Lagos Fashion Week has made history as the first African fashion platform to win the Earthshot Prize 2025, earning global recognition for its groundbreaking efforts in creating a sustainable, waste-free fashion ecosystem.
The announcement came at a star-studded ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, where Britain’s Prince William and a host of global icons celebrated five environmental innovations shaping a cleaner, more resilient planet. The Nigerian-led fashion initiative clinched the “Build a Waste-Free World” category — one of five Earthshot Prizes established to spotlight solutions tackling the world’s most urgent climate challenges.
According to organisers, Lagos Fashion Week stood out for its transformative approach to one of the world’s most wasteful industries — fashion. The platform, founded by Omoyemi Akerele, has been championing sustainable design practices, promoting circularity, and empowering African designers to merge creativity with environmental consciousness. By requiring every designer on its roster to commit to sustainability, Lagos Fashion Week is reimagining how fashion can drive both economic growth and environmental regeneration across Africa.
Speaking after the win, the Earthshot committee noted that the initiative “is transforming one of the world’s most wasteful industries by creating a new fashion economy.”
A Royal Stage for Global Climate Action
The 2025 Earthshot Prize ceremony, hosted at Rio’s futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, brought together world leaders, innovators, and artists — including Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes, Anitta, and Seu Jorge, who performed David Bowie’s “Heroes” to mark the evening’s theme of inspiration and resilience.
Prince William, founder of the Earthshot Prize, praised the winners as “proof that progress is possible,” urging governments and citizens to move from awareness to tangible action. “When I founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020, we had a 10-year goal: to make this the decade in which we transformed our world for the better,” he said. “These innovators remind us that real change is achievable — if we act with courage and urgency.”
Celebrating Global Innovation
This year, nearly 2,500 nominations were submitted from 72 countries, underscoring the growing momentum around environmental entrepreneurship.
The 2025 winners included:
- Protect and Restore Nature: re.green (Brazil) — restoring the Atlantic Forest using AI-driven solutions
- Clean Our Air: City of Bogotá (Colombia) — for its clean air policies and urban re-greening projects.
- Revive Our Oceans: The United Nations High Seas Treaty — set to take effect in January 2026 to conserve marine life beyond national borders
- .Fix Our Climate: Friendship (Bangladesh) — helping vulnerable communities adapt to climate impacts through education, health, and disaster preparedness.
Each winner receives a £1 million grant to scale their impact globally.
Africa’s Moment in the Climate Conversation
Lagos Fashion Week’s win signals a turning point for Africa’s role in the global sustainability narrative. For years, the continent’s creative industries have battled stereotypes and limited resources, yet this recognition places African innovation firmly on the global stage.
By merging artistry with advocacy, Lagos Fashion Week not only celebrates African identity but also challenges the world to view sustainability through a cultural lens — one that values craftsmanship, community, and circular design. As Prince William prepares to attend COP30 later this week in Brazil, Africa’s triumph at the Earthshot Prize sends a powerful message: the continent is not just participating in climate solutions — it’s leading them.
