The Rise of Homegrown Luxury – THISDAY Style

By Oghenekeno Akpoili

Not too long ago, luxury came with a foreign passport. Italian leather, French perfumes, Swiss watches and designer labels from Paris, Milan and London carried a certain prestige that locally made products struggled to match. Owning something imported wasn’t simply about quality; it was a statement. It suggested success, sophistication and access to a world beyond our borders. For many Nigerians, “Made in Nigeria” was seen as the compromise rather than the aspiration.

That perception is changing, and not because consumers have suddenly become sentimental about buying local.

A combination of economic realities, cultural confidence and remarkable improvements in design and craftsmanship has reshaped the conversation. The weakening naira has undoubtedly encouraged many shoppers to look closer to home, but affordability alone doesn’t explain the rise of Nigerian brands. People don’t remain loyal to products that disappoint them. The brands succeeding today are doing so because they have earned that loyalty through quality, originality and consistency.

Perhaps no industry illustrates this transformation better than fashion.

For decades, indigenous fabrics such as Ankara, Adire and Aso Oke were largely reserved for weddings, cultural ceremonies and festive occasions. They were beautiful, but rarely considered contemporary everyday fashion. Today’s designers have completely rewritten that narrative. Traditional textiles now appear in sharply tailored suits, evening gowns, ready-to-wear collections and resort wear that feel just as relevant in Lagos as they do in London or New York.

The success of designers such as Lisa Folawiyo, Emmy Kasbit, Hertunba, Imad Eduso, Onalaja, Banke Kuku and many others has helped redefine what African luxury looks like. Rather…