Omoyemi Akerele Pioneer of Lagos Fashion Week

Lagos Fashion Week is a fashion platform that brings forth together buyers, consumers of Nigeria, and eventually, the African fashion industry. It is a four-day event where designers blend cultures and traditions and give rise to a new look. The main attraction of this fashion show is that offers access to shop for some of the favorite fashion brands 

What do you think, who has formed the building blocks of Lagos Fashion Week? A man or a woman?

The face behind the biggest fashion show in Nigeria is a woman, Omoyei Akerele. She is the founder and executive director of Lagos Fashion Week. Moreover, she is also the director of its parent company, Style House Files. 

Journey in building Lagos Fashion Week 

She started her journey from being a former creative magazine editor of True Love West Africa. With a background of multiple degrees in Law, she has entrenched the fashion business development agency, Style House Files. Moreover, the initiative has created many opportunities for African designers. Also, this has further added to the establishment of the biennial Lagos Fashion Week. Additionally, this year they have completed their ten years, with the theme for the season, The Future Starts Now. Not only this but also, collaborations had been made with African designers on various projects to promote their work and build their brands' success. 

The vigor of Lagos Fashion Week

Apart from other fashion shows, it has created a different identity for itself. By bringing diverse cultures together, with their past fashion history. From promoting creativity and innovation, it has also created many jobs and empowered people. And it was all possible with Omoyei’s vision of making Nigerians and their art recognized in the whole world. Moreover, along with creating fashion, they have focused on creating sustainable fashion. The reason behind this was to have transparency within the supply chain and to create something that lasts for a longer duration. And also the clothing is not harmful to the environment.   

Flowing Overseas  

From a small initiative of building a sustainable fashion industry. The road has expanded its dimensions by working with Nigeria Export Promotion Council. The main motto is, to give a vast platform to local designers to craft clothing and do exports. 

Fame and Awards 

The list of her awards is endless still some of them are, from Business of Fashion’s Global 500 list in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and also in 2022. To Outstanding contribution of African Fashion, AFI Fashion Awards in 2014. Furthermore, Zero Non-Oil Ambassador for Nigeria, 2021. 

Moreover, she has been invited to speak at conferences such as London Business School, The Museum of Modern Arts New York Items Conference, Business of Fashion Voices, Conde Nast International Luxury Conference, Women in Business Conference, International Herald Tribune Luxury Conference, African Creative Economy Conference, and many innumerable.  

FAQ

Which company does Omoyemi Akerele own?

Omoyemi Akerele the founder of Lagos Fashion Week owns the company, Style House Files. 

It's been how many years since Omoyemi Akerele started Lagos FW?

This year it has been ten years since Omoyemi started with Lagos Fashion Week. With its beauty of cultural touch and bringing them forward for worldwide recognition. 

Journey of Omoyemi Akerele for building Lagos FW?

She was a lawyer for several years before becoming a stylist. Her first job as a fashion stylist was in the magazine, True Love West Africa. And after realizing the need to have global recognition with exceptional art and designs. Then there was no looking back, and the rise of Lagos Fashion Week took place.  

 

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