On Wednesday, the 23rd of October, the "who's who," fans, and aspiring members of the fashion industry all converged at the prestigious Federal Palace Hotel for a common goal—to kick off the 2024 season of Lagos Fashion Week.

Day 1 began with the audience primed and ready to soak up the knowledge from the first Fashion Business Series session of the day (and season). Hosted by Lagos Fashion Week and Bicester Collection, "The Fabric of Change" roundtable offered valuable insights from Nigerian Fashion Designer, Adebayo Oke-Lawal; CNMI Ambassador for Diversity & Inclusion and Ambassador to The Bicester Collection, Tamu Mcpherson; Chief Brand & International Communications Officer, The Bicester Collection, Laurent Vinay; Beauty and Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Dodos Uvieghara; and CEO Lagos Fashion Week, Omoyemi Akinrele.

Lagos fashion has, in the last few years, transcended its previous position as a local hive filled with passion, envelope-pushing trends, and eclectic flair to become an industry of global repute. And it has the power of business-focused and knowledge-based collaborations to thank. This was a shared sentiment that rang through for all "The Fabric of Change" panelists.

"You can't do it by yourself; it takes a village," Oke-Lawal stated. "A lot of the time, we think we have to do these things on our own. We have to have the funding, access, and network, etc. [However], what working with partners does is to open your world up and give you access to buyers, press, and much more." In its support for emerging talent for the past 20 years, this has been the crux of The Bicester Collection's mission by offering 360 support to creatives, including marketing and legal. Vinay pointed to Nigerian ready-to-wear brand, Torlowei, as one of its success stories.

Following a quick break, renowned fashion photographer, Kola Oshalusi, took to the stage for the Business of Photography Masterclass. From the process of marrying fashion and photography, the technicalities of shooting, and building strong relationships with magazines Oshalusi, offered a vivid lens into the practices that have afforded him a lasting career as one of the country’s formidable photographers. “It’s one thing to hone your craft in a space, it’s another thing to exhibit that craft. What Lagos Fashion Week has done for me is give me a place to consistently hone my skill and show my work,” he remarked on the power of collaboration. 

To wrap the eventful day, fashion and lifestyle creators Denola Grey, Nneka Michel, Tenicka Boyd, and Frilancy Hoyle stepped up to share their perspectives on the panel entitled Influence In Style: Shaping Global Conversations on African Fashion.

The inaugural day of Lagos Fashion Week 2024 showcased the industry’s growth, talent and potential. The event’s focus on business, collaboration, and creativity has set the tone for what hopes to be a successful season.