Fashion Week 2026 Wraps Up with Focus on New Designers

Epic Fashion Week 2026, organized by Fashions Finest Africa and Mahogany International, ended on a high note on 24 May. The event lasted for two exciting days filled with fashion, creativity, and important conversations at The Podium in Lekki, Lagos.

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

Notable faces at the event included Mimi Linda Yina, also known as Medlinboss, Tacha, Ejiro Amos Tafiri, Akin Faminu, Michael Ejoor, Kayito Nwokedi, Larry Hector Mr, and Emmanuel Goodnew.

Others who attended were Kanaga, Ruth Vader, Ebunoluwa Dosumu, Mai Atafo, Sunky O, Neo Akpofure, and Grand Prince Ita.

Business of Fashion Conference

The event kicked off with the Business of Fashion Conference on the first day. It was a helpful symposium aimed at giving new fashion creatives the tools and conversations needed to build successful and lasting fashion businesses.

The conference had two engaging panel sessions. The first session 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.” It was moderated by Scott Itepu and included speakers like Nkiru Anachukwu and Rhoda Agunigho. They shared valuable tips on how to grow African fashion brands for international markets.

More than 20 fashion designers showcased their collections on the runway. Sustainability, innovation, and cultural storytelling were strong themes in the presentations.

Design for the Future competition

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

The competition saw over 2,000 entries, with 25 designers chosen for a six-week incubation and mentorship programme. After several assessments and showcases, 10 finalists were selected. The finalists included 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 emerged as the winner. She received ₦1 million in seed funding and a one-year mentorship programme to help her brand grow in the fashion industry.

Judges included Tosin Ogundadegbe, known as The Style Infidel; Sola Oyebade; Gift Olohije; and Tolulope Omoyeni. The evening ended with impressive runway shows from various designers, showcasing the creativity and global potential of African fashion.

Organiser’s remarks

Sola Oyebade, the Founder of Fashions Finest Africa and Epic Fashion Week, spoke at the event. He said the platform, which used to be known as Epic Show, was created to give new African fashion creatives a place to showcase their talents to the world.

He mentioned that the vision for Epic Fashion Week goes beyond its current format. Plans are in motion to expand the event in future editions to 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.