IN A FASHION THERAPY SESSION WITH RANGER – THE STYLE SAVIOR.

Fashion is instinctive, it is born of a great idea and then, brought to life. Lone Ranger – Dalhatu Baba’s designs are innate, with a touch from his inner spice. His style is always a strong statement on the people he dresses, the aura seeping through them as they move with swift comfortability and style.

Born and bred in Lagos, Ranger can never catch a time off! He moves faster than the clock, dropping mind-blowing styles in any deal he can lay his enchanted hands on. The deep-minded model also represents his original brand, the famous TIH Studios, the infamous duo known for turning fashion into an enigmatic lifestyle.

Now, hold onto your special invite to Ranger’s fashion source because it is going to be a wild ride! In this interview, we get to take a tour around his lifestyle, we get to learn about his style, his rad skills, and the deep meanings to each of his works. Buckle your seatbelts like we said before, it’s a wild ride! 

FASHION ROYALTY – BORN AND RAISED

“What inspired my passion was my mom. Right from my grandma, the business of Aso-oke has been on. So growing up, out of all my brothers, it was just me. I would always watch her and I would stay in her shop after school every day, I guess I just got interested from there.”

Raised in a fashion house in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, it shows that Ranger was pruned for a purpose. His discovery and his burning need to style and storm began cooking in him from a young age and best of all, the gift seems to be hereditary. 

We also noticed how Ranger was the only son who clung to his mom’s interest, sticking with her and getting enchanted by the colors of fabric. This clearly shows us that fashion called on to him – and he answered which is a decision we are all glad he made.

THE UNVEILING OF TIH STUDIOS

The designer’s brand is famously known as TIH STUDIOS. The full name of the acronym being – Trapping In Hell. We know, “shocking.” However, this is when Ranger’s enigmatic mindset comes in. 

“Whenever people hear the full meaning of my brand’s name, they get scared and say oh, hell and that is the problem. People usually think of the surface of it when it’s deeper than that. It simply means struggling or surviving through bad times.” 

The powerful meaning and how he was able to put such meaning into a cool and simple phrase is impressive. He also compared the brand’s meaning to the streets of Lagos and the country, Nigeria at large, which was not a surprise. Nigerians are famously known to hold the good times to heart while going through a lot of bad tunnels. Our comedy, jokes, music, dance, food, and lifestyle keep us on our toes, giving us a bright hope for the future and the Nigerian designer finds that exhilarating and inspiring enough. 

“The name is also personal to me, because that is my everyday life.”

ANGEL VS. DEMONS

According to Dalhatu, fashion is a lifestyle and an easy gift which he has always had access to. Something that he has always loved to create. He called it good vs. bad. He described the brand as something he would always love to take his time and get it done. After a bunch of scrapping and approval, AVD was born. 

“I scrapped so many authentic designs from this collection and chose the best of the best.”

He also discussed the true meaning of the fashion line and how he loves to create fashion by attaching deep meanings to it. 

“The video on my page showed what I was trying to portray. There are usually different plans but as usual, the good always wins the bad. The meanings behind lines are important, when people find out there is more to it than style, they would fuck with it.’

The collection itself is “sick” and it is one of the best designs of 2024, in Grix’s opinion. The material looks friendly to the skin and colors make you choose between the light and the darkness. The fabric designs are as sleek as Inferno, which is another design of TIH studios.

 

THE SECRETS OF STYLING

The dynamic that Dalhatu creates is a fashion turn-on. His reliability is to be reckoned with at any time and day. His flexibility to adapt to the beautiful styles of each artist is to be reckoned with. He also mentioned in the interview that he was very good when working under pressure which enhances his commitment to always deliver within a short while.

“I usually work best under pressure. There was a time I had a quick order for Shallipopi, he texted me at midnight and I was always able to deliver in time.”

The resilience and belief Dalhatu has to be able to deliver the best in a short while is already mind-blowing. He also noted to us that he even gets better when he arranges the designs a night before. What even makes things more better, is the fact that he styles the artist in the way they would love to be styled. He believes you shine better in your own comfortability but of course – with his secret sprinkle of spice.

THE CHECKPOINTS OF RANGER

There is nothing we love at Grix more than the future ahead. Feed us with what you want to do or what you plan to do. Dalhatu served us during the interview with the styles of artists that he loves, the person he would love to collaborate with, and of course – the artists he would like to style.

“I would love to style Wizkid, he does great. Rema too. My dream Collab would be with Mowalolo, I love her enigmatic style, the kind of fashion that makes you question.” 

The great recognizes the great. Fashion is dynamic and smooth, and of course it has so many meanings. To Dalhatu, it is communicative and meaningful. He loves being able to read the styles effortlessly, bursting the heads of many at the results. Talking to him was like opening our minds to new doors of fashion.