Kicking off the fashion season with its fourth edition showcase, Lagos Fashion Week will present ‘Woven Threads IV: Standing The Test Of Time’ from 21st – 23rd April, 2023. 

Fashion has always been an industry in motion, continuously evolving, adapting, and pushing boundaries. At the core of this evolution is the theme “Standing the Test of Time,” which highlights fashion’s longevity, resilience, and its unique ability to adapt to changing times while preserving its core values and principles. From traditional African craftsmanship to contemporary fashion design, fashion has proven its ability to evolve while retaining its essence and cultural significance.

Adopting a hybrid showcase of physical and digital expressions, Woven Threads will give prominence to African design principles and its intrinsic circularity, which are best exemplified by designers known for innovating through textile, exploring various avenues for creativity on the continent and the role responsible practices play in building their brands.

Woven Threads will exhibit the work of designers trying to close the product life-cycle thus emphasizing traditional design processes, approach to waste, and recycling. Some of the designers participating include Abiola Olusola, KKerele, Nkwo, KikoRomeo, Diakwu Cloth, Kilentar, Kadiju, TJWho, Pepperrow,  Green Access 2022 finalists and more.

With a focus on environmental preservation, community building, cultural sustainability and consumer education, Woven Threads IV is a targeted approach to emphasise the role fashion must play in today’s world. 

“Producing responsibly is not a choice, but a deliberate and urgent action that we must take. As we face the realities of waste colonialism, climate change, and scarcity of resources, we must not stop considering the environment and the people we source from. It is our duty to drive this conversation, and shape what must be today by casting a lens on maker communities who are deliberately embracing a more circular approach” says Omoyemi Akerele, Founder of Lagos Fashion Week. 

Woven Threads IV will feature: 

  • Workshops – physical and practical workshops hosted by Nigerian based arts, crafts and design company, MitiMeth; Chibuzor Emodi, creative director ZuriZola; and Diakwu Cloth.
  • Digital Presentations – a digital workshop in partnership with Informa Markets. Using tangible aspects that foster community interaction with the Woven Threads themes, this digital event will harness technology to speak   on the current fashion retail market, US distribution overview and the evolution of retail: statistics, news, trends, and changes in the sector post pandemic.
  • The Woven Threads Interactive Installation – As sustainable practices become increasingly critical to building circular value cycles that prioritize efficient social and economic growth models, Woven Threads IV is set to welcome an interactive installation.
  • Swap Shop – Putting into practice the foundations of a circular economy that prioritises reuse, reduce & recycle, the SwapShop initiative invites consumers to think about the ways they can effect change with their own buying choices by facilitating the exchange of pre-owned items through swapping, sharing, donating and resale.

Woven Threads speaks to the evolution and versatility of fashion in Africa, highlighting the importance of responsible practices in the industry through rich stories by maker communities and creators, that force us to look beyond the collections to the process of making. 

Woven Threads IV is an initiative of Style House Files and Lagos Fashion Week. 

For more information on Woven Threads x Lagos Fashion Week, visit their Instagram @lagosfashionweekofficial or visit lagosfashionweek.ng

Onah Nwachukwu
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A lawyer by training, Onah packs over a decade of experience in both editorial and managerial capacities.
Nwachukwu began her career at THISDAY Style before her appointment as Editor of HELLO! NIGERIA, the sole African franchise of the international magazine, HELLO!
Thereafter, she served as Group Editor-in-Chief at TrueTales Publications, publishers of Complete Fashion, HINTS, HELLO! NIGERIA and Beauty Box.

Onah has interviewed among others, Forbes’ richest black woman in the world, Folorunso Alakija, seven-time grand slam tennis champion, Roger Federer, singer Miley Cyrus, Ex Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio while coordinating interviews with Nigerian football legend, Jayjay Okocha, and many more.

In the past, she organised a few publicity projects for the Italian Consulate, Lagos, Nigeria under one time Consul General, Stefano De Leo. Some other brands under her portfolio during her time as a Publicity Consultant include international brands in Nigeria such as Grey Goose, Martini, Escudo Rojo, Chivas, Martell Absolut Elix, and Absolut Vodka.

Onah currently works as the Editor of TheWill DOWNTOWN.