HERITAGE BECAME HYPE AT LAGOS FASHION WEEK
Updated: 15 hours ago
From October 28 to November 1, Lagos Fashion Week turned the Federal Palace Hotel into the loudest stage on the continent. This year's theme was CRAFTED: Heritage. Innovation. Circular Futures. And unlike most themes, this one actually lived on the runway.
Heritage was not a museum piece. Designers deconstructed Aso Oke, hand-printed Adire, and reworked Kente, raffia, barkcloth and cowrie shells through sheer fabrics, bold cuts and textile manipulation. Tradition became trend.
One look from Imprint Collection stopped the whole room. The model walked out in a high-neck white top trimmed with soft feathers, a wide straw hat finished with white plumes, and a dramatic floor-length skirt layers of sheer royal-blue tulle floating over a bold red, black and white African print.
Behind her, the brand's glowing blue emblem lit up the runway. It was traditional and futuristic at the same time: rooted in culture, but designed for a global stage.
The biggest homecoming belonged to Christie Brown. After an eight-year absence, the Ghanaian luxury house returned, joining South Africa's Imprint South Africa to make this edition feel truly pan-African.
The shows that broke the internet were unforgettable. SEVON DEJANA left the audience speechless with black velvet, ornate gold collars, sculptural peplums and feathered trains. Nkwo built couture from fabric offcuts collected from Lagos tailoring shops, proving circular fashion can be bold and wearable.
Outside, street style became a second runway. Fringe appeared in nearly half of Day 2's collections. Red became the power colour. Earth tones, cropped menswear, crochet and feathers rounded out the trend report.
Then came the moment no one expected. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made a surprise runway appearance, instantly becoming the week's most-shared clip.
Beyond the runway, the Fashion Business Series tackled what retailers actually want: production capacity, wholesale margins and turning likes into orders. The conversation continues now at CANEX WKND in Lagos.
Lagos is no longer waiting for validation from Paris or Milan. It is building its own system, preserving craft, empowering emerging designers and selling confidently to the whole world.
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