughter/ |access-date=8 February 2021 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Folake was married to businessman Folorunsho Coker, who has since remarried, former managing director of the number plate production authority of the State of Lagos, now business adviser to the Governor of Lagos.{{cite web | url=http://dailytimes.ng/high-society-marriages-that-have-bitten-the-dust/ | title=Dailytimes.ng }}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140622080210/http://www.tiffanyamberng.com/index.php Tiffany Amber's Official Website]
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Category:Nigerian businesspeople in fashion
Category:20th-century Nigerian businesswomen
Category:20th-century Nigerian businesspeople
Category:Nigerian fashion designers
Category:21st-century Nigerian businesswomen
Category:21st-century Nigerian businesspeople
Category:Businesspeople from Lagos