In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Fashion Law Institute made its official debut at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Law Week 2025, marking the first time in history that fashion law was featured at any NBA conference.

This year’s Law Week, held under the theme “Reimagining the Practice of Law: Ethics, Innovation, and the Future of Legal Services,” introduced masterclass sessions—specialized off-campus trainings in niche areas of law—making it the first NBA branch event to do so. The inclusion of fashion law in these sessions highlighted its growing relevance in Nigeria’s evolving creative economy.

The Fashion Law Institute, Africa’s premier center for the legal, commercial, and educational advancement of the fashion industry, led a dynamic session aimed at empowering lawyers, entrepreneurs, and regulators to navigate the complexities of the fashion ecosystem. Key areas explored included intellectual property protection, contract negotiations, technology and innovation in fashion, sustainability, and commercial law frameworks.

Leading the discussions were notable speakers such as Bernice Asein, Founder of the Fashion Law Institute, who emphasized the need for an enabling legal environment for the fashion industry.

Temitayo Ismail, Managing Partner at Vassalcrest Attorneys, provided insights on technology-driven fashion startups, while Okechukwu Ezeoke, CEO of KLOFASHION Limited, shared practical experiences on the impact of legal literacy in scaling fashion businesses.

Bernice Asein remarked, “This collaboration is more than symbolic it marks a pivotal moment in Nigerian legal and fashion history. It signifies the recognition of fashion as a strategic economic sector, and law as an indispensable tool for protection, innovation, and growth.”

The Fashion Law Institute’s participation at the NBA Lagos Law Week underscores its commitment to shaping policy dialogues and positioning Africa’s fashion industry at the forefront of global economic and legal conversations.