Lagos Fashion Week 2025: 15 Years of Fashion Evolution
- Tumelo Bopape
- Dec 13
- 3 min read
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.
From its early days as a modest showcase to its current status as a global launchpad, the event continues to elevate designers onto the international stage. Alumni such as Lisa Folawiyo, Orange Culture and Mai Atafo are now widely recognized, and this season’s lineup, which included Orange Culture, Iamisigo and Kilentar, reinforced Lagos as a powerhouse of style and innovation.
The cross-continental appeal of Lagos Fashion Week remains one of its greatest strengths. Over the years, designers from Ghana, South Africa, Morocco and other countries have traveled thousands of miles to participate in the city’s vibrant creative scene. Brands like Maxhosa, Rich Mnisi and Christie Brown have become regular favourites, and many Lagos Fashion Week talents have earned recognition at major global competitions including the International Woolmark Prize and the LVMH Prize. This mix of homegrown ingenuity and pan-African collaboration continues to set Lagos apart.
Sustainability remained a driving force this season. Since its earliest days, Lagos Fashion Week has placed ethical production at the center of its mission through its pioneering Green Access incubator. Originally launched as the Young Designer of the Year Award, the program now supports sustainably minded talent from across Africa, spotlighting practices such as upcycling, botanical dyeing and slow, craft-focused production.
This year, Ghana’s The Or Foundation brought three designers whose collections were created with a strong focus on sustainable practices — from garments upcycled out of Kantamanto Market, one of West Africa’s largest secondhand hubs, to naturally dyed textiles. Their work proved that waste, when reimagined, can be transformed into runway beauty.
Another major focus was retail access, a longstanding challenge for African designers eager to reach consumers. This season, new partnerships aimed to close that gap. Nahous, a creative and cultural hub on Victoria Island, became an official retail partner and offered guests the opportunity to shop pieces from seven fashion week designers.
For founder Richard Vedelago, the initiative sought to solve a persistent problem: audiences often fall in love with runway looks but have nowhere to buy them. Early results showed clear success. Temple Muse, a longstanding luxury retailer in Lagos, also opened its doors to designers staging off-site presentations. As official stockists of brands like Iamisigo and Kilentar, the boutique hosted their Spring/Summer 2026 activations and demonstrated its commitment to nurturing Nigerian fashion talent.
One of the standout moments of Lagos Fashion Week 2025 came from Kanyinsola Onalaja, whose vibrant opening show set the tone for the season. Known for her bold reinterpretations of African craftsmanship, the 33-year-old Anglo-Nigerian designer presented dresses embroidered with beads, sequins and motifs inspired by traditional scarification practices. Her size-inclusive pieces — ranging from extra-small to 4XL — shimmered under the spotlights as models moved in pearl-fringed silhouettes.
Onalaja’s global rise has been swift, with her designs gracing American red carpets and appearing earlier this year at New York Fashion Week. Despite her international presence, her work remains deeply rooted in Yoruba and Edo heritage. Her modern approach to adiré, created in richly textured materials, reaffirmed her place as one of the continent’s most exciting voices. Through her inclusive sizing and her personal commitment to celebrating all body types, Onalaja continues to broaden the definition of African luxury.
THE FUTURE OF FASHION
Fashion itself is evolving — and according to emerging voices like model Ekpechi Synod, the future is not only inventive but inclusive.
“For me, the most exciting change in today’s runway is the recognition of Black models,” Synod says. “It has become a beacon of hope for every Black person who wants to be a model.” Synod sees his journey as part of a larger shift toward expression and authenticity. “I want to bring back the ’90s vibes — when the runway was free, energetic and enjoyable, not just people wearing clothes and posing for the camera.”
His perspective echoes the broader movement shaping African fashion today:
Embracing individuality and self-expression
Promoting diversity and representation
Fostering positive body image
Encouraging sustainability in fashion
Beauty and style, as Synod notes, are subjective — shaped by culture, era and personal taste. Models have the power to showcase diverse standards and redefine what is seen, celebrated and accepted. His vision aligns seamlessly with Lagos Fashion Week’s mission to push boundaries, elevate new voices and hold space for talent that reflects the richness of the continent.
As Lagos Fashion Week reaches new heights, its core mission remains clear. “Fashion can be a catalyst for cultural pride and systemic change,” Akerele says. As the platform expands, so does its impact — offering designers and models alike a stage where heritage, innovation and ambition can thrive together.
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