Since its inception in 2011, Lagos Fashion Week has evolved from a bold idea into a global platform that celebrates African creativity and craftsmanship. Spearheaded by Omoyemi Akerele, the event has become one of Africa’s most prominent showcases, merging tradition, innovation, and sustainability while shaping the continent’s fashion identity on the world stage.
Marking its 15th anniversary, Lagos Fashion Week continues to amplify African voices in design. This year’s edition features over 60 designers, including standout names like Adama Paris, Nkwo, Orange Culture, Iamisigo, and CuteSaint. The event serves as a reflection of Akerele’s vision—“We’re no longer just participating in global conversations; we’re shaping them,” she affirms.
When Lagos Fashion Week first began, it faced enormous challenges—Lagos’s notorious traffic, rolling power cuts, and logistical hurdles. Yet, through sheer resilience and vision, Omoyemi Akerele built an enduring institution that refused to be defined by its obstacles. Designers like Lisa Folawiyo and Maki Oh were early believers, presenting collections that reimagined traditional Yoruba aesthetics through a modern lens. Their debut collections weren’t just about fashion; they were declarations of identity, pride, and artistic power.
Folawiyo’s vibrant Ankara prints—blending handcrafted beading and bold patterns—symbolized a new narrative for Nigerian women: powerful, expressive, and unapologetically local yet global in appeal. Maki Oh, on the other hand, brought storytelling to fabric, transforming centuries-old adire dyeing techniques into sophisticated silhouettes that caught the world’s attention. Her designs reached global stages, with Michelle Obama wearing one of her blouses, a moment that marked a milestone for Nigerian craftsmanship on the international fashion map.
Over the years, Lagos Fashion Week has birthed a generation of designers that have redefined what African fashion represents. Labels like Maxhosa, Kenneth Ize, and Studio 189 have emerged as cultural forces, expanding African design beyond regional borders. For Bubu Ogisi of Iamisigo, a long-time participant, the event has been “a crucial platform for dialogue and collaboration.” Their innovative use of raffia and sustainable textiles earned them international acclaim, including a Zalando Visionary Award at Copenhagen Fashion Week 2026.
Similarly, Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture has challenged Nigeria’s conservative fashion norms. Through gender-fluid collections and expressive silhouettes, Oke-Lawal opened up conversations about masculinity and identity in African menswear. “We started discussions people weren’t ready to have,” he says. His brand’s evolution mirrors that of the city itself—bold, diverse, and unapologetically expressive.
The street style of Lagos Fashion Week tells its own story. From bold Ankara dresses to avant-garde layering, the attendees reflect the city’s creative heartbeat. Men in plunging caftans and women in oversized blazers embody the fluidity and rebellion that define Lagosian fashion today. Every year, the runway and its spectators merge into a living exhibition of culture and identity.
Sustainability has become a cornerstone of the Lagos Fashion Week ethos. Akerele’s Green Access initiative promotes upcycling, training designers to work with waste materials like upcycled adire prints and shoelace weaves. These efforts have not gone unnoticed—the event is a finalist for the 2025 Earthshot Prize, in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category. If it wins, the £1 million award will further empower its mission to champion eco-conscious fashion rooted in African heritage.
Whether or not it takes home the Earthshot Prize, the legacy of Lagos Fashion Week is undeniable. It has fostered international recognition for African designers, encouraged innovation in textiles, and driven discussions around sustainability and identity. It stands as a model for how local creativity can have a global footprint.
As Akerele looks to the next 15 years, her goal remains the same—to push African fashion beyond aesthetics into influence and impact. “I’m excited about seeing African fashion evolve beyond just visuals into innovation and real-world solutions,” she says.
In a world increasingly focused on diversity and authenticity, Lagos Fashion Week reminds us that Africa has always been a source of both. From its colorful streets to its visionary designers, Lagos continues to prove that creativity thrives even in chaos—and that the future of fashion is undeniably African.
