Diary Of A Bad Man: Beginning The New Year In A Happy Fashion: OLD RELIGION SPRING/SUMMER 2013 LOOKBOOK

Happy New Year to all ye who strive relentlessly towards happiness, and same ol' same for the rest who don't. 2013 will be a great year, so long as we apply what we've learnt from 2012. I wish you all the best in your endeavours. Remember, success in not money, and neither are banknotes riches.

Moi, a la mode pensivite

Looking back at 2012, there really is not much that's noteworthy. The economy was worse than it's ever been, the music industry turned to a noise factory, poverty, insecurity, virtually everything! So many deaths everywhere (we lost Mustapha Muyideen, Ademola Aderinde, Whitney, Mama Josephine Okoye, Enebeli, Michael Clarke Duncan, Pete Eneh and millions of others). However, it's not about all that for now, as through it all, there was one brightly shining ray of hope throughout 2012 in Nigeria, which was the fashion industry.

Emmy Collins and his models

It was impossible for me to miss the fashion events last year, and I learnt a lot, and made lots of new friends. I'm even collaborating with a couple of designers like Lizaad Co (click the link to see what we've come up with http://www.lizaad.com/category/clothing-accessories/ ). Top on the list of Nigerian fashion event for 2012 of course, was the Nigerian Fashion and Design Week 2012. It was pure African inspiration. (read all about my LFDW2012 experience hereLAGOS FASHION WEEK 2012: Keeping It African)

Lagos Fashion and Design Week (LFDW2012) exhibition hall

The main attraction for me were the young Nigerians who can, despite NEPA, police harassment, poor government policies, hours in traffic, no bank loans, and the insecurity, come up with the most spectacular designs in the world last year. Particularly thrilling was when I called some of the designers for interviews, this one kid said he was in school...I thought like maybe a part time course at LBS, but no. The Old Religion boss, Buchi Okoro was stubbornly mixing all of these hassles with fashion design, and then school. Dude!

Young Designers at the LFDW2012 with Buchi Okoro of Old Religion farthest left

Haven't yet gotten that interview, but what I did get was equally worthwhile: The Old Religion LookBook 2013 and y'all will surely love what you'll see. The entire collection is made up of colourful pret-a-porter menswear which draws its inspiration from the hues of the season. It infuses plaids and solid fabric, bringing a nostalgic appeal into the fashionable man's closet by laying subtle emphasis on the "old newcomer" with the double-breasted jacket. Ogle: