By Ayodele Johnson

A kiss from the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu making his runway debut at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Victoria Island on Sunday, 29 October 2023 marked the end of a wonderful well-curated fashion week. It was obviously an effort to showcase the lifestyle of C-suites, the way the governor had on a style matching that appearance as he fastened in the curtain at the Lagos Fashion Week 2023 with the Emmy Kasbit exhibition.

Fashionable runway audiences would remember the third day of the mountings, where Ugo Monye reimagined a new way for royalties to announce their presence in exceptionally flamboyant outfits. We bet you never knew Aso Oke could rediscover a different type of peak as a male model walks struttingly down a platform and is surrounded by high fashion enthusiasts.

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That is perhaps the image playing in Mr. Sanwo-Olu’s mind as he posted a tweet highlighting the relevance of his megacity when it comes to standing out as the “the epicentre of art, culture, and expression”. He has noticed and can confirm the attractiveness that Lagos seems to have when it comes to gluing in brands and keeping them long enough to form a partnership.

“Lagos” adds the governor, “is where creativity thrives. We continue to support this vibrant community because we believe in its power to transform our city and our economy.

“Closing the Emmy Kasbit show yesterday, I’m reminded of how creativity isn’t just about fashion; it’s an economic force. Creativity is a catalyst for growth. We’ll keep investing in our creative minds, ensuring they have the platform to shine.

“The creative industry has an opportunity to significantly contribute more to our GDP and provide jobs. Our government is committed to nurturing this industry’s growth.”

At #LagosFashionWeek 2023, I stood proudly in the heart of a city that's the epicentre of art, culture, and expression.

Lagos is where creativity thrives. We continue to support this vibrant community because we believe in its power to transform our city and our economy.… pic.twitter.com/IfG6gO35lg

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) October 29, 2023

And nothing suffices more for subtly projecting that gentle Lagos flamboyance than the spectacle made by women’s bespoke fashion brand, Orire, whose “focus on asymmetry, volume, and texture” became the display of an “unwavering commitment to modern femininity”.

Those who are to wear the designs can see themselves in the sewings before even trying on an outfit. They are to be top-performing professionals who are spearheading positive change in the world and Lagos has many of these around its upscale districts.

All the way from Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa is the fashion house, Sipho Vuyo Lushaba also known as SVL who have visualised getting support and how a display of that should be in an art form. If SVL Design’s SS24 collection were to take a different direction in its name, it would probably be Gen Z casuals, because of tailoring for a young audience that has normalised boundless but safe freedom.

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Now, what are clothes without good-looking hair to go alongside? Lush Hair was answering that question also in an exhibition. Making that response perfect was the singer and The Black Book actress, Shaffy Bello, hitting the runway on Saturday, barely 24 hours to ending the Lagos Fashion Week 2023. Even though she almost tripped queening and spun to exit the stage, other models were close enough in case she might fall.

More than seeing creativity on display all day and evening is knowing what is truly the priceless piece – it is the people including debutants, Eso by Liman and Lilabare, who made artistic musings to come alive. What follows this is next year when all the showings of the past evenings will have accompanied their hosts to charity events, busy Monday elevator rush, and evening time being laid back at a concert or the beach with friends.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.