Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2025 unfolded as one of the most meaningful fashion gatherings the continent has witnessed in recent years, not just because of the designers on the runway, but because of the story it told about Africa, Lagos, and the future of fashion rooted in culture.
Held on December 20 and 21, 2025, at the J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Onikan, Lagos, the eleventh season of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria moved beyond the familiar runway format and redefined what a fashion week in Africa can truly represent.
From the moment guests arrived at the historic venue, it was clear that AFWN 2025 was designed as a complete cultural experience. The setting itself played a strong role in shaping the tone of the event. The J. Randle Centre is a living archive of Yoruba history, and hosting Africa Fashion Week Nigeria within its walls created a deep connection between fashion and identity.
Every fabric, silhouette, bead, and stitch felt anchored in a larger narrative of who Africans are, where they come from, and how they choose to express themselves in a modern world. This decision reinforced AFWN’s long-standing mission to use fashion as a tool for cultural preservation while still allowing space for fresh ideas and new voices.
One of the most talked-about aspects of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2025 was its shift into a festival-style edition. Rather than limiting the experience to scheduled runway shows, the event expanded into a full cultural celebration.
Attendees explored exhibitions, visited an active creative marketplace, listened to conversations around fashion and culture, engaged with art and music, and interacted directly with fashion designers and exhibitors. This approach allowed fashion lovers, buyers, media professionals, and curious visitors to connect with African fashion in a more personal and meaningful way. It encouraged dialogue, learning, and discovery, making the event accessible and engaging to a wider audience.
The exhibition marketplace became a major highlight of the two-day event. Curated fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and artisanal brands from across Nigeria and other parts of Africa showcased their work, giving visitors the chance to see craftsmanship up close and understand the stories behind the products.
From handwoven textiles to leather goods, jewelry, footwear, and beauty brands, the marketplace reflected the diversity of African creativity and entrepreneurship. It also created real business opportunities, as designers and exhibitors connected directly with customers, buyers, and collaborators in an environment that supported growth and visibility.
Africa Fashion Week Nigeria has always been known as a platform that opens doors for emerging designers, and the 2025 edition strengthened this commitment. Designers at different stages of their careers were given space to present their work, tell their stories, and reach new audiences.
For many creatives, AFWN served as a bridge between local talent and global opportunity. Media exposure, buyer interest, and networking moments throughout the event helped designers build connections that extend beyond the runway. This focus on nurturing talent remains one of the strongest pillars of Africa Fashion Week Nigeria and continues to shape the future of African fashion.
Heritage and identity stood at the center of AFWN 2025. The collections presented across the two days reflected deep respect for African traditions while interpreting them through modern design. Designers used fabrics such as Aso-oke, Adire, Ankara, batik, Faso Dan Fani, Kenté, and Bogolan, transforming them into garments that speak to today’s lifestyle without losing their cultural roots.
Storytelling was visible in every collection, whether through color choices, handwork, motifs, or silhouettes inspired by history, faith, community, and personal experience. This strong sense of identity reminded audiences that African fashion is not a trend but a living expression of culture.
The runway schedule was packed with energy and variety. On the first day, the exhibition opened at noon, welcoming guests into a lively space filled with creativity. By 3:00 PM, the first runway show began, featuring designers such as CHARMS-XVI Luxury powered by Ananse Africa, Asoebi by Nandari, RTW by Teetee, Rhaychaelle_Cut, Elegant by Rachy, Drip Tie, Momoposh, Binta Badmus, Glovika, Prince and Helen Keshi of Klass Kay, Aby Toria Brand, RobesandBlingsbyAkokomali, Adire Teems, and Ndokoshapes’n’more.
Each brand brought a distinct point of view, ranging from modest wear and bridal robes to streetwear, accessories, and contemporary ready-to-wear pieces. The diversity on the runway reflected the wide scope of African fashion today.
The second runway show of the day, which began at 6:00 PM, introduced another wave of creativity. Designers such as Nailé, Shaykara Brand, Ventunna, Princess Vogue Fashion, Chinelleworld, EAA, Nox Couture, Sisi Sewing, Shebling, Pearls and Patterns Luxe, Black, Aorah, Insyd/OWT Creatives, Talyna, and Tidé Chen Lagos took to the runway.
This segment highlighted both established names and rising designers, each contributing to the evolving narrative of African fashion. The show closed at 8:00 PM, leaving the audience inspired and eager for the next day.
The second day of AFWN 2025 continued with the same level of excitement and engagement. The exhibition reopened at noon, allowing visitors another opportunity to explore the marketplace and connect with brands. From 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the red carpet came alive with fashion designers, influencers, media personalities, and fashion enthusiasts, setting the tone for the evening.
At 6:00 PM, the opening fashion segment began, featuring designers such as Adire Oodua, Iffizi, Gele by Adejoke, Black Adudu, Kwara Collection by Dimeji Ilori, Sarah Ajayi, Desile Lagos, and House of Lunettes. Each presentation reflected careful craftsmanship and strong cultural references, reinforcing the event’s focus on identity and storytelling.
One of the most engaging moments of the evening was the influencer catwalk showcase, held from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM. This segment celebrated celebrities who play an important role in shaping fashion and entertainment conversations both online and offline. We see BBnaija stars like Phyna, Koyin, Hermes, Imisi, and more walk down the runway.
It was followed by The Nigerian Wedding Showcase, which highlighted bridal fashion rooted in tradition while responding to modern tastes. This segment resonated strongly with the audience, especially given Nigeria’s rich wedding culture and the importance of fashion within it.
Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2025 also stood out for its strong lineup of exhibitors. Brands such as Tequila Hairline, Clothing by Abosede, Household of Panache, The PIE Leather Craft, MAK, Upperklass Boutiques, Ebunoluwa by Sensiq x Tahkara Fashion Hub, Jon Pelumi, AL-KHAZANA ET ÀRÀ-IDĘ, Gbenga Artsmith, and Leseo Oyé brought depth and variety to the exhibition space.
These exhibitors showcased everything from hair and beauty products to leather goods, jewelry, bags, and ready-to-wear fashion. Their presence highlighted the interconnected nature of fashion, lifestyle, and craftsmanship within African creative industries.
The event attracted growing interest from both local and international media, reinforcing Lagos’s position as a major center for African fashion and innovation. Guests from different parts of the world experienced the city’s energy through fashion, music, conversation, and cultural expression. AFWN continues to play an important role in shaping how African fashion is perceived globally, presenting it as confident, diverse, and deeply rooted in culture.
The festival-style format also allowed for meaningful discussions around the future of African fashion. Designers, creatives, and industry stakeholders engaged in conversations about growth, access to markets, preservation of craft, and the importance of storytelling. These discussions added intellectual value to the event and encouraged collaboration across different sectors of the creative industry. For young designers and creatives, this access to knowledge and mentorship is just as valuable as runway exposure.
Africa Fashion Week Nigeria remains the world’s largest and longest-running showcase of African design, and the 2025 season reaffirmed this status. As a platform, AFWN continues to unite designers, models, fashion lovers, and industry leaders under one shared vision: to celebrate African creativity and push it forward. The event bridges tradition and modern life, showing that African fashion is constantly evolving while staying connected to its roots.
By empowering emerging talent, supporting responsible production, and creating space for cultural expression, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2025 made a lasting impact. It was not only a celebration of what African fashion is today, but also a glimpse into where it is headed. The collections, conversations, and connections formed during the two days will continue to influence fashion designers and creatives long after the lights on the runway have dimmed.
In every sense, Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2025 was a reminder that fashion in Africa is more than style. It is history, identity, business, community, and vision coming together. From the choice of venue to the diversity of fashion designers and exhibitors, every detail reflected intention and pride. As Lagos continues to grow as a global creative hub, AFWN stands as a powerful symbol of African fashion’s strength, relevance, and future.
Photo: Instagram/battleaxe_e
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Esther Ejoh is a Fashion Editor at Fashion Police Nigeria, where she writes all things fashion, beauty, and celebrity style, with a sharp eye and an even sharper pen. She’s the girl who’ll break down a Met Gala look one minute, rave about a Nigerian beauty brand the next, and still find time to binge a movie or get lost in a novel. Style, storytelling, and self-care? That’s her holy trinity.
