With an impeccable and diversified runway styling, the 2023 Lagos Leather Fair (LLF) spotlighted firsthand leather fashion pieces curated by indigenous talents that exist within the ecosystem.

The just-concluded two-day event held at the Balmoral Convention Centre of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos has further advanced the growth of leather industry in Nigeria and Africa and took the fashion of leather pieces to a new level in styling, content and aesthetics. The fair availed lovers of creativity, designers, and stakeholders from around the globe who attended the event the opportunity to explore the latest advancement in the industry and discourse growth strategies.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Femi Handbags, Femi Olayebi said: “The leather industry hugely contributes to the economic growth of Nigeria due to its potential as one of the biggest sectors after oil and gas. All that is needed is to put the right processes, infrastructure and value-add-system in place, as these are the crunch of the industry.

“Nigeria has the leather but does not take it to the final processing stage. Interestingly, it has been proven that made-in-Nigeria leather handbags and other leather fashion pieces are more durable than a number of imports. This is why as an industry, we need to put the extra into the ordinary, ensuring that our products can sit anywhere in the world. However, there is need for the government to put a lot of investments into space to create leather pieces that are well finished.”

Olayebi emphasised LLF’s commitment to continuously unearthing lasting solutions to key challenges facing the industry, ensuring that leather remains a relevant instrument for the realisation of the Zero-Oil Initiative.

The fair also hosted exciting hands-on workshops, which guided leather designers through the process of building their unique brand identities and leveraging social media for business growth.