PanamaTimes

Friday, Mar 29, 2024

The Six Best Shows From Lagos Fashion Week

The Six Best Shows From Lagos Fashion Week

The events of the past year provided inspiration for many designers.

Lagos Fashion Week returned after a year’s hiatus last week in fine form. The global COVID-19 pandemic and countrywide protests made physical shows in 2020 impossible and left industry insiders wondering how the pandemic would affect the African fashion industry. However, through a combination of digital-only shows, intimate presentations, and physical runways at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, Fashion Week was better than ever.

The events of the past year provided inspiration for many designers. Some turned to the Nigerian End SARS protests against police brutality, which took place almost a year ago to the date of Lagos Fashion Week 2021, while others drew on the losses from the COVID-19 pandemic and even more focused on themes of healing and surviving. As for trends, many designers had an affinity for bright primary colors and military-inspired shoulder details. The sheer number of clutches and purses on the runways proved that Lagosians are still very fond of their bags.

Below, the six best collections from Lagos Fashion Week 2021.

Cynthia Abila




The show opened with a model wearing a mask and a layered multicolored gown that seemed to draw inspiration from traditional Nigerian masquerades, and the methodically playing drums helped drive this home. The rest of the collection upgraded familiar silhouettes into daring outfits, thanks to the brand’s craftsmanship. Think colorful power suits made of aso-oke, silky trench-coat dresses with shoulder details, and bright two-pieces with extravagant bottom halves complete with fringes and well-placed cuts.

Emmy Kasbit




Emmanuel Okoro, the creative director of Emmy Kasbit, won the inaugural African Fashion Up prize in partnership with Balenciaga in September. Fresh off his win, he returned to release his latest collection in Lagos. Inspired by the Nigerian-Biafran civil war, which occurred from 1967 to 1970, Okoro drew on the colors of the Biafran flag-red, yellow, black, and green-as the foundation of the collection. The result? Neon jackets with strategically placed gashes, bucket hats, and short-sleeve shirts paired with ties and shorts. Printed on the locally sourced cotton used in the collection were texts from the bunker of Ojukwu, the leader of the Biafran forces. The result: a stirring, applause-eliciting testament to Okoro’s skill in referencing the past and preserving the culture.

Lagos Space Programme




Of all the collections showcased, Lagos Space Programme’s looked the most like an art exhibit as well as a fashion show. Their spring 2022 collection-according to the brand’s founder, Adeju Thompson-was inspired by the Yoruba deity Osun, with indigo representing her connection with water. Held in Alara, the famous Lagosian concept store, the presentation featured several videos and audio clips playing scenes from annual festivals honoring Osun to create an immersive experience. Carefully designed coats, flowy culottes styled over similarly voluminous indigo shirts, and deconstructed gowns spoke to the brand’s desire to erode gender binaries in fashion.

Andrea Iyamah




Designer Andrea Iyamah’s knack for storytelling and subtlety sets her apart as a designer. She showcased her spring 2022 collection to a limited number of guests in a white dome away from the hubbub of the Federal Palace Hotel. With an earthy color palette, the collection explored the art of healing and thriving in uncertain times. The flowy dresses evoked goddesses, while halter tops and swimsuits in bold colors reminded viewers of a life pre-COVID-19.

Odio Mimonet




The Odio Mimonet spring 2022 collection explored the art of finding happiness and joy, regardless of the current state of the world. Mimonet creates pieces that channel multiple eras while also appearing trendless. By marrying primary colors with rich textures, Mimonet crafted dresses that bring to mind Nigerian traditional silhouettes and also have a strong futuristic feel to them.

Orange Culture




The Orange Culture spring 2022 collection began with audio from the 2020 End SARS protests. The clip, which went viral last year during the protests, featured a girl screaming, “We want to be fresh,” referencing how the police seemingly attack stylish young people. Orange Culture has a reputation for being a rebellious brand unafraid to restart essential conversation. What was new was how Adebayo Oke-Lawal, creative director of Orange Culture, paired his signature cutout tops and trench coats with new designs, including shimmery see-through gowns that stopped just above the knees and dark overshirts layered over more colorful shirts. The result was a balance between the crazy and the calm. Finishing off with performances from musicians Falana, a favorite of the brand, and Lojay, who performed his breakout hit “Monalisa,” the show was a delight.

Newsletter

Related Articles

PanamaTimes
0:00
0:00
Close
Apple warns against drying iPhones with rice
In a recent High Court hearing, the U.S. argued that Julian Assange endangered lives by releasing classified information.
Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Lockbit Ransomware Operation
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has died at the Arctic prison colony
The President of Argentina Javier Mile does not fly private, he flies commercial, with the citizens he represents. And they LOVE him for it.
Bitcoin Reaches $50,000 for First Time in Over Two Years
Belo Horizonte: Brazil's Rising Carnival Hotspot for 2024
In El Salvador, the 'Trump of Latin America' stuns the world with a speech slamming woke policing after winning a landslide election
Tucker’s interview with Putin is over 50M views on X within the first 5 hours.
Finnish Airline, Finnair, is voluntarily weighing passengers to better estimate flight cargo weight
President Nayib Bukele has proudly announced El Salvador's remarkable achievement of becoming the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
Former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
This farmer seems to understand science a bit more than the event organizer, Klaus Schwab.
Facebook turns 20: From Mark Zuckerberg's dormitory to a $1trn company
The Coolest Dictator in the World" on the Path to Victory in El Salvador
Macron, France and fake news
Indian-Origin Man 'King' Arrested For Smuggling $16 Million Drugs Into US
Can someone teach Americans that not every person with slanted eyes is Chinese?
Europe's Farmers Feeding the People, Protesting Against Politicians Who Do Nothing for Their Country and Serve Only Themselves at Taxpayers' Expense
Paris Restaurant That Inspired 'Ratatouille' Loses $1.6 Million Worth Of Wine
Brazilian Police Investigate Bolsonaro's Son for Alleged Illegal Spying
Police in Brazil Raid Residence of Bolsonaro Associate Over Allegations of Illegal Spying
Border Dispute Escalates as Texas Governor Vows Increased Razor Wire
OpenAI Enhances ChatGPT-4 Model, Potentially Addressing AI "Laziness" Issue
The NSA finally acknowledges spying on Americans by acquiring sensitive data
Report Reveals Toxic Telegram Group Generating X-Rated AI-Generated Fake Images of Taylor Swift
US Border Patrol States 'No Plans' to Remove Razor Wire Installed in Texas
Bitcoin Experiences Approximately 20% Decline in Value
Klaus Schwab recently appointed himself as the Earth's "trustee of the future."
DeSantis Drops Out, Endorses Trump.
Nikki Haley said former President Trump is "just not at the same level" of mental fitness as he was while president in 2016.
Residents of a southern Mexican town set the government palace on fire in response to the police killing of a young man
Samsung Launches AI-Driven Galaxy S24, Ushering in New Smartphone Era
Judge Questions SEC's Regulatory Overreach in Coinbase Lawsuit
The Ecuador prosecutor who was investigating the television studio attack, has been assassinated.
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Vivek Ramaswamy suspends his US election campaign and endorses Trump.
Viral Satire: A Staged Satirical Clip Mistaken as Real Footage from the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Ecuador Reports 178 Hostages in Prison Gang Standoff
The Startling Cuban Espionage Case That Has Rattled the US Government
Two Armed Men in Ecuador, Dressed as Batman and The Joker Storm the Streets.
Armed Gang Raids Ecuadorian TV Station Following State of Emergency Declaration
Anti-Democratic Canada: Journalist Arrested for Questioning Canadian Finance Minister on Support of Terrorist Group
Ecuador's 'Most-Wanted' Criminal Vanishes from Prison
Mexican Cartel Supplied Wi-Fi to Locals Under Threat of Fatal Consequences for Non-Compliance
Border Surge Leads to Over 11,000 Migrants Waiting in Northern Mexico
Outsider Candidates Triumph in Latin American Elections
As Argentina Goes to the Polls, Will the Proposal to Replace the Peso with the Dollar Secure Votes?
Fatal Shark Attack Claims Life of Boston Woman Paddleboarding Near Bahamas Resort, According to Police
×