A Lagos-born fashion designer, Oyetunde Akangbe, is steadily carving a niche for herself in Nigeria’s competitive fashion industry, drawing attention for a distinctive approach that blends daring creativity with refined craftsmanship.
Since beginning her professional career in 2021, Akangbe has built a reputation for producing garments that go beyond aesthetics, focusing instead on storytelling through fabric. Her work, described as both experimental and grounded, explores themes of elegance, resilience and individuality, while maintaining a strong connection to cultural identity.
Rather than following fast-changing trends, the designer has positioned herself as a narrative-driven creative, using her collections to communicate personal and cross-cultural experiences. This approach has earned her recognition within industry circles and beyond.
Akangbe’s growing profile is reflected in a series of nominations, including Creative Stylist in 2022, Emerging Creative Designer in 2023, and a Fashionpreneur nomination slated for 2025. In 2023, she was also nominated for Best Student Designer of the Year, followed by a nomination for Best Designer of the Year in 2024.
Her practical experience includes working behind the scenes at major fashion events. At GTCO Fashion Week 2023, she served as an assistant designer with The Fia Factory, where she contributed to directing a showcased collection and applied her knowledge of textiles and colour theory. She later worked with Pepper Row at Lagos Fashion Week 2024, collaborating on capsule collections and supporting fittings, pattern adjustments and textile sourcing.
Akangbe has also presented her own creative work on notable runways. Her “Hip Hop” collection debuted at GTCO Fashion Week in 2023, while “Commune” was showcased at Lagos Fashion Week in 2024. Both collections underscored her commitment to merging contemporary influences with structured design techniques.
In addition to runway presentations, the designer has engaged in strategic collaborations, including a capsule collection with Pepper Row and a styling partnership with Cass Koncept in 2024. These collaborations have further expanded her creative reach and visibility.
Her work has received international media attention, with features in leading fashion publications such as Vogue Italia, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Business of Fashion. She has also appeared on fashion-focused podcasts and television programmes.
Akangbe’s educational background reflects a steady investment in technical and creative development. She began her training at Osc College of Fashion, Lagos, in 2021, and later attended Zaris Fashion and Style Academy, where she studied corsetry, contouring, fashionpreneurship, couture techniques and sustainable fashion practices. She further enhanced her skills at Prudential Fashion Academy between 2024 and 2025, focusing on design and illustration.
Her skill set includes couture tailoring, draping and pattern-making, alongside digital design tools such as CLO3D, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. She is also experienced in creative direction for runway and editorial projects, with a focus on precision in finishing, fit and presentation.
Akangbe is a member of the Association of Professional Fashion Practitioners of Nigeria, aligning her practice with professional standards in the industry.
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