Lagos Fashion Week Announces 2023 Schedule

The 12th edition of Lagos Fashion Week is set to take place from the 26th to the 29th of October 2023, and once again, Lagos will be at the forefront engaging with the global fashion community and celebrating the craftsmanship of Africa and its diaspora.

Lagos Fashion Week holds a significant position within Africa’s ever-evolving fashion landscape. It continues to lead the African fashion industry towards a conscious future that transcends boundaries, empowers communities, and generates real socio-economic impact across the continent.

Having built upon its journey of more than a decade, Lagos Fashion Week is dedicated to showcasing the rich creativity and artistry that have come to define African fashion. Collaboration lies at the core of its vision for fashion’s future, fostering partnerships that open up innovative pathways and create unique opportunities, as evidenced by several groundbreaking partnerships established over the years.

The event promotes co-creation, embracing diverse talent and seamlessly blending tradition and innovation to craft designs that reflect cultural heritage while embracing the digital age. Lagos Fashion Week also serves as a champion for the strength of communities, amplifying voices, nurturing talent, and sparking positive change within the fashion industry.

Lagos Fashion Week 2023 will return with Runway Shows and Presentations featuring new season collections from designers taking place in the #LagosFW Tents  and around the vibrant city of Lagos, Fashion Business Series – to facilitate conversations with key players from the Nigerian and Pan African industries and beyond, Visual Makers Fellowship – Created to empower budding filmmakers and photographers with workshops and masterclasses, Swap Shop – Created to facilitate new conversations and exchange of ideas surrounding sustainability in African fashion, XRETAIL – a curated shopping experience across key cities in Africa, LagosFW Showrooms – Access to shop some of your favourite fashion brands &  After parties – an opportunity to experience Lagos’ nightlife and connect with some of Africa’s finest creatives in a relaxed environment.

In line with its dedication to nurturing young talent, fostering impactful conversations, and promoting the local manufacturing industry’s growth, Lagos Fashion Week introduces Green Access. This annual talent discovery platform is currently accepting applications from Nigerian designers until August 23, 2023. The theme for this season is “Standing The Test of Time,” and the Green Access programme aims to select 5 young Nigerian talents with a particular emphasis on designing with sustainability in mind, focusing on utilizing waste materials.

Green Access is a fashion accelerator programme that nurtures young designers and drives the recommitment of resource efficiency, biodegradability, longevity and recyclability as guiding principles for fashion design and production. Since its launch in 2018, Green Access has highlighted fashion enterprises that are transforming their business models and adopting strategies to promote environmentally, socially, and ethically conscious production practices.

Upon the successful conclusion of the Green Access 2022 program, two designers from the 2022 cohort, Themba Shezi (Heru Shezi, South Africa) and Lu Adesola (Lul’la House, Nigeria), were granted financial support by The OR Foundation in the amount of 10,000 USD. The grant was awarded to assist in the growth and advancement of their respective brands. Their selection for the grant was based on their strong understanding and commitment to exploring the concept of circular fashion, as well as their integration of pre-existing materials, such as textiles, garments, or waste from other sectors, into their design practices.

Operating in Ghana since 2009, The OR Foundation is a USA-based 501(C)(3) public charity with a core mission to identify and promote alternatives to the prevailing model of fashion. The foundation’s work revolves around the intersection of environmental justice, education, and fashion development. By fostering ecological prosperity and encouraging a more profound connection with fashion that goes beyond mere consumerism, The OR Foundation aligns perfectly with the values and objectives of Lagos Fashion Week’s Green Access program.

Lagos Fashion Week and The OR Foundation share the belief that sustainable fashion possesses the potential to instigate positive change and propel the industry towards a more responsible and conscious future. Through the Green Access platform, emerging designers are empowered to make a significant impact and contribute to a fashion industry that is more sustainable and circular in its approach.