No fewer than 100 exhibitors are expected at this year’s Lagos Fashion Fair, which holds from September 7 to 9. Organizers of the fair, Atlantic Exhibition Nigeria Limited Managing Director, Mr Ayodeji Olugbade, stated this at a briefing in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Olugbade said the exhibitors were being expected from Asia, Europe and Nigeria and that the fair would feature runway shows, musical performances, celebrity appearances, celebration of fashion icons and freebies. 

He said for the first time his firm was holding the fair, which is in its ninth edition, in collaboration with the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria. 

He said their objective is ‘’to create an enabling environment where creative Nigerian designers and fashion entrepreneurs connect with international counterparts to showcase the beauty and creativity of both worlds through their designs and innovations’’. 

He added: “Lagos Fashion Fair seeks to celebrate Nigerian entrepreneurs by using it to make bold statements and create more versatility in their designs. “This event offers an opportunity for designers, fashion professionals, stylists, fashion retailers, models, trend setters and fashion consumers to buy wholesales, shop at discounted rates, interact, network and build business relationships with our Nigerian and international exhibitors.’’

 He urged the government to support the fair and the industry to promote the creativity of its players, noting that the subsector could solve the problem of youth unemployment. A famous designer, Toyin Lawani, he added, is billed to feature at the fair’s master class.

African Fashion Week Nigeria and London founder Princess Ronke Ademiluyi said the fashion industry is a money spinner which could grow the economy. “With a focus on using fashion as a non-oil export to grow our gross domestic product, Nigeria’s creative talents can be translated into wealth creation,’’ he added.