Lagos, Nigeria – October 3, 2025 – FashionEVO Summit & Show 2025, held on September 18 at the Africa Creative Market 2025 at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, united visionary minds, talented designers, and industry innovators from across Africa and beyond. This transformative event celebrated creativity, commerce, and community, resonating throughout the global fashion ecosystem.

Under the compelling theme “Creative Bridge: Bridging Creativity, Community, and Commerce in Africa’s Fashion Future,” the summit reinforced FashionEVO’s mission to elevate African fashion as a global powerhouse while highlighting the sector’s vast potential for economic transformation and cultural influence. Delegates from various African nations and international markets engaged in a dynamic day filled with thought-provoking panels, fostering robust dialogue about the industry’s trajectory and opportunities.

Ugochukwu Monye

Panel discussions examined cross-border collaboration in African fashion, exploring how partnerships can amplify individual designers’ reach while preserving authentic cultural narratives. Notable speakers included Sandra Alonge, Creative Director, IFFIZI, Harriet Hala Kahuzu, Founder, FAB L’Style Magazine, and Ameyaw Debrah, Celebrity Blogger, Freelance Journalist, and Reporter, with Tolu Ajibola, Award-Winning Broadcaster & On-Air Personality moderating the session. Their insights enriched the conversation around Pan-African fashion.

The importance of education in shaping future designers and the transformation of supply chains in our digital era were also key topics, with insights from industry luminaries such as Blessing Azubike of CcHub, Achu Blessing Ebere of 360 Creative Innovation Hub, Sola Babatunde of OSC Group, and Emmy Collins of Emmy Collins London, moderated by Adaeze Aduaka, Spice TV Presenter and Event Compère.

Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi of Adire Oodua Textile Hub & AFWLondon & Nigeria delivered a compelling keynote speech highlighting the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern technological innovation, joined by Kiki Okewale, Founder, Fabric Printing Global, and Femi Olayebi, Founder & CEO, Femi Handbags, with Seyi Amao, Founder, Sissyremi, moderating the session titled “Textile to Tech – Fashion Supply Chains in a Digital Era.”

Tolulope Omoyeni facilitating LEAP Africa’s session

Fireside chats featuring Nigeria’s leading stylists and creative visionaries further enriched these discussions, creating intimate spaces for deeper exploration of industry challenges and opportunities. A significant session, moderated by Maryanne Alabi, International Fashion Consultant & Stylist, included Diipo Ayo-Adeusi, Rhoda Ebun, Ifeoma Odogwu, and John J. Angel (DeAngelicTouchStylist), who examined “The Business of Style.”

Another discussion featured Malik Afegbua, Founder of Slickcity Media, Princess Ifedolapo Onikoyi, Founder of Artfrofest, and Lasisi Olubunmi of Black Adudu, moderated by Somto Ajuluchukwu, CEO of Vortex Animation, exploring fashion as an archive and digital as a voice. This conversation illuminated how contemporary African designers leverage digital platforms to preserve cultural heritage and build global audiences, addressing the critical intersection of tradition, documentation, and modern storytelling.

Interactive workshops on sustainability, strategic pricing, export readiness, technology integration, and legal frameworks ensured participants left with actionable knowledge to transform their businesses. Facilitators included Tolulope Omoyeni (Circular Business Platform), Lanre Shonoiki, Co-Founder, CAFET, Obinna Okerekeocha, Artist, Creative & Content Director, and Annie Oti, Founder, Africa Fashion Law Services. An experiential pop-up session led by Tallulah Doherty Adetona focused on wellness and beauty activation, enhancing the learning experience alongside her comprehensive masterclass in branding and stage presence.

Sly Monay

As the day transitioned into the evening, the FashionEVO Show dazzled audiences with a spectacular showcase of style, artistry, and cultural innovation. Visionary designers, including Amarelis, Kijipa Couture, Henri Uduku, Yigalos, Salvage, Sly Monay, IFFIZI, Adire Oodua Textile Hub, Revolution by Yetty D, Kola Kuddus, TF Apparel, and Rukuhs Petali, presented collections that beautifully balanced traditional craftsmanship with contemporary innovation and fearless creativity. The runway presentations also featured the highly anticipated unveiling of the Top 3 finalists of the Textile Design Competition, signalling the emergence of fresh talent poised to propel African fashion into an exciting new era.

The evening culminated in the prestigious FashionEVO Awards, honouring trailblazers whose groundbreaking work continues to define and elevate Africa’s creative landscape. Honourees included Hon. Toke Benson, recipient of the Creative Economy Catalyst Award, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, honoured with the Queen Vanguard Award; Mrs. Femi Olayebi, recipient of the Ecosystem Builder Award, among others. The awards celebrated individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth and recognition of African fashion on both continental and global stages.

Shakara Trybe

Memorable performances by Mahriisah and Angelo added to the vibrancy of the event, highlighting the intersection of fashion, music, and cultural expression that defines Africa’s creative landscape.

The summit’s success was bolstered by strategic partnerships with organisations committed to advancing Africa’s creative ecosystem, including LEAP Africa, SIPA, Fabric Printing Global, Amel Susan, and others, ensuring the event’s programming reached its full potential. Throughout the four-day Africa Creative Market, a vibrant pop-up booth showcased an array of brands, allowing attendees to engage directly with the diverse expressions of African fashion.

Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, Founder of FashionEVO and Convener of the FashionEVO Summit and Show, remarked, “FashionEVO was conceived as more than just a platform. It is a bridge connecting creativity with commerce, vision with opportunity, and Africa with the world. This year’s event affirms that African fashion is not just thriving; it is setting new global standards, driven by innovation, resilience, and an unwavering cultural identity.” Dr. Inya Lawal, Convener of the Africa Creative Market, added, “FashionEVO 2025 was fundamentally about forging meaningful connections between creativity and commerce, local artisans and global markets, and today’s established leaders and tomorrow’s visionary changemakers.”

Rukuhs Petali

FashionEVO Summit & Show was organised by FashionEVO in partnership with the Africa Creative Market and YD Company, with international collaborators providing valuable perspectives that highlighted opportunities for African designers to access global markets while maintaining their authentic creative voices and cultural integrity. This strategic collaboration demonstrated how cultural diplomacy and creative industries can synergistically build sustainable bridges between Africa and the world’s fashion capitals.

FashionEVO Summit & Show 2025 concluded with a powerful statement that continues to resonate throughout the industry: Africa’s fashion future is not merely emerging; it has definitively arrived — bold, innovative, and ready to claim its rightful place on the global stage.

Revolution by Yetty D

Lasisi Olubunmi, Princess Ifedolapo Onikoyi, Malik Afegbua and Somto Ajuluchukwu (Moderator)

Mudi Africa

Obinna

Queen Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi

Emmy Collins, Blessing Achu, Ada (Moderator), Blessing Azubike, Sola Babatunde

Fabric Printing Global

FashionandCo ECO

FE Exhibition 2

FE Exhibtion

Femi Olayebi accepting her awards and British Council rep

Frank Osodi

Henri Uduku

Iffizi

L- R Seyi Amao (Moderator), Femi Olayebi, Kiki Okewale

L-R Tolu Ajibola (Moderator), Ameyah Debrah, Harriet Hala Kahuzu and Sandra Alonge

Adire Odua

Bimpe Onakoya

Dr Inya Lawal

Dr Yetty Ogunnubi

Dr Yetty

About FashionEVO

FashionEVO is a leading platform championing African fashion innovation, cultural storytelling, and sustainable growth. Through events, media, and partnerships, FashionEVO empowers designers and creatives to thrive while expanding Africa’s presence on the global fashion stage.

 

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