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By Vivian Onyebukwa
Innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship were put on display when 38 new designers who trained at Rhoda Michaels Fashion Institute (RMFI) held a fashion exhibition with the theme, EMERGE 2025, to announce their graduation.
During the event held at De Orange Place Event Centre, Lagos, the graduating designers showcased their debut fashion brands with runway collections reflecting bold creativity, technical mastery, and business readiness. Family members, industry stakeholders, stylists, creatives, and invited guests applauded the designers as they launched their individual labels.
The event also highlighted RMFI’s unique identity and ambition framework, where students journey through the comfort zone, learning zone, fear zone, growth zone, leading to personal and creative transformation.
In her remarks, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Rhoda Agbeyo, founder of RMFI said the Institute has continued to stand out as one of Nigeria’s most comprehensive fashion institutions, training students in pattern drafting, tailoring, business, branding, digital tools, and AI-assisted fashion creation. “The Institute offers a full 360° approach, ensuring every graduate becomes a fashion entrepreneur, not just a tailor,” Agbeyo said.
She further explained that the institute was born out of a need to solve Nigeria’s deep skills gap in fashion, saying, “There is a shortage of professionals who understand both creativity and the business side of fashion. RMFI was created to produce fashion entrepreneurs who can sketch, draft, sew, manage production, build brands, and scale them sustainably.”
Since it was established in 2013,RMFI has trained hundreds of designers in women’s wear, men’s wear, bridal, children’s wear, African fashion, and fashion business, with graduates showcasing at fashion events across Nigeria and Accra.
Agbeyo emphasized the importance of technology in modern fashion design saying, “AI in sketching and designing is now a global standard. Our students graduate ready to compete at an international level using technology to accelerate creativity, production, and brand building.”
According to Agbeyo, ARMFI integrates AI tools, digital design skillsets, and business strategy into its curriculum, making it one of the most future-forward fashion institutions in Africa.
The institute provides continuous mentorship, opportunities, and business support long after students complete their programs. “RMFI is a creative family. When our students graduate, they do not walk alone, we walk the journey of entrepreneurship with them.”
