Photos: Founder of Nubian Skin, Nigeria’s Ade Hassan, receives MBE Award from Queen Elizabeth ~ Naija Wahala

The founder and director of lingerie and hosiery brand, Nubian Skin, on Tuesday received her Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) award at the Buckingham Palace after being named in the 2017 Queen’s Honours list to receive an MBE for her services to fashion.

The award was given in recognition of Hassan’s commitment to her mission to redefine nude through her brand, and the impact she has consequently made on the fashion industry.

A statement by the company said: “Nubian Skin is pleased to announce that Ade Hassan, Founder and Director of Nubian Skin, has been awarded an MBE for her services to fashion, having been named on The Queen’s Birthday Honours list in June this year. The list recognises the achievements and contributions of a wide range of extraordinary people across various industries in the UK.

"Ade attended the investiture ceremony yesterday, where His Royal Highness Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, bestowed the honour upon her.

"The award was made in recognition of Ade’s commitment to her mission to redefine nude through her brand Nubian Skin, and the impact she has consequently made on the fashion industry.

On the honour, Ade said: “I really am so humbled and incredibly grateful to be receiving this. It’s not something I could ever have imagined.”

"After years of development, Ade created Nubian Skin in 2013 and launched the brand in late 2014. Frustrated by the lack of diversity in nude lingerie and hosiery, she decided to create something she was unable to find. Being the first to market with the concept, the brand launched with astounding support from women all over the world. Ade has continued to develop the brand with successful additional lines added alongside the original nude lingerie and hosiery. Despite its modest size, Nubian Skin has had an out-sized impact on the fashion industry, with more and more brands realising the importance of a more inclusive definition of the term “nude”.

"Nubian Skin is stocked in leading department stores and boutiques in nine countries over four continents, with further online sales enabling the brand to reach more women than ever. Nubian Skin brought a truly innovative product to market which was much needed, not just as a fashion necessity, but also on a social level highlighting the need for diversity. Ade has done much to promote this diversity via various speaking engagements and mentoring up and coming brands.

"Testament to this are the milestones Nubian Skin has achieved. The brand has been featured in some form in every major fashion magazine; supplying the wardrobes of major productions in the West End, on Broadway and in Hollywood; winning the Great British Entrepreneur Award for Fashion in 2015; being selected to provide the underpinnings for the Beyoncé Formation Tour in 2016 and most recently Ade’s inclusion on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List to receive an MBE.

Speaking about this award, Ade said: “As the owner of a small, independent brand it is an incredible validation of my goal of ‘Empowering Women. Embracing our Colour’ to receive this Honour. I feel so fortunate and am very grateful for all the people who have supported my vision and Nubian Skin and made it what is today.”

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