Lagos Fashion Week has become the premier fashion event on the African continent. Since its founding in 2011 by Omoyemi Akerele, the platform has done more than showcase clothing. It has redefined how Nigerian and African design is produced, understood, and traded on the world stage.
At its outset, Lagos Fashion Week faced real challenges. There were few precedents for a major fashion week in West Africa. Infrastructure, industry networks, and global interest were limited. Despite this, Akerele and her team persisted, building not just an annual show but the structure of an industry. Over years, Lagos Fashion Week brought in international buyers, media, and collaborators, creating sustained attention on Nigerian style.
The platform’s influence grew steadily. Designers such as Orange Culture, Kenneth Ize, Emmy Kasbit, and others moved from local recognition to international clientele. Runway shows at the Federal Palace Hotel now draw more than 70 designers and over 15,000 attendees, making Lagos Fashion Week a critical launchpad for talent. Its runway programming places cultural heritage at the centre of contemporary design, blending traditional motifs with modern techniques.
From early editions marked by power fluctuations and logistical hurdles, the event has matured into a full ecosystem supporting business development. Initiatives such as Green Access and Woven Threads reflect this evolution. Green Access, launched in 2015, identifies and trains emerging designers in sustainable practice, pairing mentorship with practical business guidance. Woven Threads, introduced in 2020, focuses on circular design, craft preservation, and waste reduction, turning challenges into actionable industry strategies.
The push toward sustainability has become a defining trait of Lagos Fashion Week. Designers participating in the event must show commitment to environmental responsibility, from sourcing materials to production methods. This emphasis extends beyond the runway to consumer education and industry standards. Lagos Fashion Week has encouraged innovations such as the use of natural dyes, upcycled materials, and traditional textiles reimagined for modern markets.
In 2025, this long-term commitment to sustainability culminated in global recognition. Lagos Fashion Week was awarded the Earthshot Prize in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category, recognising its work in transforming fashion through circular design and ethical production. The award, presented in Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most prestigious environmental honours in the world and comes with funding to scale impact. Lagos Fashion Week is the first African fashion platform and first fashion ecosystem globally to receive this prize.
Omoyemi Akerele has framed the prize not as a personal accolade but as recognition of a community. She has said the platform’s success reflects the designers, artisans, and young people whose creativity and resilience have shaped Africa’s fashion narrative. With the Earthshot Prize funds, Lagos Fashion Week plans to establish a circular fashion hub in Lagos that will extend to other African cities, turning textile waste into materials, livelihoods, and new business opportunities.
Today, Lagos Fashion Week operates at the intersection of creativity, culture, commerce, and sustainability. It supports local supply chains, revives indigenous techniques, and fosters economic opportunities in fashion and related industries. Its sustained growth over fifteen years demonstrates how consistent vision, strategic development, and community focus can elevate a local idea into global leadership in design and sustainability.
