A Nigerian Artist has been exhibiting some of his latest designs in Lagos. Tunde Owolabi uses a local fabric known as Aso Oke, which is very popular in Southwest Nigeria, as the key element in the design of his works. Deji Badmus has more.

From the shoes, the bags, the furniture, to the paintings, you just can't miss that touch of Aso Oke that runs through all of Tunde Owolabi's designs and works. The shoes are all handmade locally using the Aso Oke, a very popular traditional handwoven fabric among the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria.

It's the same with the handbags, all beautifully woven from the fabric and mixed with some leather.

For Tunde, the decision to use Aso-Oke as his main design is not by accident. He says he is trying to preserve his Yoruba heritage. And that's he's titled this exhibition "This is Me" to showcase a collection of his works as expression of where he comes from.

TUNDE OWOLABI ARTIST "About seven years ago I did a research into the fabric. I had an exhibition on Aso Oke. And I have since translated Aso Oke in different ways, more sustainable way for a lot of people to enjoy it. People wear Aso Oke for ceremonies only and young people don't see Aso Oke as a cool fabric to wear but we have been able to translate Aso Oke in different ways and people find it amazing."

If Tunde's fashion items are unique and cool, his paintings are far from the usual. The Aso Oke theme is clearly visible. And one work that particularly stands out is this one, an African woman with the Aso oke wrapped around her shoulder.

TUNDE OWOLABI ARTIST "It's a collage actually. I used pieces of Aso Oke that I sued to produce bags and shoes. And rather than throw them away, I decided to recycle them into an art work. If you moved back and looked at it, it looks like an impasto of oil colour but when you go close, you can see the actual texture of the Fabric. This is titled they had nothing on me, actually telling the story of a woman who is confident, who is strong, who identifies with where she is from through her dressing and hairstyle."

Tunde's designs and works are gathering admirations from all corners. Turn out at his exhibition is impressive. And one of the visitors here explains what he finds unique about the exhibition.

FRANKLYN OZEKHOME ART PATRON "One word I can use to describe it is awesomeness. Her we have a fusion of art, fashion, afro-cosmos. What Tunde Owolabi has done is a very good job of putting together the best of trends in one cool word, which is afro-tourism. And I think that's the best thing that can happen when you have a fusion of pop art, illustration art; more of taking from our local trends and what he has done with Ethnik tour. What we are seeing here now is actually an experience this thing brought to life, and I think that is what's interesting here."

The is not Tunde's first show, his first solo exhibition, African Elegance was at the Battersea Art Gallery, London in 2009. His commissioned works can be found at the Hungarian Embassy and Nigerian Stock Exchange. Deji Badmus, CGTN, Nigeria.