When the lights finally dimmed for the closing showcase at Lagos Fashion Week 2025, the heartbeat of the city still echoed in the room. Themed “City of Cities, Our Rhythm, Our Runway” and held at the Federal Palace Hotel, it was an event that gave fashion more than a finale; it gave Lagos a love letter.
From the first thunder of drums to the final bow, every detail was about the city’s pulse: a fusion of fashion, music, movement, and identity. Models walked in 46 curated looks from Africa’s leading designers, each one a silhouette of Lagos itself-its grit, its glamour, and its refusal to be ignored.
Heineken powered the show, but it was not just the end of the week-it was a statement of intent: fashion in Africa is about culture, sustainability, and visibility on the world stage. Sandra Amachree, Head of Marketing Communications at Nigerian Breweries Plc., Heineken’s parent company in Nigeria, captured the moment thus: “Heineken’s partnership with Lagos Fashion Week stands as a celebration of the creativity and cultural robustness that make this city so unique. We believe fashion is a force for expression, progress, and identity.”
With drums echoing and the LOUD Urban Choir singing, the runway became a landscape of textures: raffia, beads, metallic sheen, bold prints, and daring cuts. The designers headlining, including but not limited to Orange Culture, NKWO, Oshobor, Emmy Kasbit, and many more, envisioned Lagos as a glossy, chaotic, and creative metropolis.
Heineken green pulsed across the catwalk like neon in the night-city; the venue was electric. A dance tribute to the late icon Fela Kuti, accompanied by live musicians, elevated the runway into something larger: a declaration that Lagos isn’t just hosting fashion—it’s shaping it.
Why It Matters
This year’s closing show highlighted how fashion weeks in Africa are evolving from displays of clothes to cultural moments. Lagos itself was the star. The theme “City of Cities” reminded all that this is a metropolis of influence, where music, film, art, and style collide. With Heineken on board, LFW’s stage affirmed that identity and sustainability are just as central to African fashion’s future as glamour.
Events like this signal the increasing preparedness of African brands to speak to global audiences, not just serve local markets. From eco-fashion labs to upcycling initiatives, from designer shows to city-wide activations, Lagos is positioning itself as a centre of creative gravity.
The Takeaway
When the show finally ended and the models took their final walks down the runway, the energy did not vanish. It stayed; Lagos itself is unquiet and unapologetic. Heineken’s finale didn’t just close a fashion week; it also marked the end of an era. Still, it amplified a city’s rhythm, a continent’s talent, and the fact that African fashion is now an undeniable part of the global runway. For Ekpo Africa readers, this is a moment that underscores something very important: fashion here is not merely cosmetic; it’s about identity, movement, heritage, and ambition. And in Lagos this week, it was loud, bold, and beautiful.
