UK-Nigeria Fashion Collaboration

Programme Overview

Programme Details

Duration: 1st September 2025 to 1st March 2026
Focus: UK contemporary design + Nigeria's rich heritage
Base Locations: London, Swindon, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Cardiff

Programme Focus: Our campaign creatively fuses UK contemporary design with Nigeria’s rich heritage. We will tell a cross-cultural story through three core projects and one seasonal collection: Uli & Ikenga: Igbo Resilience & Innovation; The Royal Ascent: Yoruba Elegance Reimagined; Riverine Rhapsody: Ijaw & Niger Delta Mystique; and a February capsule Sahelian Splendor: Hausa & Fulani Nomadic Grace. Work includes concept development, sampling, patterning, bespoke handcraft (textiles, beadwork, dyeing), studio fittings, show installations, pop-up retail and collaborative runway presentations across UK creative spaces.

Months

Core Projects

UK Cities

Core Projects

Uli & Ikenga

Igbo Resilience & Innovation

The Royal Ascent

Yoruba Elegance Reimagined

Riverine Rhapsody

Ijaw & Niger Delta Mystique

Sahelian Splendor

Hausa & Fulani Nomadic Grace

Half-Year Itinerary

Project 1: Uli & Ikenga – Igbo Resilience & Innovation (September – November 2025)

Focus: Uli art, Ikenga symbolism, Akwa Mmiri fabrics, resilience & creativity.

September 2025

Week 1 (3/9/25 – 6/9/25): "Team Retreat – Sketch & Sample"

Lake District

Activity: Creative retreat & palette research

Nature sketching
Capsule sampling
Atelier bonding

Week 2 (8/9/25 – 13/9/25): "Uli Atelier: Resist & Reveal"

London, Hackney Studio

Project: Uli resist-dye masterclass and launch preparation

Uli resist-dye masterclass
Workshops on Uli motifs
Handcrafted fabrics production
Itinerary planning
Meet and greet
Launch event

Week 3 (15/9/25 – 20/9/25): "Walls of Heritage"

Liverpool History Fest

Project: Uli & Ikenga community mural textiles

Uli & Ikenga mural textiles
Collaborative panels
Exhibition pieces

Week 4 (22/9/25 – 27/9/25): "Workshop Intensive"

African Arts Community Hall, London

Activity: Volunteer-led Uli workshops

Volunteer-led Uli workshops
Nigerian heritage fashion skills

October 2025

Week 5 (29/9/25 – 4/10/25): "Resist & Reveal Continuation"

Hackney Studio, London

Project: Second dye-printing cycle

Second dye-printing cycle
More Uli motif training

Week 6 (6/10/25 – 11/10/25): "Courtly Threads (Uli x Royal Fusion)"

Manchester Fashion Hub

Project: Fittings for show looks

Fittings for show looks
Beadwork + tailoring integration

Week 7 (13/10/25 – 18/10/25): "River Workshops"

Bristol Speakeasy Studios

Project: Community dyeing and co-creation

Community dyeing
Niger Delta-inspired co-creation

Week 8 (20/10/25 – 29/10/25): "Industry Roundtable"

Leeds Creative Kiosk

Activity: UK–Nigeria collaboration panel

UK–Nigeria collaboration panel
Buyer introductions
Trade discussions

November 2025

Week 9 (3/11/25 – 8/11/25): "Illuminate & Adorn"

Newcastle Festival Space

Project: Festival-ready textiles

Festival-ready textiles
LED trials
Beadwork prep
Mini fashion show

Week 10 (10/11/25 – 15/11/25): "Walls of Heritage II"

Liverpool History Fest

Project: Finalise exhibit-ready Uli & Ikenga textiles

Finalise exhibit-ready Uli & Ikenga textiles
Mural displays

Week 11 (17/11/25 – 22/11/25): "Brushed & Bundled"

Cardiff Makers Market

Project: Market stall design and retail testing

Stall design
Weather-proofing garments
Pop-up retail test

Week 12 (24/11/25 – 29/11/25): "Workshop Intensive Finale"

African Arts Hall, London

Activity: Core skills wrap-up

Core skills wrap-up
Capsule garment presentations

Project 2: The Royal Ascent – Yoruba Elegance Reimagined (1st – 30th December 2025)

Focus: Yoruba royalty, Aso-Oke, Adire, beadwork, gele, timeless majesty.

December 2025

Week 1 (1/12/25 – 6/12/25): "Yuletide Touches"

Oxford Winter Fairgrounds

Project: Gifting capsule line

Gifting capsule line
Pop-up retail
Limited runs

Week 2 (8/12/25 – 13/12/25): "Silent Nights & Stitches"

Bath Abbey Creative Chamber

Project: Intimate Yoruba runway show

Intimate Yoruba runway show
Trunk sales
Press showcase

Week 3 (15/12/25 – 20/12/25): "Stitches & Sips"

Surrey Hills Artisan Barns

Project: Maker market and Yoruba-inspired runway

Fashion show
Maker market
Yoruba-inspired runway
Client tastings

Week 4 (22/12/25 – 30/12/25): "Break Begins – Seasonal Pause"

Remote Work

Activity: Order fulfilment and planning

Order fulfilment
Yoruba heritage planning for January

Project 3: Riverine Rhapsody – Ijaw & Niger Delta Mystique (January 2026)

Focus: Niger Delta water themes, fluid textiles, masquerade colors.

January 2026

Week 1 (3/1/26 – 7/1/26): "Fresh Perspectives"

Kent Seaside Pavilion

Project: Sunrise photoshoot

Sunrise photoshoot
Silhouettes blending English tailoring & Niger Delta motifs

Week 2 (8/1/26 – 14/1/26): "Paint by Philosophy"

Cambridge Culture Lab

Project: Niger Delta symbolism workshops

Niger Delta symbolism workshops
Embroidery collaboration

Week 3 (15/1/26 – 21/1/26): "Digital Design Dive"

Virtual Studio

Project: 3D mockups and virtual fittings

3D mockups
Virtual fittings
Online buyer showrooms

Week 4 (22/1/26 – 30/1/26): "Field Trip"

Cotswolds

Project: Texture sketching and refinement

Texture sketching
Refining Niger Delta trims & linings

Project 4: Sahelian Splendor – Hausa & Fulani Nomadic Grace (February 2026)

Focus: Flowing robes, Hausa embroidery, Fulani grace, nomadic aesthetics.

February 2026

Week 1 (2/2/26 – 7/2/26): "Culture Tracks"

UK Cross-City Tour (London → Manchester → Leeds)

Project: Cross-city inspiration tour

Buyer showroom stops
Curated trunk shows

Week 2 (9/2/26 – 14/2/26): "The Big Brush Bash – Hausa & Fulani Feature"

Manchester Makers Arena

Project: Large-scale runway show

Large-scale runway show
Textile painting workshops

Week 3 (16/2/26 – 21/2/26): "Nomadic Narratives"

Newcastle Festival Space

Project: Embroidery showcases

Embroidery showcases
Storytelling fashion gala

Week 4 (23/2/26 – 28/2/26): "Finale Showcase"

London

Project: Culminating exhibition

Culminating exhibition
Capsule presentation
Sponsor's closing gala

Programme Overview

Programme Details

Core Projects

Uli & Ikenga

The Royal Ascent

Riverine Rhapsody

Sahelian Splendor

Half-Year Itinerary

Project 1: Uli & Ikenga – Igbo Resilience & Innovation (September – November 2025)

September 2025

Week 1 (3/9/25 – 6/9/25): "Team Retreat – Sketch & Sample"

Week 2 (8/9/25 – 13/9/25): "Uli Atelier: Resist & Reveal"

Week 3 (15/9/25 – 20/9/25): "Walls of Heritage"

Week 4 (22/9/25 – 27/9/25): "Workshop Intensive"

October 2025

Week 5 (29/9/25 – 4/10/25): "Resist & Reveal Continuation"

Week 6 (6/10/25 – 11/10/25): "Courtly Threads (Uli x Royal Fusion)"

Week 7 (13/10/25 – 18/10/25): "River Workshops"

Week 8 (20/10/25 – 29/10/25): "Industry Roundtable"

November 2025

Week 9 (3/11/25 – 8/11/25): "Illuminate & Adorn"

Week 10 (10/11/25 – 15/11/25): "Walls of Heritage II"

Week 11 (17/11/25 – 22/11/25): "Brushed & Bundled"

Week 12 (24/11/25 – 29/11/25): "Workshop Intensive Finale"

Project 2: The Royal Ascent – Yoruba Elegance Reimagined (1st – 30th December 2025)

December 2025

Week 1 (1/12/25 – 6/12/25): "Yuletide Touches"

Week 2 (8/12/25 – 13/12/25): "Silent Nights & Stitches"

Week 3 (15/12/25 – 20/12/25): "Stitches & Sips"

Week 4 (22/12/25 – 30/12/25): "Break Begins – Seasonal Pause"

Project 3: Riverine Rhapsody – Ijaw & Niger Delta Mystique (January 2026)

January 2026

Week 1 (3/1/26 – 7/1/26): "Fresh Perspectives"

Week 2 (8/1/26 – 14/1/26): "Paint by Philosophy"

Week 3 (15/1/26 – 21/1/26): "Digital Design Dive"

Week 4 (22/1/26 – 30/1/26): "Field Trip"

Project 4: Sahelian Splendor – Hausa & Fulani Nomadic Grace (February 2026)

February 2026

Week 1 (2/2/26 – 7/2/26): "Culture Tracks"

Week 2 (9/2/26 – 14/2/26): "The Big Brush Bash – Hausa & Fulani Feature"

Week 3 (16/2/26 – 21/2/26): "Nomadic Narratives"

Week 4 (23/2/26 – 28/2/26): "Finale Showcase"

Business Impact & Contribution

Direct Revenue

Employment & Skills Transfer

Brand & Export Potential