Dutch-Nigerian Exchange Programme Circular Fashion at Lagos Fashion Week 2024
November 25, 2024
This October, Lagos Fashion Week became the setting for an exciting exchange between Nigeria and the Netherlands. ‘The Nigerian-Netherlands Exchange Programme for Circular Fashion’ marked the beginning of a transformative partnership to foster circular economy business opportunities in the fashion and creative sectors of both countries.
With the engagement of the Circular Economy Innovation Partnership (CEIP), Holland Circular Hotspot (HCH), Style House Files (SHF), Lagos Circular Business Platform, and the Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy (OCCCE) in Lagos, the programme focused on driving sustainable practices in the Nigerian fashion industry. The initiative aimed to foster ecosystem partnerships that link Dutch circular economy expertise with Nigerian innovation in the creative and fashion sectors through a series of panels, workshops, and masterclasses.
“Amazing entrepreneurial minds engaged participation and conversations with so many and such a diverse group of inspiring people; touched and inspired by the creativity, ambition, enthusiasm, and openness”
Stéphanie Schuitemaker, Holland Circular Hotspot
Cross-border collaboration reinforcing creativity and entrepreneurship for circular fashion
The Dutch programme at Lagos Fashion Week was a first step towards establishing a partnership with Nigeria, promoting circular economy opportunities within the fashion sector. By sharing the Netherlands’ roadmap to circularity and its experience and expertise in both the transition and circularity in practice, the initiative sought to spark debate on how to mutually inspire and enrich the fashion industry with innovations that address textile waste and sustainable design challenges.
Peter Keulers, Deputy Consul General for the Netherlands in Lagos, opened the event with a statement emphasising the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s circular transition, highlighting that sustainable innovation in fashion requires global partnerships to address challenges like waste management, resource scarcity, and pollution.
Photo: From left to right- Obaloluwa Dairo (CIRCO hub Nigeria), Kim Poldner (University of Groningen), Stéphanie Schuitemaker (Holland Circular Hotspot), Toluwalope Adesina (CIRCO hub Nigeria) and Ricco Fiorito (Cooloo).
Key highlights and outcomes of Lagos Fashion Week
During Lagos Circular Week, several events were organised to build awareness, establish connections, and initiate meaningful discussions around circular fashion. Including:
Seminar on circular fashion (October 24, 2024):
- This seminar set the stage with discussions on Nigeria’s future proof fashion industry in which circularity should play a key role. Topics covered included Nigeria’s unique position in the global fashion industry, the importance of circular design, and opportunities for business development and financing. The seminar featured engaging discussions and insights into the Nigerian textile value chain.
- Introduced by Stéphanie Schuitemaker from Holland Circular Hotspot, the session inspired Nigerian participants to build circular ecosystems and explore sustainable design. A partnership between the Netherlands and Nigeria partnership would promote circular fashion, foster a community of practitioners, and identify business and policy opportunities, with outcomes aimed at deepening value chain insights, knowledge exchange, and policy recommendations.
Photo: Participants presenting their work at the workshop session ‘Fostering a Sustainable Fashion Ecosystem’
Masterclass Circular Entrepreneurship (October 25, 2024):
- Dutch experts, including Kim Poldner from the University of Groningen, Ricco Fiorito of Cooloo, and Stephanie Schuitemaker of Holland Circular Hotspot, led the class and inspired participants with insights on sustainable fashion and the value of circular business models. These sessions presented a comprehensive view of circular practices, showing how local initiatives can intersect with global circular solutions to manage textile waste and inspire sustainable design.
The Dutch-Nigerian exchange at Lagos Fashion Week signals a significant opportunity for both countries to share knowledge, innovate, and drive sustainable transformation in fashion. Holland Circular Hotspot’s role in this partnership underscores the Netherlands’ commitment to global circularity and showcases the potential for cross-border collaborations to tackle environmental challenges while building resilient economies.
