This year’s event was the 5th year anniversary edition and it kicked-off with the Tiffany Amber Nigeria show, and featured an outstanding line-up of emerging and established designers including Lanre Da Silva-Ajayi, Tsemaye Binitie, Iamisigo, Eki Orleans, Orange Culture, April by Kunbi, Ade Bakare and a host of others.
One of the major highlights of the week, was the Fashion Business Series, held on the 29th and 30th of October, it was a resounding success. This year, the sponsors were Sterling Bank, Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
The sponsors all made significant commitments to support the fashion industry by providing specific programs and low interest loans for fashion entrepreneurs. For example, the Managing Director of Bank of Industry (BOI), Rasheed Olaoluwa discussed how to access the N1 billion fund accessible to both men and women.
They also announced they were working with NEPC to create a fashion manufacturing hub so that designers can create large volumes for retail or export. Sterling Bank’s Head of MSME Omolara Akinfolarin also announced they had low interest loans available to fashion entrepreneurs.
In addition to funding for fashion, other topics covered were manufacturing, e-commerce, technology, the fashion value chain and luxury. There were many speakers including Tunde Kehinde (MD ACE.ng), Toyosi Kolawole (MD Audeo Clothing), Reni Folawiyo (MD Alara), Andrea Iyamah (Founder/MD Andrea Iyamah Swimwear), Mobola Oniboboje (Alithea Capital), Tope Edu (MD Zegna Nigeria), Deola Sagoe, Mai Atafo, Commissioner of Commerce Osun State and many more.
The underlying message of the fashion business series was that it would take a lot of hard work and collaborations to move the industry to the next level. “There is no other way to progress fashion than to treat it as a business,” Nike Ogunlesi founder/CRO of Ruff ‘n’ Tumble said.
The #HeinekenLFDW2015 X Retail Exhibition Space was a key engagement hub for guests from day two to four, it featured a curated expose, profiling the revolutionary work of African fashion creatives in the past 5 years. In addition, various informative creative seminars were held facilitated by leading experts in the Nigerian fashion industry.
Adding to all the glamour and excitement at #HeinekenLFDW2015, was the Heineken & Veuve Clicquot VIP Lounge which played host to special guests throughout the course of the event. It was a great spot to unwind and relax during the breaks and at the end of the fashion shows. Guests were treated to special Heineken cocktails and champagne as they mingled in this exclusive space.
For its 5th year anniversary, Lagos Fashion and Design Week honored five select creatives in an award ceremony held on the last day. The recipients of the awards were; Mai Atafo – Men’s wear Designer of the Year, Amaka Osakwe– Women’s wear Designer of the Year, Ejiro Amos Tafiri – Outstanding Emerging Designer of the Year (Fashion & Retail), Zainab Ashadu – Accessories Designer of the Year and Kelvin Godson Effange – Model of the Year. HeinekenLFDW is hosted by Style House Files.
