How African Fashion is Dominating the Catwalks

As the pioneer of African Fashion in London, AFWL is proud to see that African design voices were impossible to ignore at the just concluded London Fashion Week AW26. Outstanding showcases that blended heritage, innovation and cultural storytelling. Labrum London continued to fuse West African textiles with sharp British tailoring, bringing rich narrative and craft to the menswear spotlight.

Meanwhile, British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker opened the season with a deeply personal Autumn/Winter collection that resonated with both industry and culture — so much so that King Charles III made a high-profile front-row appearance at her show, underscoring her growing influence in the fashion conversation.

Tolu Coker AW26. Photo Credit: Africa Fashion Week London

Other Nigerian talent, like Onalaja and Ahluwalia, also made waves with collections rooted in identity and contemporary creativity, showing just how consistently African designers are shaping global catwalks and commanding attention.

London’s fashion ecosystem thrives on diversity, heritage, and innovation, making it the perfect stage for African designers to tell their stories and showcase their creativity. Today, African-led brands are also stocked by UK retailers and featured in global fashion media.