Lagos Fashion Week: Forging Africa's Fashion Future, One Runway at a Time
Celebrating 15 Years of Lagos Fashion Week: From Local Vision to Global Stage
This year, Lagos Fashion Week (LFW) reached a significant milestone, celebrating its fifteenth anniversary with its most extensive and celebrated event to date. Over sixty designers presented their collections on the official schedule, attracting approximately 15,000 attendees to the five-day extravaganza in Nigeria's vibrant metropolis. Since its inception in 2011, LFW, under the visionary leadership of founder Omoyemi Akerele, has been dedicated to fostering and highlighting African creativity, artisanal skills, and cultural narratives. What began as a modest gathering has blossomed into the continent's foremost fashion event, serving as a launchpad for designers to achieve international recognition, with notable alumni such as Lisa Folawiyo, Orange Culture, and Mai Atafo. This season, running from October 29 to November 2, featured esteemed brands like Orange Culture, Iamisigo, and Kilentar.
Pan-African Reach: Expanding Beyond Nigeria's Borders to Embrace Continental Talent
Lagos Fashion Week's influence extends far beyond Nigeria's borders. Over its fifteen-year history, numerous designers from across Africa have journeyed to Lagos to present their collections. This includes prominent figures like South Africa's Maxhosa and Rich Mnisi, and Ghana's Christie Brown. Many participants who have graced the LFW runway have gone on to receive prestigious global accolades, including being winners or finalists for esteemed awards such as the International Woolmark Prize and the LVMH Prize.
Omoyemi Akerele's Vision: Transforming a Fashion Week into a Movement for Change
Omoyemi Akerele articulates that Lagos Fashion Week has become a vital catalyst within the African fashion ecosystem. She recalls the inaugural event as humble yet bold, driven by a profound belief, unwavering determination, and a steadfast commitment to demonstrating Africa's foundational role in contemporary creativity and fashion. Akerele and her dedicated team are deeply invested in ensuring LFW continues to uplift and serve the African fashion industry. She emphasizes that what began as a fashion week has evolved into a comprehensive movement, encompassing economic empowerment, educational initiatives, and mentorship programs.
A Global Statement: African Creativity, Sustainability, and Leadership in Fashion
Akerele further elaborates on the broader significance of LFW, stating that it represents more than just a fashion event. She views it as a declaration that African creativity merits a prominent position on the global stage, not merely as a source of inspiration, but as a leader in sustainable practices and accountability within the industry. This perspective underscores the organization's commitment to setting new standards for ethical and environmentally conscious fashion production.
Sustainability at the Forefront: Earthshot Prize Recognition and Climate Leadership
Last month, LFW received significant international acclaim by being named a finalist for the Earthshot Prize, a prestigious environmental award initiated by William, Prince of Wales. This recognition honors LFW's pioneering efforts in promoting innovative sustainable fashion systems. In the same month, Akerele herself was acknowledged by Time magazine as one of the most influential climate leaders of 2025, further solidifying LFW's role as a sustainability trailblazer.
Navigating Challenges: The Resilience of Nigeria's Fashion Industry
Despite its remarkable success, operating a fashion week in Nigeria presents numerous obstacles. These include socio-economic barriers, inadequate infrastructure, currency fluctuations, and limited access to funding. Such external pressures significantly complicate the day-to-day operations of the event, necessitating partnerships with technology and lifestyle brands for sponsorship. This year, key sponsors included Heineken, Nigerian telecommunications provider MTN, and Facebook, highlighting the collaborative spirit required to overcome these challenges.
The Rise of Streetwear: A New Chapter on the Lagos Runway
For the first time in several years, streetwear made a notable return to the runway. The Nigerian streetwear convention Street Souk brought seven emerging designers to Lagos Fashion Week, featuring highly anticipated brands such as Go Crazy, Pieces, and JBL. Street Souk founder Iretidayo Zaccheaus noted that many young designers in Nigeria might never have had the chance to showcase on a runway without such a platform. The overwhelmingly positive feedback has inspired plans for future collaborations, with aspirations for these designers to present full collections.
The Green Access Initiative: Nurturing Sustainable Design Across Africa
Sustainability has been a cornerstone of Lagos Fashion Week since its inception. The sustainability incubator, now known as Green Access (previously the Young Design of the Year Award), was established to identify and support designers dedicated to sustainable practices, ranging from upcycling to the use of natural fibers. In 2022, the program expanded its reach, welcoming talent from other African nations. Since then, it has attracted designers from diverse countries, including Morocco, South Africa, and Kenya, fostering a continent-wide movement towards eco-conscious fashion.
Global Collaborations: Showcasing Upcycled Collections and Botanical Dyes
Beyond the main schedule, Ghana's The Or Foundation facilitated the participation of three designers at Lagos Fashion Week. Titus Doku, a Ghanaian designer and founder of the sustainable brand Calcul, presented a collection meticulously crafted from upcycled garments sourced from Kantamanto Market, one of West Africa's largest secondhand markets. Doku highlighted the immense volume of clothing received weekly and the role of The Or Foundation in connecting upcycled brands with new markets. Ria Sejpal, founder of the sustainable Kenyan brand Lilabare, returned for her third season, showcasing a collection that utilized natural dyes created from botanicals like rosemary and plectranthus barbatus. Her work pushed the boundaries of traditional craft, integrating various Kenyan and Indian beadwork and embellishment techniques.
Revolutionizing Nigerian Retail: Bridging the Gap Between Runway and Market
This season, a key focus was placed on enabling African designers to access retail avenues across Nigeria. Historically, acquiring runway pieces has been challenging due to the limited number of designers with physical stores or active e-commerce platforms. To address this, both new and established retailers stepped in to streamline market access. Lagos Fashion Week partnered with Nahous, a recently opened creative and cultural hub on Victoria Island, which served as an official retail partner. This collaboration allowed guests to purchase items directly from seven participating designers. Nahous founder Richard Vedelago emphasized the critical issue of disconnect between fashion shows and consumer purchasing opportunities in Nigeria's underdeveloped retail network. Vedelago aimed to create a dedicated shopping experience connected to LFW, enabling brands to showcase their current collections, a strategy that proved highly successful due to the venue's proximity to the main event.
Supporting Offsite Activations: Temple Muse's Role in Designer Exposure
Temple Muse, a luxury retailer in Lagos operating since 2008, provided its store space for designers hosting offsite events, such as shows or presentations held beyond the primary fashion week tent. Both Iamisigo and Kilentar held their Spring/Summer 2026 presentations at Temple Muse. Kabir Wadhwani, co-founder of Temple Muse, noted their role as official stockists and their commitment to helping designers gain visibility and grow. During fashion weeks, Temple Muse opens its doors as a satellite venue, supporting various designers from across the country.
Evolving Perceptions: Bridging the Knowledge Gap in the Fashion Industry
Photographer Stephen Tayo, who has documented Lagos Fashion Week for over eight years, observes a significant evolution in public understanding of the fashion industry's inner workings. He notes a greater awareness and appreciation for the entire fashion sector, attributing this shift to platforms like LFW, which actively work to demystify roles within the industry. People now have a clearer understanding of what a buyer, art director, or public relations professional does, indicating a growing sophistication in the local fashion ecosystem.
A Magnet for Global Influencers: Lagos as a Cultural Homecoming
The presence of both local and international influencers has surged, with content creators from the US and Europe attending LFW this season. Many, like Tenicka Boyd, Frilancy Hoyle, and Nneka Michel, returned after participating in previous events. Michel described LFW as a therapeutic homecoming, a place to connect with her roots and celebrate the collective talent of her country through fashion. She views it as a retreat, continually drawing her back to tap into her culture and the immense talent present in Lagos.
Boosting Tourism and Cultural Pride: Ciara's Impact on Lagos Fashion Week
Beyond fashion, there was a concerted governmental effort to boost tourism, extending beyond the traditional "Detty December" period when the diaspora visits Africa for festivities. This initiative led the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to invite American musician Ciara to Lagos to attend shows and experience the city during fashion week. Frank Aghuno, founder of the contemporary fashion brand Fruche, was astonished to learn, just thirty minutes before his show, that Ciara would walk his runway. He expressed his amazement, recalling listening to her since childhood and now witnessing her close his show in his design.
Looking Ahead: Lagos Fashion Week as a Catalyst for Systemic Change
Each year, Lagos Fashion Week continues its impressive expansion, attracting an increasing number of designers eager to join its schedule. As Omoyemi Akerele affirms, Lagos Fashion Week is a powerful demonstration of fashion's capacity to drive both cultural pride and systemic change, a mission it is committed to pursuing for the foreseeable future.