Queen Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi attended the British silk SELHAYA’s inaugural cultural salon at Mansion House in London. The Brand has appointed the wife of the Ooni of Ife in Nigeria as its first official royal patron.
The appointment was announced following the queen’s appearance as ‘guest of honour’ at the inaugural SELHAYA Royal Cultural Salon, held at Mansion House in the City of London on 27 June 2026. The event brought together guests from the fashion, arts, cultural, philanthropic, and business sectors.
Founded in London by Aisha Hossain and Sajjad Choudhury, SELHAYA produces ceremonial silk garments, private commissions, and framed textile artworks. The company also organizes cultural salons intended to encourage discussion about craftsmanship, identity, and heritage.
Queen Temitope’s appointment gives the emerging house a prominent connection to Nigerian royal and cultural traditions. As the wife of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, she is associated with Ile-Ife. That is a historic Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria.
A Royal Appointment
To mark the announcement, Queen Temitope was photographed wearing The Coronation, a gold silk design from SELHAYA’s Royal Collection featuring crystal and pearl details. The piece was created for the occasion and reflects the house’s focus on ceremonial clothing and textile craftsmanship.
“True luxury is not measured by what we wear, but by the legacy we weave,” the queen said when accepting the role. She added that she hoped to support an organisation connecting silk, craftsmanship, culture, and heritage.
The appointment is intended to extend beyond the queen’s appearance in SELHAYA designs. According to the company, its royal patron will support cultural and philanthropic initiatives associated with the house. In particular, this will include those relating to craftsmanship, women, heritage, and community development.
These areas overlap with Queen Temitope’s public work in Nigeria. Through Hopes Alive Initiative for Africa, she has supported programs concerning women, children, community empowerment, and social development. Her new role with SELHAYA brings those interests into a fashion and cultural setting.
Silk at Mansion House
The Royal Cultural Salon took place at Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. The program combined a fashion presentation with framed silk artworks, hospitality, and discussions about fashion, culture, and identity.
During the event, SELHAYA presented Queen Temitope with The Sovereign Jewel, a framed work made from gold taffeta silk and embroidered with more than 800 crystals. The artwork was created as a commemorative gift marking her association with the house.
The presentation also demonstrated SELHAYA’s interest in treating silk as both a clothing material and a collectible artistic medium. Alongside wearable designs, its developing portfolio includes textile pieces intended to be framed, commissioned, or presented as gifts.
This broader use of silk was one of the recurring themes of the salon. Rather than concentrating exclusively on a seasonal fashion collection, the event explored how textiles can acquire meaning through their craftsmanship, provenance, and connection to particular people or occasions.
Building a Cultural Platform
SELHAYA was established by Hossain, a former senior UK government policy adviser, and Choudhury, whose background includes product development, technology, and business strategy. Their respective experience has informed an approach combining design with cultural programming and commercial development.
Hossain leads the creative and cultural direction of the company, including its collections, publications, and salon program. Choudhury oversees its operations, partnerships, digital strategy, and longer-term growth.
The founders are developing SELHAYA around a relatively focused range of activities rather than conventional large-scale fashion production. Its work currently encompasses ceremonial garments, private commissions, framed textiles, publications, and events such as the Royal Cultural Salon.
The appointment of Queen Temitope provides a clearer international context for those ambitions. Although SELHAYA is based in Britain, the patronage connects its work with African royal heritage and the wider cultural significance of ceremonial clothing. It also gives the company an opportunity to explore how British-based design can engage with traditions and perspectives. These perspectives extend beyond the UK.
For Queen Temitope, the position offers another platform through which to promote cultural heritage, women’s leadership, and philanthropic work. For SELHAYA, it marks an early step in establishing the cultural identity it hopes to build around its silk designs and events.
The success of that approach will depend on how the partnership develops beyond its ceremonial launch. However, the inaugural salon provided an initial outline: a London-based silk house using fashion, textile art, and cultural discussion to create connections. These efforts aim to connect British design and Nigerian royal heritage.
