A Look Into Lagos’ First Ever Plus-Size Fashion Week

Lagos has just hosted a Plus-Size Fashion Week, which was founded by Temi Aboderin-Alao. This fashion show is the first of its kind to embrace and highlight plus-sized models and fashion.

This video from BBC Africa gives us insight to the event:

 

Plus-size models “proud of their curves” at new Lagos fashion show. pic.twitter.com/p4VUr64rCI

— BBC Africa (@BBCAfrica) September 12, 2017

In the general fashion world, it is very strange to see a plus-sized model on a runway, as age old tradition requires that fashion models are stick thin. However, Nigerian women are not typically thin and this is reflected in the sizing of the clothes that are produced here.

Sample sizes in the western world are usually made to fit ultra slim models, however, in Nigeria, the sample size would be made to fit someone who is a size 10 (UK). Therefore, Temi Aboderin-Alao was right to say in the video that:

“There is a market for plus-size women in Nigeria, and in Africa as a whole. Why wouldn’t we want to cater to the majority, to the masses of the people”

While there is room for improvement, we think that this Plus-Size Fashion Week is a great way to have more inclusivity in the fashion industry and it adds some character and identity to the Nigerian fashion industry.