The Lagos Fashion Week held in October as usual lived up to its role as the convergence of African fashion brands. This year’s edition created a stage for sustainability that has echoed in the Nigerian fashion industry over the years. Brands presented designs with environmental protection and longevity at the centre of their crafts. Brands like Hertunba, and Elexiay were among several brands that presented designs created to focus more on sustainability.
In 2024, the Nigerian fashion industry maintained an impressive position in global conversations about climate change and environmental sustainability, with the industry making significant strides towards eco-friendly practices.
Here are 5 sustainable Nigerian fashion brands to watch in 2025.
Elexiay
Presenting designs at the “Green Access” runway of LFW 2024 was the perfect way to introduce the brand’s sustainable journey. Founded by Elyon Adede in 2018, the contemporary fashion label uses premium and ethically sourced materials like organic cotton and Merino. In one way, the brand has found a special way of making crochet a very staple part of its fashion efforts, especially with the release of its collection in October. “Inspired by the timeless rhythms of traditional craft, Woven Whispers brings crotchet to the forefront. More than just technique, the brand uses these sustainable media to create a nexus between history and modernity.
Lohije
“Consciously crafting timeless pieces” is how the clothing brand would like to introduce itself. Just last month, the brand released the second edition of its metamorphosis collection and the idea was majorly centred around breaking the earth to bring forth life. “This collection is inspired by the profound transformation seen in the lifecycle of a butterfly. It’s a meditation on change, a journey marked by slow but certain beauty”. Lohije’s sustainable journey has grown over the years, and in 2025 holds more promise of greatness.
Refine Studios
“Refine is a brand inspired by the transformative journey of self-refinement, much like the process of purifying gold.” This same ethos is how the brand sources materials for timeless statement pieces. Over the past few months, Refine Studios journeyed through Nigeria’s heart, looking for hidden treasures, from the north, to get two beautiful stones – Citrine and Tourmaline, featured in their new collection. Brands like Refine Studios craft more than just jewelry, they craft statement pieces with timeless gems.
Hertunba
Hertunba is another Nigerian sustainable brand to look out for in 2025, guided by a belief that “change begins us”, the brand seeks to reduce landfill waste, by ensuring that 90% of their excesses find new life as handcrafted interior decor, like rugs and throw pillow, or pieced together into stunning wearable art.
KKerele
Founded in 2018, Kkerelé is a Lagos-based design studio interested in the ways mindful craft informs mindful living. Informed by the long history of African leather production, the brand’s signature footwear pieces embrace the material’s versatility by exploring simple yet bold forms. For Kkerelé, the values of ‘slow fashion’ movements around the world and work to translate them into meaningful goals within the local context. “We believe in defending our planet and its ecosystems against extractive practices.”