Young Fashion Designer Of The Year Competition

In March, the Daily Times Young Fashion Designer of the Year competition held in Lagos and saw a host of extremely talented young designers compete for the grand prize of 10 million naira. Here are the contestants that made it to the top ten.

Lukman Naimot

Lukman Naimot is a passionate fashion designer from Nigeria and the creative director of AridoyinUniqueStitches. I specialize in creating unique and elegant designs that celebrate creativity and style. Fashion for me is a way of expressing identity and confidence, and I love bringing beautiful ideas to life through my work.

Emmanuel Ukereke Egwu

Emmanuel Egwu is a unisex fashion designer from Cross River who has over the years created and tailored dresses that has graced multiple highly profiled events in Nigeria and beyond. His urge for perfection has been the force behind his Craft.

Olatoni Tijani

Toni Tijani is a lawyer, fashion designer, multidisciplinary artist, and founder of the Toni Tijani brand. Her work explores fashion design with a distinct focus on the art of draping and storytelling through fabric, transforming simple cloth into moments of quiet magic in minutes with pins, needle, and thread. Most dresses take days to make, give her 20 minutes, and she will give you a dress.

Wyna Toni

My name is Wyna Toni, a women's wear designer and fashion entrepreneur. I am the founder and creative director of NMASI FASHION. At NMASI FASHION we craft one of a kind masterpieces for women through which they communicate their identity, confidence, authority, and influence.

Precious Jahdeal Joseph

Precious Jahdeal Joseph is a Nigerian fashion designer and founder of Ivory Afrikaan, a womenswear brand that blends storytelling, sustainability, and African craftsmanship. Her work combines traditional techniques with modern design, using locally sourced materials to create pieces that celebrate the strength, culture, and individuality of African women while promoting ethical production and supporting local artisans.

Kunle Olabode

Kunle Olabode is a Nigerian fashion designer and the founder of Kunle Olabode Fashion House. His work is recognized for thoughtful silhouettes and refined construction, blending modern elegance with couture craftsmanship.

Nwosu Uche

Uche Nwosu, founder of AZACH, a Nigerian fashion brand redefining fashion through upcycling. We transform discarded denim and textile into bold, contemporary pieces, proving that sustainability and great design can go hand in hand. AZACH is pioneering a model that has rarely been done in Nigeria, building a fashion brand centered on upcycling while also sharing the knowledge with the next generation of designers. We believe fashion can be creative, responsible, and transformative, and we're excited to lead that movement.

Victor Oju

Victor Oju is a visionary fashion designer and stylist from Cross River State, serving as the creative director of Skillful Tailor. With a background in Visual Arts (Textile), he has meticulously honed his craft through extensive industry experience. Renowned for his avant-garde, architectural silhouettes, Victor's creations fuse contemporary design principles with sculptural elements, embracing the harmony between modern aesthetics and individual empowerment. His innovative approach to fashion redefines the boundaries of sartorial expression, delivering statement pieces that celebrate bold, confident self-expression.

Chukwukadibia Ezeanyanwu

Chukwukadibia Ezeanyanwu is a Nigerian fashion designer and the creative force behind Kadi Clo Atelier, a brand known for its distinctive approach to contemporary fashion and custom craftsmanship. With a strong eye for detail and a commitment to originality, he has built a reputation for creating bold, well structured designs that blend modern aesthetics with artistic expression. His work focuses on custom-made pieces, intricate embellishments, and refined tailoring, attracting clients who value unique and statement fashion. Through Kadi Clo Atelier, Chukwukadibia continues to push creative boundaries while contributing to the growth of emerging African fashion.

Kalu David

Kalu David is the artistic director of DavidBlack, a men/women's high fashion brand. With a solid background in fashion, his work is deeply rooted in exploration of art as a form of design and a nod to the woven culture that continues to shape and a celebration of art, individuality and strength through story telling.

The Daily Times

The Nigerian Daily Newspaper of Records Since 1926

Young Fashion Designer Of The Year Competition