Omoyemi Akerele is a Nigerian entrepreneur, fashion executive, and international advocate for Africa’s creative economy. She is widely recognised as the founder of Lagos Fashion Week (2011) and Style House Files, a business development agency supporting fashion brands and creative enterprises across Africa. Through these platforms, she has helped position the fashion sector as a contributor to economic development, global cultural exchange, and expanding market access for African designers.
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Her work spans entrepreneurship, capacity-building, and international engagement, highlighting African creativity on the world stage and fostering sustainable business practices within the continent’s fashion ecosystem.
Early Life and Education
Born on 13 May 1978 in Lagos, Akerele pursued legal studies at the University of Lagos, earning a bachelor’s degree in law. She continued her studies at the University of Warwick, earning a master’s degree in International Economic Law. This background equipped her with knowledge of regulatory environments, trade systems, and governance—skills that later informed her work at the intersection of creativity and commerce.
She began her professional career practising law at Olaniwun Ajayi & Co, a respected Nigerian law firm, before transitioning to the creative sector due to a deep interest in fashion and the potential of African designers in regional and global markets.
In 2004, she co-founded Exclusive Styling, focusing on styling for television and creative projects, which provided insights into market dynamics and brand presentation. From 2005 to 2010, she served as fashion editor of True Love, expanding her experience in editorial work and creative direction.
Style House Files and Lagos Fashion Week
In 2008, Akerele founded Style House Files, a fashion business development agency focused on helping African designers with brand strategy, market positioning, and industry capacity building. The agency enables designers to connect with buyers, investors, and international networks while building sustainable business models.
In 2011, she launched Lagos Fashion Week, an annual event that has become one of Africa’s leading platforms for showcasing fashion talent. Held over several days in Lagos, it attracts designers, buyers, media, and fashion professionals from across the continent and globally. The event features runway presentations, showroom exhibitions, and initiatives aimed at expanding commercial opportunities for designers.
Under her leadership, Lagos Fashion Week introduced programmes such as Woven Threads and Green Access, emphasizing sustainability, craftsmanship, and environmental responsibility. These initiatives encourage circular design, ethical production, and reduced waste in fashion systems.
The platform has elevated Nigerian and African designers internationally and fostered collaborations with global fashion showcases. Participating designers have gone on to attract commercial opportunities and recognition in international markets.
Policy and Advisory Roles
Akerele’s influence extends beyond event production and consultancy. She serves as Special Advisor to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on fashion and creative industry development and was named Zero Oil Ambassador, highlighting the potential of creative industries in Nigeria’s export diversification agenda.
Internationally, she holds advisory roles with institutions such as Industrie Africa, Jendaya, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Fashion Council, and State of Fashion Netherlands. Through these affiliations, she contributes to discussions on cultural representation, fashion futures, and positioning African creative economies on the global stage.
Key Initiatives and Industry Impact
Akerele’s work is defined by initiatives that strengthen the African fashion ecosystem:
- Style House Files: Offers strategic consultancy, business development, and export readiness support for designers.
- Lagos Fashion Week Programmes: Includes sustainability-focused workshops, incubators, and mentorship programmes to help designers adopt ethical practices and access global markets.
- Capacity Building: Educational sessions and mentorship programmes equip emerging designers with entrepreneurial skills and market navigation tools.
These efforts have increased the visibility and viability of African fashion brands in international markets and fostered sustainable business practices.
Economic and Social Impact
Akerele has strengthened Nigeria’s creative economy by improving infrastructure for designers, expanding market exposure, and promoting sustainability. Lagos Fashion Week and Style House Files have created employment opportunities in fashion, retail, and creative sectors, facilitated cultural exchange, and helped African brands enter global retail ecosystems.
Her advocacy emphasizes fashion as a business, highlighting the sector’s potential to drive economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, and industry scalability across the continent.
Post-Colonial and Contemporary Context
Operating in postcolonial Nigeria, Akerele’s initiatives reflect broader efforts to diversify the economy beyond traditional sectors. By linking creativity with trade, policy, and enterprise development, she demonstrates how contemporary African leaders leverage local innovation to engage global markets. Her work underscores the importance of cultural diplomacy and sustainable industry practices in shaping economic futures.
Legacy
Omoyemi Akerele has established herself as a transformative figure in Africa’s creative economy. Lagos Fashion Week and Style House Files remain central to the continent’s fashion ecosystem, influencing trends, business practices, and cultural representation. Her leadership positions African fashion not only as a cultural asset but as a growing economic sector with global relevance.
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Author’s Note
Akerele’s career exemplifies the intersection of culture, commerce, and policy in Africa’s development. Through entrepreneurship, mentorship, and global partnerships, she has elevated African fashion as both an economic and cultural asset, providing a model for sustainable growth in the creative industries.
References
Omoyemi Akerele, biography and professional history (verified through industry publications and professional profiles).
Lagos Fashion Week, historical overview and initiatives.
Style House Files, company and strategic programmes 2008–2023.
Recognition in industry awards and advisory roles (Business of Fashion, State of Fashion Netherlands).
Nairametrics and African business reporting on fashion entrepreneurship and creative economy impact.
