Global Courant
Lagos Leather Fair, the leading leather trade event in Africa and initiative of Femi Olayebi, CEO, Femi Handbags, has further promoted the growth of the leather industry in Nigeria and Africa during its recently concluded 6th edition. The two-day event, which took place from June 17-18 at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Lagos, hosted more than 3,000 industry stakeholders, designers, creatives and visitors as they explored the latest developments in the leather industry and discussed growth strategies to drive the industry forward. to scale.
The event is the largest gathering of leather experts and creatives in the West African region and provides an exceptional networking center for artisans, tanners, leather service experts, emerging designers, industry stakeholders and regulators, as well as a platform to celebrate creativity, excellence and innovation through the LLF awards.Speaking at the event, Femi Olayebi, founder of Lagos Leather Fair, expressed her gratitude and satisfaction with the growth, heritage continuity and impact of the annual leather fair. She said: “Again, I am truly amazed at the amazing turnout at the 2023 edition. I appreciate the support and expert craftsmanship of the many brands, creatives and exhibitors who have been part of this year’s edition and made it an absolute success made of. LLF is all about the quality and innovation of the craft, and it’s great to see the effort everyone has put into maintaining the highest quality standards known at the Lagos Leather Fair. As an industry, we need to put something extra in the ordinary and make sure our products can be used all over the world. Nigeria is known for its good quality leather, and I am confident that with platforms like this, the industry will continue to grow. This fair has always been about creativity, innovation, networking and coming together to tell the African story and I’m glad it’s all captured in LLF 2023.”
The event was well attended by key stakeholders and featured more than 30 speakers leading to thought-provoking talks and workshops. One of the main highlights of the event was an insightful panel session in which experts took a closer look at the creative sector, with a focus on the leather industry. They stimulated discourse on how to advance the industry and strengthen the value chain so that African creatives remain globally relevant. The session highlighted how leather creatives in Nigeria can leverage collaboration to ensure economic growth within the industry and strategically position the Nigerian leather industry as a premium sector globally.
Femi Olayebi went on to say, “We launched this scholarship six years ago to change the narrative of the Nigerian leather industry and ensure professionals have a platform to deliberate on sustainable solutions and workable goals that meet both local and global demands. We welcomed thousands of visitors over the past two days to not only explore the various developments the industry has seen and the prospects, but also build working relationships and nurture a new generation of creatives. By connecting all parties in the industry, Lagos Leather Fair will continue to find sustainable solutions to key challenges facing the industry, ensuring that leather remains a relevant tool for the realization of the Zero-Oil Initiative.” The fair also hosted exciting hands-on workshops, which guided leather designers in building their unique brand identity and leveraging social media for business growth.
Lagos Leather Fair 2023 was an impressive event with exhibitions, catwalk shows and the Lagos Leather Fair Awards, the first of its kind. Award category winners for the first edition included K Aspen who was awarded the best curated boot at the show, Maraz who won the Brand Excellence Award and Tender Leather Care who won the Trailblazer Award. Ohiole Lagos also took home the final award of the evening, named the Most Innovative Designer. The Lagos Leather Fair continues to advocate for the growth of the Nigerian leather industry. It is a constant reminder that Nigerian made leather and products, with the right support, can compete and thrive in the international markets.
