Lagos Fashion Week returned this year — bigger, bolder, and more electrifying than ever. For fashion fanatics, it was a masterclass in style, serving up the boldest trends that will shape the rest of the year.
As Lagos Fashion Week SS26 comes to an end, I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness — it’s been a truly remarkable run. I wish I could relive every single moment! But on the flip side, I’m buzzing with excitement because now I get to experiment with all the incredible trends I witnessed and rock those runway-inspired styles in the days, months, and even years to come.
Running for four vibrant days, 29 October to 2 November, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria, Lagos Fashion Week SS26 was nothing short of a fashion lover’s paradise. With over 60 designers from across Africa showcasing their Spring/Summer 2026 collections, the event was a stunning celebration of creativity and culture.
From cowries to seashells, and denim to velvet, we’ve combed through the best of the collections to bring you the standout trends that truly matter — stay tuned till the end for the pieces you’ll definitely want to add to your next style haul.
Read also: All the highlights from day 2 of Lagos Fashion Week — and the looks everyone’s talking about
Paint the runway red
You know I had to start this trend report with red — because honestly, what’s a runway without fashion’s loudest and most commanding colour? Red has always been the shade of confidence and allure, and this season, designers made sure it stayed front and centre .
Each brand had its own take on the shade, serving looks that proved just how versatile red can be. LFJ showcased a sculptural red dress with striking 3D-like detailing; Imad Eduso stunned with a rich, traditional velvet two-piece; while Onalaja delivered pure sensuality with a red beaded dress that shimmered under the lights. Then there was Fruché, who closed their show with none other than Grammy Award winner Ciara — draped in a breathtaking red gown with exaggerated sleeves and a bold red ‘gele’ to top it all off.
If this season proved anything, it’s that red was made for us — rich, expressive, and impossible to ignore.
Fringe in motion
We’ve seen plenty of fringe moments on international runways — from Paris and London to Milan and even Moscow — but it was such a thrill to see the trend interpreted through a uniquely Nigerian lens this season. There’s something about fringe that instantly brings a look to life, and our designers went all in, giving movement, texture, and drama new meaning.
Hertunba incorporated intricate, hand-threaded fringe into her signature Akwete — hand-woven fabric from Akwete town in Abia state — fabric pieces, adding dimension and fluidity. Pepper Row sent a bold two-piece look down the runway, featuring a drop-waist skirt finished with cascading fringe layers. Cute-Saint also had its moment, showcasing several fringe looks — one standout being a halter-neck fuchsia mini dress that was pure fun in motion.
Honestly, after this season, I think it’s safe to say fringe is here to stay.
Rooted in Raffia & straw
Raffia and straw made a strong case for sustainability and storytelling this season. Designers celebrated the richness of handcrafted materials, blending tradition with high fashion in the most striking ways.
Dimeji Ilori led the charge with a full raffia fringe ensemble that beautifully celebrated heritage and craftsmanship — a look that felt as organic as it was avant-garde. The use of straw and raffia added an earthy elegance to the runways, reminding us that fashion doesn’t always need to sparkle to make a statement.
This season, raffia and straw reemerged as symbols of artistry, culture, and conscious fashion — proving that natural textures can be just as luxurious as silk or tweed.
Cowries & seashells
The presence of cowries and seashells on the runway this season brought an authentic, grounded beauty to the collections. Long tied to our cultural roots, cowries carry the weight of heritage and spirituality, while seashells shimmer as the ocean’s own jewels — both reminding us of nature’s natural beauty.
Hertunba wowed with a stunning, body-hugging white piece embellished all around with cowries — a look that beautifully celebrated heritage while feeling modern and refined. LFJ also embraced the theme, adding seashell details to feathered pieces that carried a soft, ocean-inspired energy right onto the runway.
Their comeback on the runway feels both nostalgic and fresh — a reminder that earthy and coastal accessories will always have a place in fashion, grounding even the most modern designs in culture, history, and meaning.
Power suit & blazers
This Lagos Fashion Week SS26, designers clearly had the 9-to-5 audience in mind — delivering corporate looks that balanced power with polish. We all know I’ll always be seated for a good power suit, and this season had me adding more suits to my cart than I could possibly wear (not that I’m complaining).
Sevon Dejana’s reinterpretation of the suit looked perfectly at home on the runway, but you could also wear it to the office and wouldn’t look out of place. The look featured fringe detailing all around the set — from the jacket to the pants — with an exaggerated collar to top it off. Fruché had a stunning chrome silver suit down the runway — very shiny and unmissable. Emmy Kasbit played with proportion through a brown, slightly baggy two-piece, while Y’wande turned up the heat with a suit worn without an inner layer, complete with map-like patchwork detailing that brought a touch of sensuality to classic tailoring.
With so many suits strutting down the runway, I can breathe easy — my office wardrobe is officially sorted for the season.
Read also: The standout shows that defined Lagos Fashion Week day 3 — a masterclass in storytelling and style
Denim
You can never go wrong with denim — and as Nigerians, if there’s one thing we know how to wear well, it’s jeans. So it was no surprise that denim dominated the runways this season, reimagined in fresh and inventive ways by several designers.
JZO delivered denim ensembles throughout their showcase, with a standout armless jumpsuit featuring two black belts across the bust and waist. Boyedoe explored patchwork in a three-piece denim set that balanced edge and craftsmanship, while Alpha Tribe by The OR Foundation also impressed with their own take on denim patchwork. OLOOH came in style with a denim drop-waist gown finished with a soft bubble hem — the perfect mix of structure and flow.
Denim reminded us once again that it’s never just a basic — it’s a timeless staple that always finds a way to stay in trend.
Drop-waist
If your Instagram, Pinterest, or any corner of social media has looked anything like mine, you’ve probably noticed the rise of drop-waist silhouettes everywhere this year. It’s easily one of the biggest trends taking over 2025 — and, of course, it made its way to the Lagos Fashion Week runways too.
Jewel Jemila showcased a stunning chartreuse yellow halter-neck dress with soft ruffles and flowing fabric cascading from a perfectly fitted drop waist. Hertunba followed with her own spin — a halter-neck drop-waist gown finished with threaded fringe details at the hem. FIA reimagined casual chic with a denim drop-waist skirt featuring white panels peeking through for contrast, while JZO switched things up entirely with a drop half-skirt for men — a bold, unexpected twist that worked flawlessly. The drop-waist is proof that elegance can come with a little “edge”.
Beads & brilliance
Personally, Beadwork will always be one of the most intricate and time-consuming art forms in fashion. And as Nigerians, we take our beading seriously — it’s part of our cultural identity, especially in traditional wear. This season, the runways shimmered with beads in every form imaginable, adding depth, texture, and an elevated feeling to each look.
Sevon Dejana’s regal, royalty-inspired collection featured several heavily beaded pieces — one in particular stood out with its snow-like embellishment and delicate crystal detailing. Onalaja also delivered breathtaking craftsmanship, presenting a flowing black gown covered in intricate beadwork that resembled map-like patterns. Across the board, designers embraced beads of all sizes and colours, using them to elevate their pieces with both cultural reverence and modern flair.
Beads didn’t just accessorise this season — they told stories, one hand-sewn detail at a time.
Brown is the new bold
Often dismissed as dull, Brown brought unexpected life to the Lagos Fashion Week SS26 runways. Designers like Babayo, Ajabeng, and Adama Paris proved that theJung earthy hue can be anything but boring.
Babayo reimagined ease and texture with a loose brown dress featuring layered fringe hems; Ajabeng leaned into effortless cool with a brown loungewear two-piece; while Adama Paris added a romantic twist with a brown tulle creation — flare sleeves, ruffles, and a peplum V-neck bodice.
Warm, grounded, and quietly powerful, brown became the season’s most surprising statement.
Exaggerated hips
Now, I’ve said it before — there are some trends I have a love-hate relationship with, and exaggerated hips are definitely one of them. If not properly structured, they can completely throw off a silhouette. But this season? Designers got it right. Every piece strutted down the runway with hips as solid and sculpted as architecture.
Hertunba impressed with a black halter-neck dress featuring a sleek bodice and a black-and-blue authentically hand-woven Akwete bust detail; Ibilola Ogundipe played with volume in a white mini dress with draped shoulders and sculpted hips; Pepper Row stunned with a hand-painted exaggerated-hip gown that felt like wearable art; and Sevon Dejana sealed the deal with a velvet piece fit for royalty, boasting the most elegantly structured hips of all.
This was one season that showed structure really is everything — and let’s just say, the next piece my designer makes for me will definitely be featuring an exaggerated hip.
Head pieces
I was genuinely stunned by the variety of headpieces that graced the runway this season — not just your typical hats, but fascinators, halo-like structures, and even our beloved traditional gele made their appearances.
LFJ paired their looks with some of the most ethereal headpieces — from delicate floral and feather forms — all perfectly matching the outfits they accompanied. Emmy Kasbit elevated their pieces with refined straw hats that added a rich cultural edge, while Sevon Dejana showcased a velvet look topped with a halo-style piece that felt almost celestial. Cynthia Abila took a playful turn with a hat resembling soft bubbles, and Jermaine Bleu beautifully merged tradition and modernity with a contemporary gele.
Stripes
Stripes have always had that timeless charm — clean, bold, and effortlessly chic — but this season, designers took them far beyond the classic. From sharp verticals to wavy, almost hypnotic patterns, stripes were reimagined in fresh, unexpected ways.
Jermaine Bleu leaned into structured tailoring with crisp pinstripes that gave a refined edge to a 3 piece suit ensemble. On the other hand, Pepperrow brought playfulness with wide, colourful lines that contrasted the plain brown colour of the piece. Cute Saint, Maison Àlu’lla and FIA added their own twist, merging contrasting stripe directions for that eye-catching visual movement.
Stripes have officially stepped out of the basics category, and they’re having their main character moment.
Orange rush
If there’s one colour that knows how to make an entrance, it’s orange — confident, and impossible to ignore. This season, the runways glowed in every shade imaginable: burnt, tangerine, and sunset tones all claimed their spotlight.
Designers like Jewel Jemila, Cynthia Abila, and Cute Saint used orange to channel energy and warmth, from tailored sets to flowing dresses that caught the light just right. On those catwalks, the colour was bright, joyful, and unapologetically optimistic.
Read also: Beyond the runway: How Lagos Fashion Week is powering Nigeria’s creative economy
In full bloom
Coinciding perfectly with the theme of the year, flowers were in full bloom on the runways. From large petals at Lush Hair to bouquet-inspired accessories form KOMA, designers turned the catwalk into a living garden — and it was nothing short of enchanting.
A standout moment came from Lush Hair Nigeria, whose showcase beautifully blurred the lines between fashion and hair. Models graced the runway in elegant floral dresses, their hairstyles adorned with matching blossoms — showing the audience that hair can be just as much a canvas for art as clothing.
Tie & dye
It wouldn’t be a true fashion moment without a nod to Tie & Dye or Adire. This season, designers reimagined the age-old motifs, blending legacy with modern sophistication.
Éso by Liman experimented with contemporary silhouettes in deep blue and red hues, while Pepper Row introduced a softer, pastel interpretation that felt effortlessly fresh and urban. The result? It was the perfect balance of legacy and now — reminding us that hand-dyed fabrics look good no matter the season.
Effortless ease
Comfort continues to reign supreme — and this season, designers reminded us that laid-back doesn’t have to mean laid off. From loose-fitting silhouettes to breezy separates, loungewear and casualwear took on new life with elevated fabrics and refined tailoring.
Street Souk, who made their Lagos Fashion Week debut, led the charge with effortlessly cool street-style looks. On the other hand, Ajabeng showcased a relaxed brown two-piece that merged sophistication with ease. Each piece felt like a nod to the modern lifestyle — practical yet polished, comfortable yet undeniably chic.
Bag paradise
Bags were definitely having their moment this season, and I loved every second of it. This season, bags took on new personalities — reimagined as artful accents that command attention rather than simply complete a look.
From the oversized styles at WOTÈ and OLOOH, to the beautifully woven bags at Lila Bare and Garbe, and the chic denim numbers at Ajanee, down to the sleek slim bags at Emmy Kasbit, it was a complete bag paradise. At this point, I’m convinced a girl can never have too many bags.
Purple reign
There’s just something magnetic about purple — it’s the colour of regal, and quiet luxury all in one. It’s no surprise it’s been ruling both red carpets and runways globally, making its way into everything from streetwear to haute couture. From deep violets to soft lilacs, designers explored every shade.
Sahrazad sent a dreamy lilac gown gliding down the runway.FSS had a metallic purple 2-piece with an exaggerated bow on the blouse and structured silhouettes. Maison Àlu’lla kept things sleek with a subtle lavender halter neck dress with a circle flare. From soft and romantic to bold and regal.
The shine effect (metallics & iridescent)
Fashion’s current love affair with shine shows no signs of fading. Metallics and iridescents have become symbols of tech and futurism — bold, daring, and camera-ready. This season, the Lagos runways shimmered under their spell. DESIRÉE IYAMA lit up the catwalk with different coloured metallic pieces shimmering under the runway lights, Maxjenny took glamour to royal heights with shiny gilded details, and FSS played with matte iridescent finishes that still shifted like liquid light. It was sparkling with sophistication — a celebration of all things radiant.
Logomania
This season, designers weren’t afraid to put their names front and centre. While logos are usually hidden inside garments, many chose to let their designs do the talking. From bold monograms to subtle letterwork woven into fabrics, branding became part of the aesthetics.
Bloke embraced the trend with a batik-style imprint of its name across a black-and-blue patchwork two-piece set, while Garbe leaned into laid-back energy with a branded tee reading “Garbe Life in Lasgidi” paired with wide-legged pants and slippers — the perfect everyday fit. Pepper Row took a more artistic approach, hand-painting its name onto its pieces, and Koma kept things sharp with embroidered chest logos that gave their looks a uniform edge. The collaborative showcase by Adage Studio and Unrefyned also joined in, presenting sustainable pieces with logos placed across different parts of the garments.
A season to remember
One thing to take away from Lagos Fashion Week SS26 is that Nigerian fashion now sits on centre stage alongside other global fashion weeks. From heritage techniques reimagined for today’s world to detailed shapes, colours, and textures that turned heads, every runway moment was worth remembering. The designers presented clothes with visions, emotions, and reflections of who we are and where fashion here is headed. The world’s style compass has already shifted — and it’s pointing straight to Africa.
