When Nifemi Ashani was born, the nurse told her mother: “I foresee this child of yours is going to be into fashion.” Ashani moved from Nigeria to South Africa at four years old and arrived in Canada at the age of 10. Fast forward to present day and she’s a grad student, runner, church goer and Edmontonian. You can also add “prophecy fulfiller” to that list — Ashani is the fashion brand consultant and founder of Styled by Nif, an Edmonton-based fashion styling and creative agency that tackles everything from designer management and fashion styling to social media marketing and brand strategy.
Edify‘s interview with Nifemi Ashani
You’ve lived in a few different places — you mentioned Nigeria, South Africa and Canada. How have the places you’ve lived, and the cultures in those places, influenced the work you do at Styled by Nif?
Styled by Nif is big on driving culture diversity — that’s the cornerstone of what we do. One of our largest events thus far was last year in September [Farming YEG Fashion], we coined it as Edmonton’s largest BIPOC fashion event. That was a space where we would see all sorts of people — Asian, Black, Indian, Caucasian — all in one space celebrating fashion. And to me that’s important, as coming from Nigeria, living in South Africa and here in Canada, we’re very multicultural. Appreciating and honouring diverse cultures needs to be important in one’s work, because it’s not only one type of group that’s going to receive what you’re creating.
We focus on working with businesses, brands and agencies that have a focal point on pushing diversity and pushing the decolonization of fashion. When I say decolonization, I mean challenging the status quo and embracing nuanced perspectives that go beyond dominant narratives. This involves rethinking how we engage with fabric, clothing, and design—acknowledging multiple ideologies rather than a singular way of seeing fashion. At Styled by Nif, cultural storytelling is at the heart of our work, ensuring that fashion is not just an aesthetic expression but a meaningful dialogue that honors diverse histories, traditions, and identities.
Are there any elements within Edmonton, and Edmonton’s culture, that you take inspiration from in your fashion styling?
Edmonton has a lot of talented creators, models, stylists, designers, and I’m very passionate about creating spaces where all of us can connect. What really inspires me about Edmonton is the drive, the tenacity, the creativity, and the fact that at Styled by Nif, we’re not the only ones doing it. There are so many people who are popping up and creating spaces to express themselves. For us at Styled by Nif, we’re really passionate about pushing the needle forward, and helping other creatives see that they can do it, and they can start here in Edmonton. Even if they want to go elsewhere, at least they should appreciate where they started.
Through all the opportunities and collaborations that they’re able to do to build their portfolio, Edmonton is that stepping ground. You can do it easier here than if you did it in Toronto or Vancouver. To start your fashion brand, to start a fashion agency, to be a stylist there, is expensive. Edmonton is a great place to start — you can really go big here.
What really inspires me about Edmonton is the drive, the tenacity, the creativity, and the fact that at Styled by Nif, we’re not the only ones doing it.
What goals do you have for the future — both for yourself personally and for Styled by Nif?
I’m at the stage where I’m really establishing my name as an expert in my industry. I’m wanting to continue to work more with high profile people and get on projects and certain boards that allow me to learn from the best of the best. I’m also willing to contribute my vision and not shy away from doing that. So, my personal goal is just to continue evolving and being in a position where I can finally call the shots in the industry.
I want to eventually lecture at universities and go into policy with UNESCO and the UN, specifically in the cultural department, to look at what strategies we can put in place in connecting the global south and global north when it comes to the fashion, creative, and culture industry. For Styled by Nif, we’re working on becoming an incubator for the Canadian fashion industry and looking at cross-cultural collaboration, where we can offer mentorship programs, designer residency programs — where we are really growing the fashion industry in Canada.
