Nigeria’s Lagos Fashion Week has been announced as one of the winners of this year’s prestigious Earthshot Prize, earning global recognition for its innovative approach to sustainable fashion.
The award, presented during a star-studded ceremony in Rio de Janeiro attended by Britain’s Prince William, celebrates the platform’s pioneering work in transforming one of the world’s most wasteful industries into a model for circular and environmentally responsible design.
Lagos Fashion Week took home the prize in the Build a Waste-Free World category for creating a new fashion economy that prioritises local craftsmanship, textile recycling, and ethical production. The initiative has been credited with leading Africa’s shift towards eco-conscious fashion, while empowering young designers to embrace sustainability.
The Earthshot Prize, launched in 2020 by the Prince of Wales in partnership with natural historian Sir David Attenborough, recognises innovators addressing key environmental challenges. This year’s edition received nearly 2,500 nominations from 72 countries, with five winners chosen across different categories.
Other honourees included Brazil’s re.green, which uses artificial intelligence to restore forests; Bangladesh’s Friendship, supporting vulnerable communities against natural disasters; Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, for its clean air policies; and the United Nations High Seas Treaty, dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems.
The lively event, featuring performances by Anitta, Gilberto Gil, Shawn Mendes, Kylie Minogue and Seu Jorge, took place just days before the UN Climate Summit (COP30) in Brazil.
Prince William, who will attend COP30, praised the winners as true changemakers, urging world leaders to act decisively, saying there was no time for complacency in tackling the climate crisis.
Melissa Enoch
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