BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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In the ever-evolving landscape of Nigerian fashion, one name continues to push the envelope with daring designs and disruptive energy: bolapsd. On April 30, 2025, the Lagos-based streetwear label dropped a sizzling new collection that has effectively reaffirmed its uncanny ability to fuse fashion, art, and attitude. Released precisely at 9 PM, the new lineup is available online and ready to ship–an instant magnet for fans who’ve been closely following the brand’s recent cryptic teasers and stylized previews.
At the center of the drop is the “This Life I Live is Forever” polo–a visual monolith and spiritual anchor for the entire collection. Available in two core colorways; deep black and royal red, the shirt is an homage to 2000s prep aesthetics reinterpreted for the Lagos street circuit. Ornate embroidery dominates the torso: a crowned crest bearing the brand’s signature badge sits over the heart, while a silhouette of a polo rider gallops across the chest. Beneath them, in sweeping cursive, is the phrase “This Life I Live is Forever”, a mantra of endurance, ambition, and individuality. The shirt is further accented with grommeted eyelets at the hem, a nod to punk utility, and a boldly stitched “EST. MMXXIII,” subtly cementing bolapsd’s rise since its 2023 inception.
Completing the look is the Warhead Beanie, a white knit headpiece bearing a menacing, stylized skull graphic that fuses comic-book menace with cybernetic surrealism. The red-and-black illustration bleeds upward into the white knit, making the skull feel almost ghostly. It’s a war cry in cotton–a raw emblem of power, rebellion, and survival. A small black “bolapsd” tag on the rim maintains minimalist branding while letting the graphic speak volumes.
More than just garments, this drop is a celebration of identity and subversion–a theme bolapsd has consistently delivered since its inception. Founded in late 2021 by creative visionary Bola “PSD” Olaniyan, bolapsd is more than a fashion label–it’s a movement rooted in storytelling, rebellion, and generational voice. Bola, who originally began as a graphic designer, has skillfully carried his design eye into wearable art, building a brand that’s both aesthetically arresting and socially charged. His work fuses Nigerian slang, internet culture, and a global streetwear spirit that resonates from Lagos to London to Toronto.
bolapsd’s trajectory has been meteoric yet intentional. From collaborating with giants like Nike and Ashluxe, to curating iconic pop-up events under the bolapsd forever banner in cities like Lagos, Toronto, and Abuja, the brand continues to shape Nigeria’s fashion zeitgeist. In 2023, bolapsd was spotlighted as part of the GUAP and Native Mag BLACKLIST, a testament to its growing influence in the Afro-diasporic creative space.
This latest drop encapsulates everything bolapsd represents: irreverence, innovation, and deep cultural relevance. The designs speak to a generation unafraid to be loud, unfiltered, and stylishly contradictory. With each piece from the collection now live on bolapsd.xyz, fashion-forward fans have once again been handed a capsule that mirrors their energy and elevates their street-style game.
As bolapsd continues to defy norms and set new standards for African streetwear, one thing is clear–this isn’t just about clothes. It’s about identity, movement, and owning the narrative, one audacious drop at a time.
