Epic Fashion Week 2026 wraps up with focus on new talents

Epic Fashion Week 2026, organized by Fashions Finest Africa and Mahogany International, ended on a high note on 24 May. The event took place over two exciting days at The Podium, Lekki, Lagos. It featured fashion, creativity, innovation, and discussions about the industry.

The event brought together fashion lovers, new designers, industry players, influencers, celebrities, and key figures in African fashion. They all came together to celebrate style, culture, and the future of fashion.

Notable personalities present included Mimi Linda Yina, known as Medlinboss, Tacha, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Akin Faminu, Michael Ejoor, Kayito Nwokedi, Larry Hector Mr, and Emmanuel Goodnew. Others included Kanaga, Ruth Vader, Ebunoluwa Dosumu, Mai Atafo, Sunky O, Neo Akpofure, and Grand Prince Ita.

Business of Fashion Conference

The first day kicked off with the Business of Fashion Conference. This event was aimed at giving new fashion creatives the tools and knowledge they need to build successful fashion businesses.

The conference had two panel sessions. The first was called “Authenticity vs Commercialisation: Staying True While Appealing to Wider Markets.” It featured Ms Folake Kuye Huntoon, King David, Praise Anaba, and Vivian Umoh, with Hadassah as the moderator.

The second session was titled “Fashion Without Borders: Positioning for Export,” moderated by Scott Itepu. Speakers included Nkiru Anachukwu and Rhoda Agunigho, who shared important tips on taking African fashion brands to international markets.

More than 20 fashion designers showcased their collections on the runway. Themes of sustainability, innovation, and cultural storytelling were prominent in their presentations.

Design for the Future competition

The second day highlighted the Design for the Future (D4DF) competition. This platform encourages young designers to focus on sustainability and timeless fashion in their work.

Over 2,000 entries were submitted for the competition. From these, 25 designers were chosen for a six-week mentorship and incubation program. After several assessments and showcases, 10 finalists were selected, including Judy Signature, Light Alta Moda, Jiri, Arig Atelier, Kush Atelier, Luke Smart, Melagante, Tomi Ifebogun, Iwari, and Mina Christian.

At the end of the competition, Ms Iwari won. She received ₦1 million in seed funding and a one-year mentorship program to help her brand grow in the fashion industry. Judges included industry leaders like Tosin Ogundadegbe, known as The Style Infidel, Sola Oyebade, Gift Olohije, and Tolulope Omoyeni. The night continued with exciting runway shows from different designers, showcasing the creativity and potential of African fashion.

Organiser’s remarks

Sola Oyebade, Founder of Fashions Finest Africa and Epic Fashion Week, spoke at the event. He mentioned that the platform, which was previously called Epic Show, was created to give new African fashion creatives a chance to show their talents on a global stage.

He added that the vision for Epic Fashion Week is bigger than its current format. Plans are already in place to expand the event in future editions. This will create more opportunities for designers and creatives in the fashion industry.

“Epic Fashion Week was created to give emerging creatives a platform where their work can truly be seen, celebrated, and elevated. We are committed to building a globally respected fashion platform that continuously supports the next generation of fashion talent,” he stated.