The rhythmic beat of Yoruba talking drums echoed across the grounds of Lagos’s Federal Palace Hotel as models in sharply tailored suits and flowing handwoven garments graced the runway. It was the unmistakable sound of Lagos Fashion Week — a vibrant intersection of tradition, innovation, and global ambition. The 2025 edition opened with Emmy Kasbit’s collection, a brand known for transforming Nigeria’s Akwete fabric into modern, architectural silhouettes.
Now in its fourteenth year, Lagos Fashion Week has evolved from an emerging creative gathering to one of Africa’s most anticipated style events. Each October, the showcase brings together designers, buyers, editors, and fashion enthusiasts from around the world — a far cry from its early years of dim lights, power cuts, and limited infrastructure.
From Humble Beginnings to International Recognition
Founded in 2011 by lawyer-turned-fashion-editor Omoyemi Akerele, Lagos Fashion Week has been instrumental in shaping the narrative of contemporary African fashion. What began as a modest platform has grown into a five-day event attended by more than 15,000 people, spotlighting over 70 designers.
While the “big four” — New York, London, Milan, and Paris — continue to dominate the global fashion calendar, Lagos has quietly carved out a distinctive space, defined by its community-driven spirit and unapologetic celebration of African identity.
Nurturing the Next Generation
Many of today’s internationally acclaimed African designers found their footing on the Lagos runway. Orange Culture’s Adebayo Oke-Lawal, a pioneer in gender-fluid design, debuted his work at Lagos Fashion Week in 2011 and has since dressed global stars including Ncuti Gatwa, Lupita Nyong’o, and Dua Lipa. He credits the event with helping him build his brand’s foundation.
“It’s not perfect,” Oke-Lawal admits, “but it’s consistent. It genuinely cares about designers, and that’s what matters.”
Similarly, brands such as Lisa Folawiyo, Kenneth Ize, and Onalaja have each used the platform to propel their craft beyond Nigeria’s borders — redefining what “Made in Africa” means in the luxury space.
The Lagos Difference: Storytelling Over Status
Unlike its Western counterparts, Lagos Fashion Week thrives not on grand budgets or heritage houses, but on storytelling and cultural connection. The designers draw deeply from history and community — reinterpreting traditional textiles like aso-oke or ankara into futuristic forms that balance heritage with innovation.
Labels such as Hertunba and Sevon Dejana embody this ethos, merging local craftsmanship with avant-garde aesthetics. The result is a fashion scene that feels both grounded and globally relevant.
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| The singer Ciara closes the Fruché catwalk show |
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| Looks from Kilentar, Fruché and Iamisigo at Lagos fashion week 2025. Photograph: Stephen Tayo |
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| Looks from Kadiju, Orange Culture and Emmy Kasbit at Lagos fashion week 2025. Photograph: Stephen Tayo |
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| ‘Couture-style glamour’ at the Hertunba show. Photograph: Emmanuel Adegboye/EPA |
Sustainability as a Creative Language
In recent years, sustainability has become central to Lagos Fashion Week’s mission. Rather than treating it as a trend, designers use eco-consciousness as a form of expression and resistance. Bubu Ogisi, founder of the experimental label Iamisigo, exemplified this with her 2025 collection Dual Mandate — a sculptural showcase made from recycled materials and discarded fabrics.
Through initiatives such as Green Access and Woven Threads, the platform encourages circular design and waste reduction. Each year, five emerging designers receive mentorship in sustainable practice, culminating in a dedicated runway show. This season, Alexandra Obochi’s collection Ifenkili stood out, featuring intricate indigo dyeing and handwoven detailing.
“Lagos Fashion Week is showing that sustainability can be liberating,” says Ogisi, who recently won the 2025 Zalando Visionary Award at Copenhagen Fashion Week. “It’s about turning African craft into something truly global.”
Global Recognition and a Shared Victory
This commitment to responsible fashion was internationally recognised when Lagos Fashion Week received the Earthshot Prize in the Build a Waste-Free World category, earning £1 million in funding. For Akerele, the honour represents a collective win for Africa’s creative community.
“Fashion has the power to create jobs, preserve culture, and transform lives,” she says. “This recognition proves that beauty and responsibility can coexist — and that African fashion has a future that is both meaningful and sustainable.”
A New Chapter for African Fashion
With its mix of innovation, community, and cultural pride, Lagos Fashion Week has become more than a fashion event — it’s a movement. As it continues to inspire a new generation of designers to reimagine African identity for a global audience, the message is clear: the future of fashion is not only stylish, but also conscious, collaborative, and distinctly African.