For the longest time, Lagos Fashion Week has been an advocate for sustainability, a response to fast fashion and its effect on the environment. According to statistics, waste from the fast fashion industry is at an all-time high and is expected to increase to about 70 percent in 2050.
Founded by Omoyemi Akerele in 2011, Lagos Fashion Week brings together eco-conscious African designers over five days in a mix of general runway and private shows to present new collections. In 2018, LFW rolled out a talent discovery platform known as “Green Access,” which serves as a fashion accelerator program and handpicks young designers who are infusing sustainability into their craft. Apart from showing new collections, there were panel discussions, workshops, and retail shopping experiences, making a platform like Lagos Fashion Week multi-functional.
This season’s theme titled “COMMUNE” showcased over 60 designers with household names like Ugo Monye, Emmy Kasbit, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, and Sisiano among new-comers like Maliko (who debuted their first-ever clothing collection), Nya-Lagos, and Iremitide.
Here are some of the best sustainable shows at this year’s Lagos Fashion Week from the five-day packed event.
Banke Kuku.
Banke Kuku is a Nigerian luxury slow-fashion brand that began in 2021, the brand is known for its colorful silk prints which were first used in making simple and comfortable loungewear back when the designer entered Nigeria’s fashion market. Although showing off-schedule from Lagos Fashion Week, Kuku’s latest offering, the Spring-Summer 2025 collection titled “Ocean-Front Row” is a mix of men/womenswear that takes inspiration from the sea, against the backdrop of a marine scenery her signature prints were updated with aquatic iconography, graphics from underneath the sea and made into a swimwear, kimonos, two-pieces, gowns, skirts and on the brand’s signature beaded pouch bag. The collection was very eco-friendly and helped put Banke Kuku as an advocate for sustainability.
Lagos Space Programme.
LSP is a Nigerian genderless brand described as a multidisciplinary fashion and art practice. The brand weaves the Yoruba tradition into its clothes, creating pieces made from adire and lace. While LSP showcased its SS25 collection in Paris back in September, the 2023 International Woolmark Prize winner brought their pieces back to the runway on the last day of Lagos Fashion Week. Named “The New Lagos” the collection is a reimagined approach to LSP’s yoruba aesthetic coupled with modern-day street style. Models paraded the runway in waistcoats paired with pants, adire hoodies, kembe pants, jerseys, and wrap skirts (made in pinstripe wool and lace). Bags, belts, and neckpieces made from brass are some of the accessories used to style the pieces. The closing look was a backless wool knitted dress with a round brass embellishment- a stunning remake of the Osun knitted T-shirt in wool knit.
Pepper Row.
Models strutted down in a single file as Odunsi’s Star Sign plays. A perfect soundtrack to close the brand’s show this season given how the collection was heavily inspired by cosmic themes. Described as a Neo-Luxury sustainable brand, Pepper Row began in 2018 and has become a staple for its colorful and crafty designs.
Titled “Jiggy Space Club”, their SS25 offering weaves Lagos culture, art, and outer space motifs. Pieces include pink skirts with raffia fringes, pink tulle gowns, pinstripe blazers, and pants, denim pants with embroidery, and shirts with alien-inspired- buttons. Pieces also had the pink panther (a type of wild cat) motif.
KÍLÈNTÁR.
Pronounced Ki le n ta?, which translates to “What are you selling?”. The brand is known for its traditional clothing techniques like dyeing, weaving, and using cowries and shells to craft sustainable pieces. At LFW, Kilentar presented their SS 25 collection titled “Mama Ibeta” featuring 24 looks, the collection consisted of the brand’s trademark look from beaded tank tops made from cowries, sequin dresses, backless dresses with ring detailing, a halter neck top and mini skirts made from shells, and an adire cut-out dress. The brand’s hoop and spiral earrings served as accessories to the pieces.
IAMISIGO.
In a secluded factory on the mainland in Lagos, IAMISIGO presented their SS25 collection tagged “Heaven, earth and the below”. Known for its distinct sustainable material choice, the wearable art brand returned with a more dramatic silhouette this season. Pieces include beaded gowns/vests, crochet gowns layered with beaded vests, and beaded veils (used to evoke a heavenly feel). The beaded pieces were made in red, yellow, black, green, white, and blue palettes. Metallic dresses were also spotted, while bags, rings, and bangles made from glass were featured as accessories. The highlight of the show was the melted plastic that the models carried as bags.
OSHOBOR.
Plus-size model, Alexandra Obochi opened the show in a red dress that pays homage to an Edo Queen. Over the years, Oshobor has become known for its traditional aesthetic of the Benin culture, using clothing pieces to explore the opulent cultural heritage of Nigeria.
Named “The 9th Offering” the collection at LFW featured/explored the regalia and royalty of the Benin kingdom, with pieces drawing inspiration from three predominant palettes- white, red, and gold. Corset layered over dresses, stunning headpieces, beads, bishop hat reimagined with a red robe were some of the pieces from the brand’s latest offering.
