BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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…as Magixx and Peller walks the runway, fireboy dml front row
Nigerian luxury label Tokyo James unveiled its highly anticipated Autumn/Winter 2025 “Midnight” collection in a landmark hybrid showcase, streamed live from Lagos’ Vici venue to Milan Fashion Week audiences. The event celebrated the brand’s decade-long reign as a pioneer in modern African luxury fashion, blending cultural reverence with avant-garde innovation.
Since its 2015 launch, Tokyo James has redefined contemporary African design through meticulous craftsmanship, gender-fluid concepts, and a fearless fusion of tradition and futurism. The AW25 showcase highlighted this ethos, featuring razor-sharp tailoring combined with cascading silks, traditional Nigerian textile techniques reworked with laser-cut precision, and a moody palette echoing Lagos’ vibrant nightlife.
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“This milestone collection reflects our journey—from our earliest designs to our current global presence,” said Iniye Tokyo James, Creative Director and Founder. “Broadcasting from Lagos to Milan allows us to honour our roots while celebrating our position on the global stage. After ten years, we remain committed to challenging perceptions of African luxury and creating fashion that speaks to a borderless world.”
A standout moment of the evening was the appearance of Nigerian singer-songwriter Magixx on the runway and popular tik tok influencer, Peller with Fireboy also in attendance. Known for his soulful music, Magixx surprised attendees by modeling one of the key pieces from the collection—a tailored suit adorned with traditional motifs. His presence not only underscored the synergy between fashion and music but also emphasized Tokyo James’s influence across various creative domains.
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The brand’s fifth consecutive Milan showcase drew parallels to its meteoric rise since its 2020 international debut. Over the past decade, Tokyo James has dressed A-list celebrities, collaborated with luxury conglomerates, and earned acclaim for dismantling stereotypes about African design. Its signature interplay of structure and fluidity has become a blueprint for a new generation of African designers.
“We are showing the world that we can do it from here, that we are part of the global conversation, and that our fashion is just as good- if not better- than others worldwide” – Tokyo James
The Lagos broadcast location underscored Nigeria’s growing influence in global fashion, with front-row attendees including government officials, Nollywood stars, and industry titans. As night fell over Victoria Island, the show’s finale bathed models in projections of Lagos’ iconic cityscape—a symbolic nod to the brand’s mission of showcasing African excellence on worldwide platforms.
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Founded by Nigerian-British designer Iniye Tokyo James, the eponymous label operates between Lagos and London, merging traditional African artisanal methods with cutting-edge design. A Milan Fashion Week mainstay since 2020, the brand continues to shape conversations on cultural authenticity and the evolution of luxury in a globalized industry.
