Not many designers can attract a crowd like Emmy Kasbit, with celebrities and influencers flooding into the Lagos Vogue Week present venue. For his spring 2026 assortment, Emmanuel Okoro, founder and artistic director, stated farewell to the outdated Emmy Kasbit. “This isn’t a continuation, it’s a rebirth,” he stated backstage.
Okoro drew inspiration from King Jaja, a outstanding determine and founding father of the Opobo Kingdom in Jap Nigeria. Decided to authentically inform the story of the late king and “convey again his legacy,” Okoro and his crew traveled to Jaja’s hometown to study extra about his historical past. Whereas exploring the riverine group, Okoro felt impressed by components from the king’s childhood, the colours of his dwelling, in addition to his private model. This trifecta shaped the foundations of his assortment. “What we attempt to do at Emmy Kasbit is protect tradition,” he stated, which suggests embedding such tales into the material and storytelling of the gathering.
Okoro reimagined what King Jaja would put on if he had been alive in present-day Lagos, and the opening look paid homage to that. Because the lights got here on, a black and white picture of Jaja seated on a grand wood throne was projected onto the backdrop of the stage. Under the {photograph}, a mannequin sat on a wood throne, sporting a woven hat, an identical brown shirt and trousers, and an outsized shoulder bag –– an outfit Okoro stated was closely impressed by Jaja’s reign and ’70s Nigeria.
Heavy prints and logos as soon as dominated Emmy Kasbit collections. This season marked a break in that cycle, as Okoro turned his consideration to fabrication. He performed round with silk, stretching the material to create fringe detailing on a number of of the clothes. He additionally experimented with new supplies, together with linen and deadstock wool. Standout seems to be included a brown blazer paired with cream trousers and an outsized fringed bag, in addition to the closing outfit which noticed the mannequin put on an outsized fringed fuchsia pink coat, paired with an identical knee-length skirt.
