With exotic colors, intricate embroidery work and various styles, Fricaine has hit the fashion scene with head-turning handbags that will stop any fashionable woman in her tracks. Designed by native Nigerian, Stephen Kayode, Fricaine is an exotic luxury brand that celebrates humanity using special fabrics that are essential parts of identities worldwide. “Our portfolio of products is nurtured by expansive global travel,” explains Kayode, “in Europe, Africa, Asia and throughout the U.S. The line is also inspired by the beautiful traditional and eclectic expressions of identifiable native fashions from these areas.”
An accomplished Technology and Management Professional, with extensive experience in the private and public sector, Kayode seems to be the least likely individual to venture into creating a luxury brand of exotic handbags. In an effort to expose the rest of the world to the beautiful colors and sophisticated designs of his native home, Kayode was awakened from a nap one afternoon, questioning the best way to share the beauty of the designs outside of his country’s customary African attire. “A lot of the designs are only found in traditional African garments,” he shared, “and are usually custom-made.” This, to Kayode, was a big dilemma and major opportunity for a creative endeavor. While the garments themselves are eye-catching, vibrant and extremely beautiful, he knew that the fashion styles, blouses which locals call “buba” and headscarfs called “gele”, wouldn’t necessarily excite the masses outside Africa. This provides a limitless avenue to change the status quo and introduce something fresh for global enjoyment by fashionistas.
Fricaine, the creatively apt brand name is derived from the French word “Africaine”, which means “African,” as a refreshing fashion concept has deliberately evolved over time into a business that is built on exceptional quality, craftsmanship and attention to detail. “We spent 18 months conducting extensive research and development that involved interviewing our target customers across a broad spectrum, conducting focus group sessions, seeking the opinions of people in the fashion industry and traveling internationally to validate the core concept of our business. All of this was done before our first acceptable sample was ever made,” said Kayode. “We gained invaluable knowledge and exposure from this endeavor that is bound to remain relevant and very useful to the evolution of Fricaine and our portfolio of products in the coming years.”
Wanting to get the patterns into general circulation by way of something more traditional, Kayode thought handbags would best capture the beauty of local peculiar fabrics in timeless staple pieces. “After carefully selecting unique, superior quality fabrics, we re-orientate, redesign and interpret these colorful materials in a radically different way to create well-crafted, authentic custom-made durable handbags and other fashion products. This portfolio of products accentuates the appeal of our sophisticated customers, empowering them for the world to admire. Our brand offers a refreshing fashion journey that guarantees a bold, memorable statement.” Kayode added that customers who carry his products exude an exotic and highly fashionable image that matches and compliments their personal style. Though the idea started with displaying embroidered and patterned designs familiar to Africa and Asia, Kayode, from his extensive travels, added other attractive designs to the collections.
The Fricaine line consists of jacquard material, wax fabric material, and embroidered purses. Regarding attention to detail, for example, the See Fancy Embroidered Handbag, is a multi-colored embroidered bag that features pieces native to the protected Miao tribe of China’s remote Guizhou region. All hardware is forged with real gold-plated material with anti-soul treatment and has no chance of corrosion. The thoughtful design of the handbag allows for one card pocket, one cell phone pocket, one drop pocket and one separate multi-purpose pocket. It also features an optional long adjustable strap. Fricaine’s other bags come in styles such as the Fricaine Queen’s Hand Satchel, the Sugar Buxx Shoulder Bag, the Eleganza Shoulder Bag, Alice Crossbody Bag, and the Exquisite Rattan Handle Shopper Bag, just to name a few. Fricaine’s portfolio of exotic luxury products has rapidly expanded to include wallets, clutches and backpacks. In essence, there is something on offer for any woman of style. Globally.
Customers of Fricaine have had nothing but amazing things to say about their new acquisitions. “I have had this bag for a little over 2 weeks and I use it every day. It is my work briefcase during the week, and my everyday purse on the weekends. Tons of pockets are amazing for organizing and it is perfect for traveling too! I get compliments ALL the time. It is very comfortable and even when packed does not feel too heavy…,” said DarkAyala on Amazon.com.
On the future of the brand, Kayode shares “Fricaine is envisioned to be a distinguished, standalone value brand that continues to confer class, elegance and grace on our discerning customers.” With their immediate goals focused on being present and accessible to their customers via leading department stores and other retail outlets, he believes that the company’s organic growth will increase rapidly within a short period. “We will continue to breathe freshness into the fashion industry, and intrinsically, Fricaine will become a vehicle for practical and effective corporate social citizenship by embracing worthy social causes that improve the quality of life and opportunities for the disadvantaged.” Kayode’s mission in the coming years is to make Fricaine a household fashion brand that their customers are extremely proud to be associated with.
For more information on the Fricaine brand, visit www.fricaine.com . Also, you can follow Fricaine on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter @Fricaine_Brand, to stay connected.
