Since time immemorial, African culture has been synonymous with colour and style; its unique blend of raw originality that has driven global demand for African fashion and Lagos Fashion Week has consistently helped emerging designers get the platform they deserve and push them to become better.
Since its inception in 2011, Lagos Fashion Week has shown commitment to scouting talents and providing support for talents through the its Fashion Focus programme (formerly known as Young Designer of The Year). As the talent-scouting arm of Lagos Fashion Week, Fashion Focus expanded its reach to designers beyond Nigeria as part of an ongoing vision to facilitate more opportunities for pan African collaboration to thrive within the ecosystem.
Fashion Focus is a program that is dedicated to the growth and promotion of emerging talent in the fashion industry. Fashion Focus presents unique opportunities for emerging talents to harness their skills through business development workshops, creative workshops, and mentorships. This year-long opportunity affords young designers with the tools they need to facilitate innovation, growth and commercial success
The top five finalists were selected based on an assessment criterion that focused on the applicants’ creative and commercial vision.
Linda Mukangoga of Haute Baso (Rwanda)
Mohammed Jafaru Larry of Larry Jay (Ghana)
Katungulu Mwendwa (Kenya)
Amali Curtis of ILI (Nigeria)
Ilse-Naolila Teixeira of Naolila (Angola).
The finalists join past programme trainees which include Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Gozel Green, Iamisigo, Kenneth Ize, Maxivive, Meena, Orange Culture, Sisiano, and most recently, Emmy Kasibit who was the recipient of the Fashion Focus prize.
Photography Credits: Instagram