UDGN Upholds Emerging Designers Once Again at LFW

When fashion feels so fast-paced and the industry doesn’t quite give emerging designers the space that they always need to be showcased, UDGN steps in. Born from the idea to reimagine “what fashion success looks like”, the Unity in Design Global Network ensures the voices of new fashion creatives are heard, with a primary focus on inclusion and sustainability.

Tare Isaac, the mind and founder behind this established corporation, is a designer themselves, while also standing as a member of the British Fashion Council and a Global Talent Visa Recipient for their outstanding work within the industry. For UDGN designers, their work has been uplifted, and a light shone upon them for their creativity, allowing them to stand on this step and further develop their emerging labels into the full force of fashion they’re born to be.

Motunrayo (Motunrayo Ajayi)

Motunrayo’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, “Of Water and Spirit”, is primarily centred around the Nigerian Osun festival. A time where people come together to honour Osun, the goddess of fertility, love, and healing. The garments, a flurry of yellow, flow with a quiet strength, marrying ritual references with fresh, wearable silhouettes. It felt celebratory yet grounded, with a definitive nod to tradition while stepping firmly into the present. A standout look crowned that feeling: a molten-gold headpiece with a neat yellow bandeau, trousers and jacket, fringe moving like water. Beadwork wasn’t decoration so much as currency and memory, turning the runway into ceremony.

A model walks on a pink runway wearing a gold fringe two-piece from emerging designers, accented with red off-shoulder flair. She has two afro puffs and stands before a staircase with an ornate railing.

A model walks the runway in a bright yellow suit from emerging designers, featuring a crop top, wide-leg pants, and open-toe sandals. She wears a beaded headpiece with long braids sweeping the floor as audience members watch on either side.

AYAH (Ebimobowei Daukoru Ayah)

Designer Ebimobowei Daukoru Ayah presented their latest collection for his namesake brand AYAH, “A Fisherman’s Echo”, diving into his roots and drawing inspiration from the riverside life of the Niger Delta where he grew up. Telling stories from the creeks and taking note from the fishing community of his home town of Bayelsa, he says, “everything comes from the earth around there,” in an interview with UDGN ahead of his runway show. On the catwalk, nature was reframed through a masculine lens, relaxed but deliberate cuts, fishnet veils and overlays that hinted at an ecosystem scarred yet dignified. Wide legs moved like tides; kimono drapes held their stillness; an earthy wash of riverbed greens and browns grounded it all. Cowries threaded through mesh lent something almost priestly, while dyed cotton carried watermark traces, softness and strength, catch and release, resilience rather than despair.

A model walks the runway in a brown, flowy robe with white detailing over a mesh shirt and patterned pants—an ensemble by emerging designers—paired with sandals and a beaded cap. The neutral background features soft lighting.

A model walks a runway for emerging designers, wearing a sleeveless mesh top adorned with shells, a long brown skirt with fringe details, and a beaded headpiece, barefoot, with an audience seated on either side.

Zubérè (Nancy Chizubere Johnson-Chidiadi)

“The Woman’s Homecoming” is Zubérè’s answer to the Igbo bride’s ceremonial entrance. A collection based upon glamour and elegance. Honouring matriarchal lineage through flowing silhouettes, radiant detailing, and a palette that bridges ancestral tradition with modern sophistication. With each piece capturing the power and grace of feminine arrival. Layered raffia swung like dancing skirts, coral trims framed necklines and sleeves, and a custom lion motif turned one look into bride-as-guardian, ritual translated for the present without losing its authority.

Midetush (Olumide Oyewumi)

Olumide Oyewumi, the creative behind Midetush’s SS26 collection, took a fresh approach to summer wear, incorporating stripes and breathable, lightweight textures that are inspired by the designer’s Yoruba culture. The pieces balance tradition with a relaxed modernity, offering clothes that feel effortless yet deeply connected to heritage. Titled AFEFE ATI ILA (air and stripes), the line breathed, oversized but intentional. A jacket-and-trouser set in orange, blue and tan set the rhythm, cowries at the collar as quiet amulets, with yellow-striped separates ready for long, hot days. Streetwear with soul, roaming from Lagos to London.

A model walks a runway for emerging designers, wearing a yellow and white striped blazer with matching frayed shorts and a white button-down shirt, partially unbuttoned. She has slicked-back red hair and white heels as audience members watch from both sides.

A model walks a runway wearing a striped, multicolored jacket and matching pants with fringe accents, showcasing bold orange, beige, and black stripes. This striking look from emerging designers is completed with sunglasses and sandals.

Bola (Bola Sulleman)

Echoing Regency was on the design checklist for Bola’s creative director, Bola Sulleman, who drew from the colours and fashion of the Ojude Oba Festival. The collection captures a sense of elevated community, where ceremony and style merge into pieces that feel alive with culture and timeless elegance. Under the title Inheritance, Sulleman leaned into stillness and longevity, Aso Oke rendered in navy, cornflower and gold stripes, cuts that flatter without noise. Clothes meant to be kept, shared, and passed on: heirlooms more than moments.

A model walks on a runway for emerging designers, wearing a fitted, ankle-length dress with blue, gold, and brown stripes, fringe details on the sleeves and hem, and her hair styled in two high buns. Audience members are seated on either side.

A model walks down a runway for emerging designers, wearing a short, fitted, striped dress with a deep V-neck and short sleeves. Her hair is styled in sculpted braids piled high, paired with chic black pointed heels.

KP Footwear (Kolapo Omoyoloye – KAYPEE)

“Legacy Underfoot” is the title of emerging footwear designer KP Footwear’s SS26 collection. Symbolising the rural terrain of Yorubaland, the pieces salute generational grounding, blending the creative’s cultural heritage with fine-cut clothes that catch the eye. It honours tradition while shaping a modern path forward. Guided by the spirit of ÀPÁTA (stone), loafers and mules felt rooted, leather etched like footprints and rain-worn roads. A royal yellow-and-red pair read as near-ceremonial, rich and tactile, the kind of shoe that remembers where it’s been.

Jermaine Bleu (Jason Jermaine Asiedu)

Jermaine Bleu showcased “Twa Me Foto (Take My Photo)”, a celebration of individuality and the art of intentional dressing. With nostalgic colours and a romantic touch, the collection evokes timeless moments and the joy of personal style, capturing its essence in moments meant to last forever.

A woman wearing a blue dress and red earrings showcases the creativity of emerging designers.

A male model walks down a runway wearing a dark suit with colorful vertical stripes, open at the chest, paired with matching pants and sandals—a bold look from emerging designers. Audience members on either side watch the fashion show intently.

Robes and Blings by Akokomali (Olaitan Maria Olatoke)

Olaitan Maria Olatoke, the force behind Robes and Blings by Akokomali, presented “TIWA N TIWA (Ours is Ours)”, a transformative collection that reclaims the white cloth ritual once used to judge purity. Through evocative tailoring and rich textures, the designs turn tradition into a symbol of resistance, redefining ritual as empowerment. The opening, a sheer red robe pooling into sculptural tulle, set the tone. Coral and cowries worked like talismans across looks, with a floor-length white beaded dress drawing breath for its restraint. Grandeur, yes, but always intimate.

A model walks a runway in a white strapless gown with a sculpted, textured corset top and high slit skirt—an eye-catching look from emerging designers. She wears statement earrings and her hair is styled in intricate, twisted braids atop her head.

A model walks a runway in a dramatic deep red sheer gown with voluminous tulle sleeves and skirt, a beaded corset, and jeweled headpiece—showcasing the artistry of emerging designers against a striking staircase background.

Lekan Aare

Lekan Aare’s “Homage to the King” revisits Yoruba nobility through a contemporary lens. The collection’s structural forms and opulent textiles reframe society’s perception of masculine elegance, crafting a wardrobe that feels both stately and refreshingly modern. True to its name, an homage, the five looks used pinstripes as insignia rather than office code, bending with the body. A white suit with a single royal-blue sash-stripe read like instant nobility; butterfly-fanned sleeves balanced precision with play, ceremony, edited for today.

A barefoot model walks a runway for emerging designers, wearing a pinstriped outfit with wide-legged pants, a short-sleeved cape with structured shoulders, and a matching pointed hat, set in front of a staircase.

A male model walks the runway in a modern white and blue striped outfit by emerging designers, paired with a matching hat, brown undershirt, large red beaded necklace, and brown shoes. Spectators line the sides of the runway.

PEM (Princess Mary Obeya)

Princess Mary Obeya of the label PEM unveiled “The Spirit Wears Red”, an ode to Idoma women. Crimson tones and layered silhouettes bring the collection to life, celebrating generational beauty and strength, all while transforming heritage into designs that feel ceremonial and unapologetically alive. Under its full title, IRI OGRINIA – The Spirit Wears Red, fringe and cowries kept time, while a backless gingham dress with a folded, sculptural skirt added a sharp contemporary edge. The whole thing moved like choreography.

A model walks down a runway wearing a strapless, fitted red dress with a fringe skirt, white heels, and statement earrings—showcasing emerging designers. The background is plain with steps, and audience members are seated on either side.

A model with curly hair walks a runway in a sleeveless dress by emerging designers, featuring a fitted, multicolored plaid top and a full red-and-white gingham skirt. The background is minimal with steps and soft lighting.

OOMO AJADI (Yusuf Kareem)

Yusuf Kareem’s OOMO AJADI debuted “White Race: The Eco Spirit Walks”, drawing inspiration from Lagos Island’s Elo Masquerade. Ethereal and minimal, the collection translates spiritual tradition into wearable language, where the folds and drapes become the creative’s sacred gesture, marrying ritual with a contemporary focus. Models, veiled in white, processed like spirits; one struck the ground with an opá staff, order and dignity made visible. The quiet cuts carried deep symbolism, turning the runway into a measured, sacred walk.

A model for emerging designers walks the runway in a flowing white robe, white pants, white shoes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and long beaded braids covering the face. The audience is visible seated on either side.

A model wearing a flowing white robe, wide-brimmed white hat, and sandals walks down the runway holding a tall staff. The minimal background and visible audience set the stage for emerging designers to showcase their creative vision.

OBIREEN (Salami Oluwaseun)

Salami Oluwaseun of OBIREEN presented “Okpa n’Iyoba – Strength of a Queen”, channeling the regal legacy of Queen Idia of Benin. Traditional royal motifs are woven into modern ceremonial wear, creating pieces that speak to heritage while commanding the present with quiet authority and definitive poise. Deep coral reds and burgundies echoed sacred beads; satin caught the light like regalia. One sweeping skirt breathed with every step, beadwork tracing bodices like protective charms. The Lagos atelier’s precision, born of shoemaking discipline, made each seam part of a longer story of power and legacy.

The Ideal Craftsman (Olutoba Odetomi)

Olutoba Odetomi’s “The Five” for The Ideal Craftsman fused Yoruba spirituality with contemporary menswear. Drawing inspiration from five orishas, the collection balances tailored classics with symbolic references, creating designs that carry cultural depth while asserting a quiet, commanding presence. Weighted bell sleeves, angled shoulders and, memorably, a suit paired with a sword and silver facial jewellery pushed the suit into the mythic. An all-white look skimmed the body with near sci-fi grace. Precision tailoring, made strange again.

A male model walks a runway for emerging designers, wearing a loose-fitting white robe with wide sleeves, a waist tie, and flowing white pants. He is barefoot, and the audience is seated on either side of the catwalk.

A model wearing a loose-fitting gray suit by emerging designers, with a collared shirt, tie, and crossbody strap, walks down the runway. The look features wide-leg pants, long sleeves, and a striking long silver cane.

ANKU (Kelvin Vincent)

Kelvin Vincent of ANKU showcased “Woven Stories”, a collection tracing his ancestry across the Ewe and Akan peoples. Through layered textures and tonal interplay, the garments tell a story of intergenerational wisdom, weaving cultural pride and personal narrative into each and every stitch.

A model with textured hair in bantu knots walks a runway wearing a sleeveless, deep V-neck dress by emerging designers, featuring a beaded, fringed skirt overlaying a sheer black layer. The setting has a modern, minimalistic backdrop with steps.

A model with an afro hairstyle walks the runway in a striking two-piece outfit by emerging designers, featuring black and gold swirling, paisley-like patterns. The sleeveless crop top and knee-length skirt impress the audience seated along the sides.

ITELE (Seyi Agboola)

Seyi Agboola’s ITELE collection, “Freedom”, charts Nigeria’s journey from colonial rule to independence. Bold silhouettes and rich textiles mark resilience and national pride, transforming history into a wearable celebration. This collection is where unity, strength, and self-determination are stitched into every piece. It also repositions the loafer, long a British staple, as a vessel for African storytelling: bees, badge emblems and stacks of currency embroidered with wit, silver-studded moments for pause. The shoes had the nerve and polish to demand a new conversation about who leads in craft.

A male model with sunglasses and necklaces walks a runway in a look from emerging designers: white tank top, loose black knee-length shorts, long white socks, and red-and-white slide sandals. Stairs and seated spectators are visible in the background.

A male model wearing sunglasses, a black tank top, knee-length black pleated shorts, white socks, and black loafers walks on a runway with one hand in his pocket, showcasing the bold vision of emerging designers.

TWIN BY TARE (Tare Isaac)

Tare Isaac of TWIN BY TARE presented “The Water Bearer”, a fluid and richly beaded collection paying tribute to the Ijaw people’s connection to the sea and their fishing heritage. Each piece moves with a graceful energy, capturing feminine power in weaving ancestral stories. A sea-blue gown glazed with jewels shimmered like light on water, clean triangular cut-outs keeping it firmly current. A white net dress, studded with shells and beads, rustled audibly, like shore-break translated into fabric. The runway felt like a river you could step into.

A model walks inside on a maroon floor, wearing a sheer, white, netted floor-length gown by emerging designers, adorned with small embellishments, with sculptural braided hair and dramatic makeup, standing in front of a staircase.

A model walks a runway for emerging designers, wearing a shimmering turquoise gown with a belted waist, cut-out sides, and an attached matching hood, under bright lighting. The audience is seated along the sides with a staircase in the background.

The show was a success. Allowing UDGN to showcase presentations yet again from emerging designers, giving them a platform and an audience to listen to their stories and marvel in their designs. Drawing from cultural associations like annual festivals and the regality of their home nations, designers celebrated their roots, looking forward into their careers as growing artists with intentional designs that reflect who they are as creatives.