Follow Us on Google
By Rita Okoye
In 2025, the African fashion calendar continued to reflect a growing shift toward sustainability, and one brand that stood out within this evolving conversation was ShugaCollection, founded by Nigerian designer Coker Oluwabunmi Ashiat.
Through consecutive runway appearances at the Ogun State Fashion Show 2025 in Nigeria and Tarkwa Fashion Week 2025 in Ghana, the brand demonstrated a clearer design identity and a deepening commitment to environmentally conscious fashion.
At the Ogun State Fashion Show in Abeokuta, ShugaCollection’s presentation revealed a designer increasingly confident in her creative direction. Rather than relying on elaborate spectacle, the collection was anchored in thoughtful construction and narrative intent.
Contemporary designs were subtly infused with cultural references, resulting in accesories that felt wearable yet purposeful. The restraint shown in the collection worked in its favour, allowing craftsmanship and concept to take precedence over excess.
A notable strength of the 2025 collection was its continued use of repurposed textile waste, particularly in the brand’s signature aprons and accessories. These elements were not presented as symbolic gestures but as functional components of the collection. By integrating waste materials seamlessly into the design language, Ms Coker reinforced her stance that sustainability need not come at the expense of aesthetic appeal. Instead, it can enhance it.
The collection’s presentation at Tarkwa Fashion Week in Ghana further tested its resonance beyond Nigeria’s borders. Sharing the runway with designers from across Africa, ShugaCollection maintained consistency in both execution and message. The Ghana audience responded positively to the brand’s sustainability ethos, underscoring the relevance of environmentally responsible fashion across regional markets. The repeated appearance at Tarkwa Fashion Week also positioned ShugaCollection as a recurring participant rather than a one-off presence, signalling growing regional recognition.
These runway outings occurred within a broader industry context in which sustainability has moved from trend to necessity. With fashion remaining a significant contributor to global waste, designers who actively engage with responsible production methods are increasingly shaping the future of the industry. ShugaCollection’s approach aligns with this shift, particularly within the African fashion space, where innovation often emerges from resourcefulness.
The brand’s trajectory was further affirmed in 2025 when ShugaCollection was awarded Fashion Brand of the Year at the Ogun State Fashion Industry Awards. While accolades alone do not define creative merit, such recognition reflects industry acknowledgement of the brand’s direction and its contribution to sustainable fashion discourse.
As the brand looks beyond 2025, ShugaCollection appears to be moving steadily from an emerging label toward broader relevance. Through consistent runway presence and a clearly articulated sustainability narrative, Coker Oluwabunmi Ashiat is positioning her brand among a new generation of African designers engaging meaningfully with global conversations around fashion, responsibility, and identity.
Rita Okoye is a fashion and lifestyle columnist with The Sun Nigeria, where she writes on African designers, runway trends, and the evolving fashion industry.
