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In Lagos, clothing isn’t just worn, it’s lived, breathed and celebrated with an infectious energy that rivals the fashion capitals of the world. As the October sun sets over the bustling metropolis, Lagos Fashion Week emerges as more than just a showcase of African creativity. It has become a magnet that attracts fashion lovers from all over the world. Founded in 2011 by visionary Omoyemi Akerele, this prestigious event has evolved into a phenomenon where the vibrancy of the Nigerian spirit meets world-class innovation.
During a recent conversation at New York Fashion Week, we witnessed an unprecedented increase in interest in Lagos Fashion Week from international guests and creatives. This season, LFW welcomes notable creators including Tam McPherson, who joins over 12,000 visitors eager to soak up the exciting atmosphere that only Lagos can offer. Here in Africa’s most populous city, over 60 designers create something special, a space where traditional craftsmanship meets a modern vision, a space where buyers and creators do more than just observe African fashion. We came together to create. They also get a chance to experience it.
Design by Bubu Ogishi of the Iamisigo brand during the Lagos Fashion Week in Lagos on October 27, 2024 (Photo by Olympia De Maismont/AFP)
Lagos Fashion Week goes beyond the traditional runway format. Through initiatives such as Fashion Focus Africa, we are developing the continent’s next generation of fashion talent, providing funding, knowledge and market opportunities. The Fashion Business Series brings together industry leaders from Nigeria and across Africa to shape the future of fashion.
What struck me most is how continental fashion is being celebrated through self-expression this week. Imad Edso’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, Lava Lava: Flames of Growth, features butterflies dancing in vibrant silhouettes, speaking of transformation and rebirth. Emmy Casbitt celebrated a milestone 10 years with “Recollection.” She has brilliantly reinterpreted their signature Akwete motifs into modern stories of community and consciousness. These are more than collections, they are stories of fabric and thread, creating a tapestry that resonates far beyond Nigeria’s borders. This is more than just fashion week. It is a movement, a statement, and most importantly, a return home for those who have felt the charm of African creativity.
Bubu Ogisi, a Nigerian creative director, ahead of a private fashion show to present the SS25 collection of the Iamishigo brand during the Lagos Fashion Week in Lagos on October 27, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Olympia) De Maismont/AFP)
This season’s prestigious partnership shows how far Lagos Fashion Week has come. During an intimate breakfast at the Capital Club, Laurent Viney of Bicester Collection and Tam Macpherson, Global Fashion Ambassador, shared their inspiring vision for Nigerian fashion in the global luxury market. Bicester Collection’s New York store will feature Nigerian designers as African fashion continues to take its rightful place in the global luxury market.
“During my visits to Lagos, I have always been inspired by the clothes I have seen people wear,” says McPherson, with a twinkle in his eye as an observer and avid consumer. He talked about his dual role. “This is not just about witnessing fashion, it’s about participating in a movement.” This sentiment speaks to a larger shift. African designers and their work are no longer just observed from afar, but are actively embraced by fashion enthusiasts around the world.
A model walks the runway wearing pieces by Nigerian designer Kilenter during Lagos Fashion Week in Lagos on October 26, 2024. (Photo by Olympia De Maismont/AFP)
The support of the Lagos State Tourism, Arts and Culture Association shows that the government recognizes fashion as an important cultural export. In collaboration with Prosper Africa’s “Bridging Markets” initiative, they are carving out new avenues for African designers in the American market. In one of this week’s highlight panels, Rizka Livianti, women’s ready-to-wear buyer at Moda Operandi, spoke about how the luxury platform is embracing African design. These collections are now being delivered directly to closets around the world through Moda Operandi’s trunk shows featuring designers from Lagos Fashion Week.
With support from the government, luxury retailers and e-commerce platforms, Lagos Fashion Week has become more than just a showcase. Today, they are an important bridge between Nigerian creativity and global commerce, while staying true to the cultural stories that make these designs unique.
I had a front row seat to watch new stories unfold, one Instagram Story, one TikTok clip, and one Reel at a time. As a creator in this vibrant scene, I love the fine tailoring of Emmy Cusbitt, the innovative design of MOT The Label, the creative brilliance of Rendall, the artistic vision of Froesch, and the boldness of Ladymakers. We have shared this statement with audiences around the world. . Each post helps bridge the gap between Nigerian fashion and fashion lovers around the world.
This season’s front row told its own story. Nigerian fashion voices like Nicole Chikwe and Eki Ogunbolu, who helped shape the country’s fashion scene, shared space with international creators like Tenika Boyd. Mrs. Nneka Michel brought her unique perspective from Germany back to her home country, and Seattle native Frilancie Hoyle and New York-based Chinyere Adogu added their voices to the conversation. Together they showed how this initiative, carried out by Omoyemi Akerele, connects different worlds through style.
The presence of international creators is just the beginning. While fashion months in New York, London, Paris and Milan have their charms, Lagos has a different charm. We offer an opportunity to connect through clothing that speaks to our cultural heritage while pushing creative boundaries. This influence can be seen through influencers like Achieng Agutu, who brings Imad Edso’s designs to an audience of 840,000 people on Instagram alone, and how the creator’s authenticity and Nigerian fashion naturally blend together. It shows you what to do.
Models walk the runway wearing pieces by Nigerian designer Orile during Lagos Fashion Week in Lagos on October 26, 2024. (Photo by Olympia De Maismount/AFP)
Barkue Tubman-Zawolo, Chief Community Officer at Essence Ventures, said emphatically: ” A community-driven approach to fashion storytelling sets Lagos Fashion Week apart. It’s not just clothes. It is important to create stories that resonate with the diaspora while showcasing Nigerian creativity.
In the future I envision, Lagos Fashion Week will be on par with Western fashion weeks, but with crucial differences. Here, creators aren’t just documenting fashion, they’re participating in cultural conversations across continents. As more voices from the global diaspora participate, they will help write the next chapter of Nigerian fashion in the global story.
As the next season comes to a close, Lagos Fashion Week proves that it is more than just a showcase of collections, it is a blueprint for an inclusive future in fashion. The support of Bicester Collection and Moda Operandi, combined with creator-led storytelling and Nigerian design innovation, has created something unprecedented. It’s a fashion week that serves as both a cultural touchstone and a commercial catalyst.
This season shows that Lagos Fashion Week is not only keeping pace but also helping to set the agenda. From Emmy Casbitt’s Masterpiece 10 Year Retrospective to Imad Edso’s Butterfly-Inspired Revolution, these collections blend tradition and innovation, tradition and progress. The presence of international creators and industry leaders confirms that Lagos is not only participating in the global fashion conversation, but leading it.
Looking to the future, Lagos Fashion Week shows what is possible when fashion breaks traditional boundaries. This is where commerce meets culture, digital meets tradition, and where Nigerian creativity asserts itself on the global stage. For the diaspora and fashion lovers around the world, this means not just watching from afar, but being part of a movement that makes fashion week more inclusive, connected and meaningful. In Lagos, the future of fashion isn’t just being shown, it’s being shaped one story, one collection, one connection at a time.
