Olumide Oyewumi is the creative force behind MIDETUSH, a contemporary fashion brand rooted in Nigerian heritage and Afrocentric expression. Fusing traditional textiles like Aso-Oke with clean, modern tailoring, MIDETUSH reflects Olumide’s vision for streetwear that carries depth, identity, and edge.

The brand is known for its structured silhouettes, bold bomber jackets, and symbolic detailing that honours culture while speaking to a global audience. Through the UDGN incubator, Olumide is developing his SS26 collection—pushing his design language further and shaping MIDETUSH into a distinct voice within the next generation of African fashion.

Motúnráyọ̀ is a contemporary brand weaving African spirituality, storytelling, and modern elegance into powerful fashion narratives. Each piece channels ancestral memory through bold silhouettes, textured fabrics, and sacred symbolism—designed for wearers who honour heritage while moving with intention.

Through UDGN, the brand is refining its design language and expanding its vision: to make spiritual heritage not only visible, but wearable for a global audience.

Kolapo Omoyoloye is a UK-based footwear designer whose journey began in a small community workshop in Nigeria. With over 8 years of experience, he has honed a made-to-order model rooted in craftsmanship, cultural pride, and attention to detail. Known for his durable, elegant loafers, mules, and boots, Kolapo blends Yoruba heritage with refined silhouettes—using painted leatherwork and symbolic textures to tell stories underfoot.

Through UDGN, he is expanding his vision of footwear as both utility and cultural expression—where every step carries depth, purpose, and identity.

LEKAN AARE is a Lagos-born menswear label redefining modern African elegance. Founded by designer Lekan Aare, the brand draws inspiration from Yoruba heritage, regal traditions, and everyday power dressing.

With a focus on tailored silhouettes, clean finishes, and subtle cultural details, Lekan crafts pieces that feel both grounded and elevated. His debut collection under the UDGN Cultural Threads Showcase pays tribute to the spirit of the Ojude Oba Festival, blending tradition with contemporary style.

LEKAN AARE is a brand built on quiet confidence—where culture, craft, and clarity meet.

Seyi Agboola is the founder of Itele, a luxury footwear brand redefining African craftsmanship through timeless men’s loafers. Rooted in Nigerian heritage and now based in the UK, Itele fuses artisanal skill with clean, modern design—creating footwear that balances elegance, comfort, and cultural integrity.

With features at London Fashion Week and growing global recognition, Seyi joins the UDGN incubator to further evolve Itele’s creative direction and cement its place in the future of premium African design.

Salami Oluwaseun is the designer behind OBIREEN, a womenswear brand blending tradition with refined modernity. Beginning her journey as a shoemaker, Seun brings a deep respect for craftsmanship to every piece—merging cultural narratives with clean, feminine silhouettes.

OBIREEN’s collections are crafted in-house in Lagos, with a focus on detail, sustainability, and storytelling. As part of the UDGN incubator, Seun is elevating OBIREEN’s design voice while building a brand rooted in elegance, heritage, and thoughtful innovation.

Yusuf Kareem is the founder of Oomo Ajadi, a menswear label grounded in Yoruba tradition and elevated through sacred storytelling. Blending spiritual codes with clean tailoring, his designs honour ancestral wisdom while embracing modern form.

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Through collections like WHITE⸻ORACLE: The Eko Spirit Walks, Yusuf reinterprets rituals like the Ẹyọ Festival into garments that carry memory, stillness, and meaning. As part of UDGN, he is evolving Oomo Ajadi into a vessel for cultural legacy—where fashion becomes both ceremony and statement.

Olutoba Odetomi is the designer behind The Ideal Craftsman, a Lagos-based menswear label redefining modern elegance for the African man. With a strong design point of view rooted in structure, polish, and quiet confidence, the brand offers contemporary pieces that fuse cultural depth with global sophistication.

Best known for his signature blazers and refined wardrobe staples, Olutoba designs with intention—crafting collections that reflect identity, power, and presence. Since launching in 2022, The Ideal Craftsman has quickly earned a reputation for its sharp aesthetic, clean cuts, and commitment to quality.

As part of the UDGN Incubator, Olutoba continues to evolve his brand vision—shaping a new language for African menswear on the world stage.

Princess Mary Obeya, known as Ene, is the designer behind PEM — a contemporary brand exploring the intersection of cultural identity and artistic expression. Based in Nigeria and deeply influenced by her Idoma heritage, Ene creates pieces that honour tradition while embracing modern storytelling through fashion.

Her SS26 collection, “IRI OGRINIA – The Spirit Wears Red,” draws inspiration from Idoma ceremonial dress, dance, and spiritual symbolism. Through fringe, cowries, bold silhouettes and layered textures, she reimagines sacred attire into contemporary forms that celebrate womanhood, ritual, and ancestral memory.

At UDGN, Ene is part of our inaugural designer incubator, bringing depth, emotion, and a distinctive cultural lens to the SS26 “Cultural Threads” showcase.

Nancy Chizubere Johnson-Chidiadi is the designer behind ZUBERE, a contemporary fashion brand exploring structure, culture, and identity through bold, sculptural design.

Her collections are rooted in storytelling—blending modern silhouettes with traditional references to reflect a new era of African fashion. From layered raffia to symbolic coral embellishments, Nancy’s work celebrates heritage, womanhood, and self-expression.

As part of the UDGN incubator, she continues to refine her vision—positioning ZUBERE as a powerful voice for fashion that is intentional, expressive, and rooted in legacy.

Omobolanle Sulleman is the visionary behind BOLA, a UK based fashion label defined by architectural silhouettes, rich textures, and a quiet confidence. With a design philosophy centered on slow fashion and refined minimalism, her work reflects the brand’s core motto: Elegance rooted in heritage.

Each piece is crafted to balance strength and softness, blending sharp tailoring with fluid forms to honor both tradition and modernity. BOLA speaks to the woman who embraces presence over performance — who values style that is intentional, wearable, and timeless.

As a member of the UDGN incubator, Bolanle continues to shape BOLA into a brand that stands for depth, restraint, and cultural pride.

Ebimobowei Daukoru Ayah is the creative force behind AYAH, a menswear brand rooted in cultural storytelling and poetic design. Drawing from the quiet strength of riverside life in the Niger Delta, AYAH reimagines masculinity through fluid silhouettes, earthy textures, and ancestral memory.

The brand is known for its thoughtful use of natural fabrics, tie-dye techniques, and symbolic details such as cowrie shells, fishnet overlays, and raw-edged seams. With a design language that balances softness and strength, AYAH offers clothing as meditation—where fashion becomes both a vessel for history and a reflection of identity.

Through the UDGN incubator, Ebimobowei is developing his SS26 collection The Fisherman’s Echo, shaping AYAH into a distinct voice in the evolving landscape of African menswear.

Kelvin Vincent is the creative director of ANKU, a contemporary fashion brand rooted in African heritage. With a passion to empower women through fashion, he uses his platform to tell meaningful stories inspired by culture, nature, and feminine strength. Through bold designs and purposeful styling, Kelvin creates garments that celebrate identity, confidence, and the beauty of African narratives.

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ANKU is a contemporary fashion brand grounded in African heritage and committed to empowering women through bold, elegant design. Inspired by the strength and resilience of the women who raised me, ANKU was born from a desire to help women reclaim their confidence, embrace their identity, and walk boldly in every room they enter. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to celebrate femininity, power, and purpose, because when a woman feels seen, she becomes unstoppable.

JERMAINE BLEU is a Ghanaian menswear brand rooted in storytelling, identity, and cultural pride. Founded by Jason Jermaine Asiedu, the label draws from his mother’s legacy in tailoring and Ghana’s vibrant visual heritage.

With a focus on expressive silhouettes, rich textures, and intentional design, JERMAINE BLEU creates pieces that honour tradition while pushing contemporary boundaries. For UDGN’s Cultural Threads Showcase, the brand highlights fashion as a vehicle for memory, community, and self-definition.

JERMAINE BLEU is not just a label — it’s a platform where heritage meets modern craftsmanship, and where every garment carries a story.