In the art world, some individuals seamlessly blur the boundaries between various domains. Among them is Abimbola Fernandez, a French-born American heiress, singer, and fashion aficionado who stands tall in her multifaceted career backed by a unique blend of musical prowess, innate fashion sense, and a remarkable family legacy.
The daughter of His Excellency Ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez and Chief Aduke O. Fernandez, the Baron and Baroness of Dudley, Abimbola’s life journey has been one teeming with diversity.
Fernandez’ love for music ignited at a young age, influenced by her mother’s background in the music industry.
She recalls, “My mother’s early years were in the music industry working with Isaac Hayes Sr. She encouraged my sister and me to learn instruments from a young age.” She continues, “I started playing violin at 5 and guitar at 13! I would spend hours in my room with my guitar plugged into this tiny amp learning to play every single Blink 182 song to ever exist, which surprisingly I still can do!”
With her early education taking her from New York, where her father served at the United Nations, to the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, where she and her sister attended the prestigious co-ed boarding school, Fettes College, Fernandez quickly found herself immersed in the enchanting world of alternative rock.
The pulse of punk rock, pop-punk, and metal shaped her musical tastes, fueling her desire to form a rock band. Although fate took her on a different path, Fernandez’s involvement in the EDM group Madame Luxe, alongside the talented Cash Cash, marked the beginning of her musical journey.
Describing her creative process when writing music, Fernandez reveals that it serves as a form of therapy for her. She shares, “Writing music for me is therapy. 99% of the music I actually write, you will never hear. I always write while playing the guitar and speak from the heart. I have hundreds of voice notes on my phone!”
It is perhaps this cathartic element that encouraged Fernandez to step back from the public eye and pursue her passion for music privately – despite signing with a label – preferring to strum her guitar and penning heartfelt lyrics from the comfort of her own home.
If music was one pillar of her life, fashion was the other flame that guided her along. Influenced again by her mother and their experiences attending Paris Fashion Week, where the artistry of renowned global fashion houses came to life before her eyes, fashion became an inseparable part of who Fernandez is.
She shares, “When it comes to fashion, I was extremely fortunate to attend all the shows for Paris Fashion Week with my mother growing up. She had personal shoppers from Chanel, Valentino, and Saks Fifth Avenue in the states who kept all of our wardrobes revolving with the seasons.” Following the passing of her mother, Fernandez ventured on a mission to preserve her legacy and the history of the garments she cherished. She reveals, “I curated a collection of vintage couture and ready-to-wear garments that belonged to her [my mother] that she had worn amongst some of the world’s most iconic leaders.”
Fernandez’s desire to honor her heritage and tell the story of these garments and fashion houses led her to establish her own Luxe-Leisure Heritage brand, DEINDE. Collaborating with partners Israel David and Faith Lucas who are well-versed in its intricacies, she aims to honor African and African American Imperial Ascension through design and textiles. With DEINDE, Fernandez seeks to create a legacy that celebrates her roots while embracing the contemporary spirit of the fashion industry and cultivating a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into each garment.
A testament to her multifaceted talents, Fernandez’s true-life story unfolds in her forthcoming docu-series, “African Royale,” set to premiere on The Africa Channel this fall
