by 
Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week has finally ended, and still most of the clothes are either unwearable or too expensive to buy. I honestly still believe that most Nigerians designers do not make money in Nigeria, maybe somewhere else unknown to me, I still walk down the street and see most Nigerians in fake Gucci, Zara or China/Turkey imported with the exception of big fashion houses such as Deola Saego, Maki Oh, and some few Menswear brands whose customers are mostly the 1% of wealthy Nigerians and are now turning into national compulsory wedding attires, but we still have to note that even the so called big fashion houses in Nigeria still account over 60% of their revenues to the foreign market.
So the big question to ask, are any of the fashion houses in Nigeria with the big ones included able to raise a $1 million revenue annually not to think of a $1 billion revenue. Fashion week is good, at least Nigerians can beat their chest and say that all the collections were totally different and somewhat unique (hmm Balmain come and see your designs oh), compare to western fashion weeks where one could clearly tell everyone seems to be copying well, everyone. But, the Nigerian fashion scene seems to be a well feed poultry farm for business lazy peacocks. No wonder the international media has not taken us seriously, our designers are just overwhelmed with the idea of travelling and booking for the next available fashion week and not how to increase sales. Heineken Lagos Fashion and Design Week is meant to be a platform for upcoming stars to showcased their skills and just may be, they will get their big break, but when you have been in the game for a long time and you are not making any scale able sales, not hosting your own shows and filling up space you were meant to leave a long time ago then sorry. You will be shocked when Zara or Alibaba comes in here and steals the market from your imported sewing machines then, just then an aiota of sense might just enter the Nigerian Fashion Industry.
Siphosihle Masango
Odio Mimonet
Moofa
David Tlale
Photo Credits: Kola Oshalusi (Insigna)