Severe Nature and Spotify team up to launch Afrobeats Culture in Motion, an immersive fashion showcase that turns the global sound of Afrobeats into high-fashion reality.
Lagos has experienced relentless rainfall throughout the fourth quarter. However, despite wet skies and cold air, on 3 October 2025, creative studio Severe Nature partnered with streaming platform Spotify to bring the heat through style.
The event titled Threads and Tunes, a part of a campaign for Afrobeats Culture in Motion, was held at the Fired and Iced Lounge, Lekki. However, the lounge, which gained viral popularity after hosting a Beyoncé birthday party in September, was redesigned and renamed Spotify’s Greasy Tunes Café for this month. This set the scene for the event du jour: a fashion show, without a runway.
The idea was simple: host a party, but at every corner, an undercover model was striking a pose. This strategy was reminiscent of the 1970s, when designer Halston would dress his celebrity friends, such as Bianca Jagger and Grace Jones, for their nights at Studio 54. A branding plan to show his designs in a real-world setting while shaping a fantasy around it — only the cool girls wear Halston.
Severe Nature and Spotify might not be aware of this history, but as Afrobeats singer WURLD performed his beloved track, “Trouble”, and emerging artiste, Taves walked wearing Móye Africa, I had never wanted a jacket so much.
What happens when sound meets style?
The event aimed to translate the global pulse of the Afrobeats genre into a fresh, visual language. Afrobeats, known for its rebellious nature and opposition to Western instruments, would not fit on a sterile runway but at a party… now, you are talking.
With its roots in highlife and Fuji music, Afrobeats has always focused on body movement, and at the Greasy Tunes Café, everything was moving. The performers moved, the crowd moved, and the clothes moved. It was a parade of texture and silhouette, curated with a soundscape that made your chest vibrate. It was loud, it was joyful, and the energy was infectious.
The brilliance of the night was in how the four featured Nigerian designers—Móye Africa, I.N. Official, KADIJU, and Pièce Et Patch—responded to the genre.
Móye Africa made fringes, beading, and embellishments. The collection featured unisex silhouettes crafted from hand-dyed adire and repurposed vintage Aso Oke.
KADIJU unleashed a wave of maximalism, with a stunning opening and performance by Gen Z Afropop darling Kold AF. The collection featured sculptural ruffles and voluminous layers, staying true to their avant-garde approach to fashion.
I.N Official blended architectural forms with technical, clean-lined fabrics.
Pièce Et Patch presented a collection of wearable collages from deconstructed denim and upcycled materials, treating fabric as a living, evolving archive.
Each capsule collection created for the event was a different yet direct shot fired in response to the rhythm and community that defines Afrobeats. In a way, it felt like a Mini Met Gala but for only designers.
A moment with the visionaries behind the event
On the inspiration behind the event, Christopher Afolabi, Art Director at Severe Nature, shared, “Partnering with Spotify was essential.”
“They are the sonic architects of the Afrobeats movement globally. Our goal was to build the physical, wearable dimension of the world they’ve helped champion,” he added. “This showcase wasn’t about clothes inspired by music. It was about creating garments that are the music in their texture, their defiance of convention, and their deep connection to heritage.”
At Spotify, a similar message also echoed: “Afrobeats is a culture, not just a genre,” stated Phiona Okumu, Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa at Spotify. “At Spotify, our commitment is to amplify all facets of this culture, giving artists and creators the platforms they deserve. Severe Nature’s vision to connect sound to style is exactly the kind of innovative, culture-forward initiative we are proud to power. This is a celebration of the architects of a global movement.”
The Millennials and Gen Z never got to witness the fun and vibrancy of the Studio 54 era. But at the Greasy Tunes Café, there’s a shot at a similar ambience. However, instead of the horns and synthesisers of the disco genre, it is all Afrobeats, and that’s even better.
Read more: “Fela Kuti: Afrobeat Rebellion” comes to Lagos in a monumental cultural homecoming
