Top 10 Best Fashion Designers in Nigeria (2024)

Nigerians are fashionable people, and Nigeria is a global fashion powerhouse, not only on the African continent. Nigerian fashion designers have received awards for their tremendous work and contributions to promoting Nigerian culture and diversity.

Here are some of Nigeria’s top 10 fashion designers who have helped to promote Nigerian fashion to the international community, in no particular order.

The majority of them have been in the fashion industry for over 20 years.

Nigeria’s Top 10 fashion designers

1. Zizi Cardow

Zizi Cardow has a lot of accolades and awards as a designer and has earned the respect of Nigerians and fashion designers worldwide.

Zizi is one of Nigeria’s top three fashion designers, and her label is named Zizi.

Zizi Cardow’s clothing and designs have been featured in numerous fashion events throughout the world. She’s also won a number of prizes and is involved in a number of mentoring initiatives.

Awards began to knock on her door in 2002. She received the DAME Award for her great contribution to fashion, as well as the St. Moritz Style Selection Award and the Nigerian Women Awards. She has been winning numerous awards year after year since 2002, raising her profile in the industry. 

Cardow has also received the 2010 UN Peace Ambassador Award, the 2010 Global Leadership Award, the 2010 Young Achievers Award, the 2010 Fashion and Style Award, the 2010 Merit Award for African Heritage, the 2009 Zenith Award for Excellence, and the 2007 African Role Model Leadership Award, among many others.

Her clientele is diverse, including well-known politicians and celebrities. Top international news organizations like as CNN, SABC, Channel O, and FTV have also featured her. Zizi Cardow has given back to society through a number of mentorship programs, for which she has been recognized.

2. Duro Olowu

When Michelle Obama, the first lady of the United States, wears your design, you will undoubtedly be considered one of the greatest.

Duro Olowu is a Nigerian fashion designer who has carved out a name for himself in the industry. He creates clothes that are stylish, refined, and elegant. “Colorful and lively prints combined with seventies classic tailoring” is how his designs are described.

His other prominent celebrity clientele includes Uma Thurman and Linda Evangelista, in addition to the former first lady.

3. Lisa Folawiyo

Lisa Folawiyo learned fashion design by herself, she is known for fusing traditional West African materials with cutting-edge tailoring techniques. 

Her label, Jewel by Lisa, which she founded in 2005 and has since evolved to become a global fashion brand with showrooms in New York and Nigeria, is one of her most well-known.

Folawiyo creates intriguing and opulent unique patterns with Ankara, a traditional West African fabric. She has her own fabric line, as well as jewellery and purses, which she sells. 

Her diffusion label, Line J Label, combines Afro-pop with sophisticated urban styles to highlight the finest of Nigerian culture. Beyonce, Kelis, Tasha Smith, and Eve are among her celebrity fans.

Her collections have been shown in the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa, in addition to Nigeria. She has attended New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week in the past. 

Her professional highlights include winning the African Fashion Award in 2012 and being featured in Vogue Italia the same year. Folawiyo was designated one of the eight emerging stars by Women’s Wear Daily (WWD) in 2014. 

The designer was included among top fashion businesses having an effect on the world landscape in 2015 by BOF500, a distinguished list of international brands.

Lisa Folawiyo attended the University of Nigeria to study law, but she decided to pursue her passion for fashion instead. 

She says that her style is simple but original, and she enjoys experimenting with colors and prints. She has been reviewed by international media outlets such as Style.com, Gotham, and Women’s Wear Daily.

4. Frank Oshodi

Frank Oshodi is an excellent example of how Nigerian cultural variety has been incorporated into unique fashion design trends. Oshodi’s career began when he worked for top household fashion firms such as Dakova and Nikki Africana. He has been around for as long as  25 years in the fashion designing business.

Before climbing through the ranks to become a model manager, he worked on popular TV ads such as Maclean’s. He dabbled in dance before founding his House of Bunor and Fashion Designing makeup line.

He got his big break after he was hired to be the designer of Agbani Darego who won Miss World in 2001. His profession has continued to reward him since then, allowing him to acquire more clients all around the world.

The core of Oshodi’s career is effortless beauty and elegance, which is shown in the years he has spent in the field. He was a key figure in a number of events, including the West African Fashion Week in 2008, which aimed to highlight the finest of Nigerian fashion. 

Without a doubt, Oshodi’s success thus far in the Nigerian fashion scene is merely the beginning of his future achievements. He’s unquestionably a formidable opponent.

5. Deola Sagoe

Deola Sagoe is an accomplished fashion designer who has received numerous accolades, including the Anglo Gold African Design Awards in 2000.

She has also won numerous honours, including a master’s degree from the University of Lagos.

Deola is a fashion designer who creates clothing for both men and women. She has a successful line called Odua, which she created for her mother.

Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey are among her star clients.

6. Ade Bakare

Ade Bakare is the founder of Ade Bakare Couture, a Nigerian fashion designer based in London who has earned a reputation as one of Nigeria’s top fashion designers throughout the years.

His business in Nigeria is located on Victoria Island in Lagos, where he also designs elegant bridal gowns.

His designs include anything from high-end evening gowns to beautiful wedding gowns, headwear, and fragrances. He works with high-end clients in Nigeria and London, who are aware of his extravagant fashion sense. Bakare also has a fragrance called Breeze, as well as a jersey line called Ade Breeze.

Bakare’s art has been shown in New York, Vienna, Mozambique, Morocco, Paris, and Cape Town, among other places. He has first ladies, senators, and minister’s spouses among his clients, in addition to various English personalities and celebrities. 

He’s also been a part of a number of programs aimed at inspiring aspiring designers. Bakare was awarded by the Ministry of Youth and Culture for his support of emerging and future fashion designers

7. Soares Anthony

Soares  Anthony is a young, brilliant fashion designer who focuses on his Soares Anthony men’s clothing line. 

His work is influenced by native Nigerian textiles as well as Japanese tailoring styles. By changing an average look into a refined style that embraces elegance, his designs are manly, yet modern and trendy.

Anthony’s passion for fashion began when he was a small child, when he spent his time sketching and doodling. 

He enjoys working with colors, and his incredible talent has resulted in his works being worn by well-known politicians and celebrities.

 He is a great fashion designer to keep an eye on, as his name continues to make waves in both the local and global fashion industry.

His work is also sold in the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. Anthony uses his talent to serve others by running a mentoring program that helps new and rising Nigerian designers succeed and compete on a worldwide scale. His main sources of inspiration are nature, colors, and artwork. 

8. Ohimai Atafo

Ohimai Atafo owns Mai Atafo, a fashion line that has garnered numerous honors and honours.

Mai Atafo is known for its daring and inventive designs.

“Weddings with Mai,” a clothing company designed particularly for weddings, is also owned by Mai Atafo.

Atafo holds a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and Technology from the United Kingdom. He worked in several business positions after returning from the UK in 2002 until 2010 when he left to pursue fashion full-time.

Atafo’s apparel line has grown in popularity while drawing high-profile customers. He has dressed celebrities like Omowunmi Akinnifesi, Nigeria’s Most Beautiful Girl in 2005, and I.K. Osakioduwa. Mercy Johnson, 2Baba, Waje, Gbenro Ajibade, and Stephanie Okereke are among the celebrities on his list.

In 2011, Atafo created his own fashion line, Weddings by Mai, which has since been featured at a number of high-profile events. Throughout his career, Atafo has received various accolades in recognition of his outstanding craftsmanship.

 He has won numerous honours, including two consecutive years as City People Fashion and Style’s Hottest New Male Designer, LFW Menswear Designer of the Year, Mode Men Magazine’s Fashion Designer of the Year, he was also awarded by Allure as the most stylish man of the year.

9. Folake Folarin-Coker

Folake Coker is regarded as one of Nigeria’s finest fashion designers. Tiffany Amber is the name of the apparel line she founded.

Folake was born in the state of Lagos but studied in the United Kingdom and Europe. She’s been exposed to a variety of cultures, which has influenced some of her creations.

She is the only African fashion designer to have been invited to the Mercedes Fashion Week in New York, and she has done it twice.

Tiffany Amber is a clothing line for women that features gorgeous and unusual designs. Her clothes are offered in Nigeria as well as other African countries.

10. Yomi Makun (Yomi Casual)

Yomi Casual, also known as Omoniyi Makun, is a Nigerian fashion designer/tailor and the younger brother of AY, one of Nigeria’s most prominent comedians and one of the ‘Top Ten Most Followed Nigerian Celebrities on Instagram.’

Yomi Casual is exclusively responsible for his brother ‘AY”s styling in every AY Live event, which is one of Nigeria’s most popular comedy shows. Jay-Jay Okocha, Timaya, Kcee, Bovi, Desmond Elliot, Alex Ekubo, Sammie Okposo, Alibaba, Majid Mitchell, Chioma Chukwuka, Chidi Mokeme, Ramsey Nouah Jnr, Seyi Law, Zack Orji, and many other A-list celebrities have worn his clothing.

He has received multiple honours from major awarding agencies for his work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Fashion design is about more than just the money; it’s also about passion and a desire to be creative.

This list consists of Nigeria’s Top Fashion Designers in no particular order for your fashionable outfits.

Remember that fashion is the most important aspect of our everyday life, and it is significant since it reflects all of the world’s cultures, which cannot be ignored.

It is possible for you to become one of Nigeria’s top fashion designers.

All you have to do is learn the skills, stick with it, and be passionate about it.