Each October, models walk runways in Lagos wearing designs by some of Africa’s most exciting fashion labels. Buyers, journalists and celebrities fill the front rows, and the city’s social media feeds fill with photographs. Lagos Fashion Week, founded in 2011, has grown into one of the most important fashion events on the continent. It has helped Nigerian designers reach international markets and has made Lagos a reference point in African fashion.
The founder and the designers
Lagos Fashion Week was founded by Omoyemi Akerele, a fashion consultant and founder of the agency Style House Files. She wanted to build a platform for African designers to present their work professionally. The event began as Lagos Fashion and Design Week. Over time, it attracted more designers, sponsors and international attention. The week includes runway shows, presentations, talks and showrooms where designers meet buyers.
Lagos Fashion Week has featured designers who went on to international success, as well as emerging labels from across Africa.
Sustainability and the business of fashion
The Fashion Focus programme supports young designers with mentorship and opportunities to show their collections. In recent years, the event has encouraged sustainable fashion, including the use of local fabrics and recycled materials. International fashion media have covered the week, and buyers from Europe and America attend to find new labels. Nigerian musicians, actors and influencers attend shows, raising the event’s profile.
The event aims to strengthen the fashion industry as a business, from production to retail. Designers face obstacles such as access to finance, manufacturing capacity and import costs. Lagos street style during the week has become a show in itself, with attendees dressing to be photographed.
Fabrics, venues and online audiences
Designers often use adire, aso oke, ankara and other African textiles, reinterpreting them in modern cuts. These fabrics help Nigerian collections stand out on international runways. The event is usually held in Lagos in October, drawing visitors to the city for several days of shows and parties. Livestreams and social media coverage mean that people around the world can follow the shows in real time. Designers often gain new customers from these posts long after the week ends.
The runway shows last only a few minutes each. The photographs taken outside, of guests dressed for the occasion, often travel further online than the collections themselves.
