What unfolded at Nairobi Fashion Week Season Eight was neither a bid for visibility nor a plea for validation. It moved with the composure of a platform that no longer seeks a seat at the table, having built its own room.

Lagos Fashion Week celebrated its 15th anniversary this year with its biggest and boldest edition yet. The five-day event drew more than 15,000 guests and featured over 60 designers on the official schedule. What began in 2011 as Omoyemi Akerele’s vision to champion African creativity has evolved into the continent’s most influential fashion platform.