From Lagos to Milan: IIFM explores new perspectives on the future of fashion at Lagos Fashion Week

International collaboration, fashion education and entrepreneurship at the heart of the “From Lagos to Milan” panel, organised in collaboration with Lagos Business School.

IIFM – Istituto Internazionale di Fashion Management took part in the opening of Lagos Fashion Week, one of the key platforms for the development and international visibility of the African fashion industry.

On this occasion, IIFM participated in the panel discussion “From Lagos to Milan”, organised in collaboration with Lagos Business School (LBS), bringing together perspectives on the evolving global fashion landscape and the opportunities emerging from the African fashion ecosystem.

The event was attended by the Dean and Director of IIFM Nicola Guerini as Guest of Honour, marking an important opportunity to strengthen the dialogue between the Italian and African fashion industries and explore new possibilities for international exchange and collaboration.

The discussion highlighted the growing relevance of the Nigerian fashion ecosystem within the African context, and the strategic role that Business Schools can play in supporting its development. Particular attention was given to the importance of bridging academia and the job market, aligning educational pathways with the evolving needs of the fashion industry, and equipping future professionals with competencies in strategic and operations management, leadership, entrepreneurship and business development. In an increasingly complex and competitive global market, the ability to translate creative talent into sustainable business models requires not only vision and innovation, but also managerial expertise, organisational capabilities and effective leadership.

These themes are central to IIFM's educational approach, which aims to prepare the next generation of fashion professionals to navigate the challenges and opportunities of an evolving international industry.

The exchange between Lagos and Milan also reaffirmed the value of cross-cultural collaboration as a driver of innovation, knowledge sharing and new perspectives for the future of fashion.

IIFM would like to thank Doyin Adelabu, Omoyemi Akerele, Lagos Business School and everyone involved in making this valuable exchange possible.