Fashion is a powerful tool for story telling, every fabric , seam or threading has a story and the people behind it have an even more powerful story.

You know that feeling of being in the cinema where it feels like the story being told is just for you, to enjoy and ruminate over. Sometimes, you leave feeling inspired or even terrified. It spurs something in you, something very strong and unforgettable and you are left with a story to tell or hold onto because your friends will kill you if you ruin it for them. 

       That’s how i felt at Lagos fashion week in 2023. For the first time, i no longer felt like an outsider looking in. I wasn’t just another bystander in the Nigerian fashion scene, struggling to fit in. Instead, I felt like i had found my place-like this space was actually mine.

   Sitting at the audience with my notepad opened up on my phone, scribbling my thoughts about each outfits moving swiftly on it’s muses.

     I had the privilege interviewing some of the most prominent figures in the African fashion industry such as  Ugo Monye, Emmy kasbit, Kente gentlemen, LFJ official, Mariah Bocoum, plus size models like Inara Ziha, and fashion influencers. For example, I asked UGO MONYE about why he dressed men the way he did and he said he wanted men to feel like kings. I told him that it shows that he took his time on this collection because kings do not rush. I also spoke to EMMY KASBIT, who told a very powerful story with his constant use of the Akwete material which is indigenous to his hometown and how his collection felt like a tribute to his late father. While Aritiside, the creative director of KENTE GENTLEMEN told me that he liked to dress women in powerful looking coats with contrasting colors in order to empower them while eulogizing their femininity.

 I would like to thank them for giving me a show that felt like it was meant for me. For pouring blood and sweat into telling stories via pieces in a way that is authentic to only them and for  inspiring me to tell their stories from a place of undiluted and raw honesty.

 Lagos fashion week is without a doubt, a celebration of creativity, but I couldn’t help but notice that many attendees seemed to be more inspired by New York or Paris than Lagos itself. While it’s exciting to see Nigerian fashionistas be inspired by global fashion trends, I found myself wishing for more representation of culture in the audience’s attire. 

The Nigerian fashion industry is rich in color, prints, textures and styles that are not only beautiful but practical for our tropical climate. Yet, many attendees are dressed in layers of clothing that seemed more suited for a chilly day in New York, than the hot streets of Lagos. I want to see our indigenous prints celebrated not just on the runway but in the audience as well.

Imagine a Lagos fashion week where Adire, Aso-OKE, Akwete and Ankara are as prevalent in the audience as they are on the runway. Doing so will make us actual participants in our story, living and breathing the very essence of our culture.

#CreateForLagosFW