As part of its 15th Anniversary Celebration, Lagos Fashion Week has officially opened applications for its Green Access Accelerator flagship program.
The Green Access Program is dedicated to shaping the future of African designers by challenging emerging designers to transform pre- and post-consumer textile waste into visionary designs that merge sustainability and the African heritage of craftsmanship.
Photo: Lagos Fashion Week Since it began in 2018, Green Access has been instrumental in nurturing a new generation of designers committed to circularity and sustainable practices. Alumni, including Kadiju, Pepperrow, Cute Saint, Ywande, Desiree Iyama, Ajanée, Pettre Taylor, and Oshobor, have gone on to build innovative brands that redefine the essence of responsible production.
Photo: Lagos Fashion Week According to the Founder & Convener of Lagos Fashion Week, Omoyemi Akerele, “Green Access is more than a program: it’s a movement that empowers young designers to imagine new possibilities for African fashion while honouring the traditions that shape our identity.” She further said, “As we mark 15 years of Lagos Fashion Week, we remain committed to fostering innovation that is bold, creative, and regenerative.”
The program aims to continue to drive sustainable growth in African fashion while shaping the next generation of designers through mentorship, skills development, and platform exposure.
The 2025 Green Access program will guide participants through four core areas;
- Craft-Driven Innovation – Transforming discarded textiles using traditional African techniques such as weaving, embroidery, and dyeing.
- Reimagining Waste – Breathing new life into deadstock and used clothing through reconstruction and modular design.
- Youth Activation – Collaborating with young artisans to promote skill-sharing, community engagement, and income generation.
- Digital Exploration – Integrating modern technologies such as 3D printing into heritage-based circular design.
Selected Green Access Designers will participate in a one-week residency at NAHOUS, developing capsule collections while engaging with industry tastemakers to ensure a hands-on, collaborative, and inspiring creative process.
Photo: Lagos Fashion Week The hybrid accelerator begins with three weeks of virtual sessions, followed by the physical residency at NAHOUS. Each participant will produce a three-look capsule collection to be showcased on the Lagos Fashion Week runway this October.
Photo: Lagos Fashion Week Lagos Fashion Week 2025 is set to commence on the 20th of October in Lagos. Applications are open to emerging designers in or connected to Nigeria until September 19, 2025.
