Somerville Teen Crochets Prom Dress In Three Days, Then Goes Viral

“Look at me now,” she wishes. she might say to people who teased her for having a “grandmother's hobby” and dreaming of becoming a fashion designer. “I’m very glad I didn’t let it get me down.”

When one of her best friends invited her to accompany him to the Somerville High School prom in May, Akinbuwa, who graduated last year, immediately saw an opportunity to showcase her talents.

With a design in mind – a strapless dress designed by Valentino Haute Couture that one of her favorite actresses, Zendaya, wore to the 2023 SAG Awards – Akinbuwa went to Michaels, an arts and crafts store that she frequents, and bought $60 worth of yarn.

“I knew I was going to go viral when I started doing it,” she said. “Making your prom dress is very unique.”

She had just a few days before the event to crochet the dress, a needlework effort that involved not only using her crochet hook and strands of pink yarn, but also time and patience. But she never doubted her ability to complete the project despite tight deadlines.

In just three tireless days, she produced a dress that caught the attention of millions, including Law Roach, a A prominent fashion designer who has worked with Zendaya for a long time. He left a comment on one of her Instagram posts that brought Akinbuwa to tears of happiness.

“He said it was so cute,” said Akinbuwa, a big admirer of his work. “No one can put me down anymore. »

In 2019, she moved with her family from Nigeria to New York. After living there for two years, they moved to Somerville during the pandemic. Looking for something to do, Akinbuwa began devoting almost all of her time to the art of crochet, seeking to learn as much as she could in hopes of becoming a fashion designer. At 16, she has intensified its commitment and, for two years, has been crocheting “non-stop”.

Akinbuwa regularly posts his designs on social media, some of which are featured in fashion shows, made for his clothing brand “Oyinda's” (his first Nigerian brand). name), or created for custom orders. Her room is filled with outfits she has crocheted.

While admiring celebrities such as Zendaya and Cardi B, Akinbuwa said she also draws inspiration from God and the Bible. His next floral-themed collection is called “The Garden of Eden.”

She had hoped it was only a matter of time before one of his plays entered the mainstream. But she didn't expect to attract so much attention.

When she went to the bathroom at her friend's prom to film a video for TikTok, Akinbuwa said it took her almost 30 minutes because people kept complimenting her handmade dress .

“I love your dress,” one person tells her in a video she uploaded. “Thanks, I made it,” Akinbuwa replies.

“Afterwards, I was crying because I was very emotional,” she said. “There are many good people in this world.”

Some fans have asked if they can buy the dress, but she's not sure she wants to part with it. Her sister and father, who moved from Nigeria with her to Massachusetts, are among her biggest supporters, she said.

“How many views do you have now on TikTok? » his father asked him on Tuesday. She told him the number exceeded 26 million.

“Wooooow,” she remembers saying.

“I have good family support,” she says. “They’re always there for me, always taking videos, always supporting me.”

Akinbuwa will attend Framingham State University later this year and plans to study fashion. She aspires that one day people will want to shop at “Oyinda” and buy the clothes she designs.

“If I was a fashion designer, I would never feel like I was working because I love doing it,” she said. “It’s my joy. »

You can contact Shannon Larson at [email protected]. Follow her @shannonlarson98.