Get Guardian on GoogleIt was like a planned meeting and exchange between artists, actors, publishers, and other personalities in the Nigerian creative industry, as big names in the sector stormed the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, for the launch of the second edition of Traxis.
Traxis, founded by Ijeoma Okonkwo, is a platform that connects African businesses to storytelling infrastructure, global markets, and capital. Launched in 2025, this second edition spotlights African fashion as a power.
Okonkwo said the idea for this year’s edition came to her late last year, following her interest in developments around Lagos Fashion Week, particularly the global recognition it has received.
While on a journey to seek more, she began researching brands across Nigeria, Ghana, and other parts of the continent. Later, while visiting the African marketplace in Dubai, she encountered African brands creating remarkable pieces and reaching markets far beyond Africa.
“I was genuinely surprised by the scale of what I saw and ended up buying quite a lot. A month later, I patronised a number of Nigerian fashion brands, from ready-to-wear labels to couture designers. I was struck by how distinctive the designs were, and the foreign friends I introduced to them loved them too,” she said.
She added: “These experiences reinforced something I had begun to suspect: African fashion is an untapped and underappreciated industry. We have the creativity to compete on the global fashion stage, but what makes African fashion particularly powerful is our culture. Our heritage, stories, identities, and experiences find expression in our colours, fabrics, silhouettes, and craftsmanship.
“Some creations make you stop and ask, ‘How did someone even think of this?’ That level of creativity deserves to be seen globally. That was what made me certain this year’s edition needed to focus on African fashion. I wanted us to look beyond the finished clothes to the industry, the people building it, and the possibilities that lie ahead.
“The first edition was a generic business edition, but this edition is fashion-exclusive. Nigerian fashion has evolved, so there is a need to tell the story, let the world see the creativity, and read the stories of the designers.
“Too often, African fashion is expected to be affordable simply because it is African. Bespoke, handcrafted fashion requires time, skill, materials, and considerable manual labour. Some pieces take months to complete. When people willingly pay thousands of dollars for foreign designers but question similar craftsmanship from African designers, it raises an uncomfortable question: is the problem really the price, or how we value African creativity?
“We also need to stop localising African fashion as though it belongs only at traditional ceremonies. You see the same mentality in corporate spaces, where certain African outfits are not immediately seen as professional simply because they are African. African fashion can be cultural and commercial, traditional and contemporary, creative and corporate.
“These are some of the issues I wanted this edition to explore through the people building the industry. Popularity was not the criterion; uniqueness and substance were. I wanted to showcase brands and designers with a distinct creative identity and a story worth telling.
“Through Traxis, I want to give these businesses greater visibility and access. Their stories deserve to be told, but storytelling should not be where our contribution ends. Many designers need capital, partnerships, and access to international markets. We want to help create those connections and encourage investors to recognise African fashion as an industry worth investing in.
“Ultimately, I want readers to understand the journey behind the clothes: the years of building, financial pressures, sourcing challenges, and creative risks. I want them to recognise not only the beauty of African fashion, but also the work behind it.”
Speaking at the unveiling, Nollywood actress Bimbo Ademoye said: “The unveiling is insightful. The magazine is broad, covering many areas, especially fashion for this edition. Fashion and movies go hand-in-hand. Storylines and picture quality are important, but the outfit you wear should also be able to tell the story.”
Also speaking, Nigerian businessman Emeka Okonkwo, popularly known as E-Money, said: “This edition is rich, and as a mentor, I think it’s something everyone should pick up. I am overwhelmed to witness the unveiling. I am proud that my brother’s wife is doing something great with Traxis”
Additionally, Nigerian comedian and singer Chioma Omeruah, better known as Chigul, said: “A lot of the time we don’t do what we need to do because we don’t know. Information is key to building, and Traxis is a work of knowledge. I was at the first edition, and I am here for the second edition. I highly recommend it.”
