Nigeria’s Creative Industries in 2025: Fashion, Footwear & Events

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“Nigeria’s creative spirit is one of our biggest exports,” said Omoyemi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion Week. In 2025, that spirit is more visible than ever. Nigeria’s Creative Industries are shaping the way the world sees the country.

In 2024, Nigeria’s fashion industry was valued at over $4.7 billion. Add the growing leather and events sectors, and it’s clear the creative space is more than art, it’s business, tourism, and cultural pride rolled into one. 

Yet, behind the glamour are real challenges, which include funding gaps, high production costs, and weak infrastructure. 

Top Brands & Flagship Events

The Nigerian Creative Industries in 2025 are filled with names making noise at home and abroad.

Here are some of the most talked-about brands and events shaping fashion, footwear, and culture.

1. Maliko

Maliko is a shoe and accessory brand from Lagos. It makes every pair by hand. The founder, Ebuka Omaliko, works with local leather workers to design bold and colourful pieces.

Many of the shoes have shapes and patterns that show Lagos life. Maliko uses waste-free methods and even turns old materials into new products.

The brand also trains young people in leatherwork. This way, the craft stays alive, and more jobs are created.

2. Iamisigo

Iamisigo is a women’s fashion brand. It is led by Bubu Ogisi, a designer who works between Lagos, Nairobi, and Accra.

Her clothes mix old African craft skills with new design ideas. All the pieces are made by hand, using materials like raffia, jute, and cotton.

In 2025, Iamisigo won the Zalando Visionary Award. The prize was €50,000 and a spot at Copenhagen Fashion Week. The runway show looked more like a ceremony, full of rich textures and cultural meaning.

 

3. Tia Adeola

Tia Adeola has been creating fashion for ten years. Her style is full of ruffles, bold colours, and nods to Nigerian heritage.

In 2025, she showed her work at New York Fashion Week to mark her brand’s 10th anniversary.

Some of her designs used the green and white of the Nigerian flag. She has spoken openly about the high cost of producing clothes and how inflation makes it harder for young designers.

 

4. Lagos Space Programme

Adeju Thompson, the founder of Lagos Space Programme, makes clothes for all genders. The brand blends modern shapes with Yoruba cultural symbols.

In 2024, Thompson became the first African to win the International Woolmark Prize. The award came with AU$200,000 to help grow the business, improve supply chains, and hire more staff. 

The brand’s designs have appeared on major runways and in leading fashion magazines.

5. House of Anaụm

House of Anaụm started in 2015. It was founded by Lateefat Odunuga and is known for mixing Nigerian tradition with modern design.

The brand has shown collections at Lagos Fashion Week and earned a strong name in both Nigeria and abroad.

Many of its pieces are inspired by art, making the clothes stand out on the runway.

 

6. Street Souk

Street Souk is Nigeria’s biggest streetwear event. It started in 2018 and has become a meeting place for young designers, DJs, and fans of urban fashion.

The event mixes fashion with music and often feels like a festival. It has even been hosted in London, giving Nigerian streetwear a global stage.

Street Souk, which is scheduled for December, shows how fashion and entertainment work together in Nigeria’s Creative Industries.

 

Nigeria’s Major Fashion Weeks & Industry Events

7. Lagos Fashion Week 

Celebrating its 15th year, this remains one of Africa’s most prestigious fashion showcases. 

It is scheduled to be held on October 29 – November 2, 2025. It features runway presentations, sustainability talks, and networking opportunities.

 

8. Arise Fashion Week

It is a global platform that highlights premier African design talent through high-impact presentations. The date is yet to be announced. 

 

9. GTCO Fashion Weekend

This combines runway excitement with retail experiences and masterclasses led by international fashion icons. It is scheduled to be held in November 2025. 

 

10. Port Harcourt Fashion Week

This event is scheduled to be held in September 2025. It showcases talent from Nigeria’s South-South region.

11. Abuja Fashion Week

The Abuja Fashion Week will be held in December 2025. It is a platform for luxury and modest fashion trends from Northern Nigeria.

 

How Nigeria’s Creative Industries Impact Tourism and Local Revenue

Nigeria’s creative world is doing more than looking good. It’s feeding jobs, tourists, and money into local communities.

Fashion and Leather Value

Nigeria’s creative space is more than art and beauty. It is work, income, and tourism rolled into one. In 2024, the fashion industry was worth about $4.7 billion. 

Leather goods generated around $272 million in exports. The fashion sector also adds about $6.1 billion to Nigeria’s GDP.

Tourism and Festivals

Tourism and events are a big part of this growth. Lagos State spent about ₦8.5 billion on more than 143 cultural events and festivals in one year.. 

These events include fashion shows, art fairs, heritage celebrations, and workshops. They help preserve culture, create jobs, and attract visitors.

 

Big Creative Ambitions

The Director General of the National Council of Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, as of 2024, revealed that the council has set a target of $25 billion in revenue from Nigeria’s creative economy by 2025. 

This would mean more jobs, more income, and greater recognition for Nigerian talent at home and abroad.

Fashion Meets Tourism

Fashion and tourism work hand in hand. Lagos Fashion Week draws designers, buyers, and media from across the globe. 

ART X Lagos opens the door for Nigerian artists to sell their work to global collectors. The Gidi Culture Festival at Easter blends music, art, and fashion to create a lively weekend that also boosts local spending. 

Life In My City Art Festival, also called LIMCAF, showcases new artists and includes work in fashion design, textiles, and visual arts.

These events and brands are more than style showcases. They grow tourism, strengthen local economies, and raise the profile of Nigeria’s Creative Industries worldwide.

READ MORE

• Sevon Dejana: Nigerian Fashion Brand Redefining Storytelling Through Design
• Inside the World of Maliko: Lagos’ Most Sculptural Footwear Brand
• Inside Nigeria’s Growing Leather Industry: From Kano Tanneries to Lagos Designers

 

Challenges and Growth Barriers

• Lack of Funding and Money: Many creative talents in the Nigerian Creative Industries struggle to find funds.
  
  Banks often see fashion, film, art, and event ventures as risky. This makes loans and grants hard to come by.
  
  As a result, designers and artists must use personal savings or small-scale loans to keep going.

• Poor Infrastructure and Power Woes: Production slows when roads, electricity, and workshops are unreliable.
  
  Many creative hubs still lack good power or modern facilities. Designers in Aba South, for instance, face power cuts and bad roads that disrupt their work.

• Design Theft and Weak IP Laws: Many creatives lose money when others copy or sell their work without permission.
  
  The laws to protect ideas and designs are weak, and enforcement is patchy. This discourages innovation and hurts small businesses.

• High Production Costs and Imports: Making clothes or art in Nigeria can be pricey. Imported fabrics and materials cost more.
  
  Energy and transport add to the cost. Some makers even rely on imported fabric, just because the local suppliers are inconsistent or unreliable.

• Limited Market Access and Exports: It is hard for creatives to sell beyond local markets. Export rules, border delays, and foreign exchange issues block opportunities.
  
  Some cannot afford the standards or equipment needed to ship goods abroad, even to friendly trade partners.

• Fragmented Support and Inconsistent Policies: Government support is inconsistent. Programs and funds are often short-lived or poorly enforced. Designers need stable policies across areas like IP protection, finance, and creative hubs.
  
  In Lagos, the LCCI now urges long-term funding and infrastructure to aid the industry, like creative centres in cities beyond Lagos. 

 

Conclusion

Nigeria’s Creative Industries have the skill and energy to lead in Africa and beyond. With better funding, stronger laws, and good facilities, they can grow faster, create more jobs, and share Nigeria’s culture with the world.

 

Showcase Nigeria Through Your Lens – Join Our Open Call for Creators

Are you a photographer, videographer, or content creator passionate about capturing Nigeria’s beauty, from fashion runways and cultural festivals to tourist landmarks and local events? Our Open Call for Content Creators in Nigeria is your opportunity to get featured, collaborate, and bring authentic Nigerian stories to life. Whether you’re into travel, lifestyle, or visual storytelling, we want to see Nigeria through your eyes.

For more stylish insights and the latest fashion inspiration straight from Nigeria, explore our full coverage on Nigerian Fashion Trends.

 

FAQs

1. What Is The Creative Industry In Nigeria?

It includes fashion, film, art, music, publishing, design, crafts, and cultural events that generate income and jobs.

2. How Much Is The Nigerian Fashion Industry Worth?

It is valued at over $4.7 billion, with leather exports adding around $272 million annually.

3. Which Are The Biggest Fashion Events In Nigeria?

Lagos Fashion Week, ART X Lagos, and the Gidi Culture Festival are some of the top events attracting global attention.

4. What Challenges Do Nigerian Creatives Face?

Funding gaps, poor infrastructure, high costs, weak intellectual property laws, and limited access to international markets are significant challenges.

5. Why Are Nigeria’s Creative Industries Important?

They support tourism, add billions to the economy, create jobs, and showcase Nigerian culture to the world.