“I don’t think anyone has ever done this before!” That said Tokyo James, who called after a whirlwind modem month to touch the basis at his autumn 2025 collection, which he presented on March 3 in the Milan Fashion Week schedule with a show in Lagos, Nigeria.
You read that well. James, who was born and raised in London, but of Nigerian descent, took his show to Lagos to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his label of the same name. The camera Nazionale Della Moda Italiana had him retained his time slot, but presents his show via Livestream from Nigeria – Pretty Cool. “I am very grateful that they understood how important it was for us,” said James. Although the arrival of social media fashion has encouraged Global to think, the Pandemie inspired many independent designers such as James to think locally. This event makes a solid case to do both.
The 10 -year anniversary did not send James on a nostalgia trip, according to his name. On the contrary, he said, it gave him more confidence to continue. “I always had the impostor syndrome in the industry, but able to maintain it for 10 years and to do it my way, has been exciting for me,” he said. New stability encouraged James to sharpen what his customers have been receptive for – tailoring, leather, outerwear – and exploring a new territory. “Tokyo James enters his fairytale Princess era,” the designer joked and underlined the wider range of dresses he designed for autumn. The highlight is a pure, lace black dress with sequins and flower applications, sexy and romantic at the same time.
James said he also embraces a recently discovered love for black. “Black is just … forever, eternal“He said. His typical eclectic combinations of textures and materials certainly felt advanced in monochromatic black, and the leather work, in particular the men’s clothing, added an edge that compensated the romance of his dresses. “People think it is easy to design in black, but they no longer understand to think that it is to design it in black. From clothing more than any other shade. James should continue to use the color to expand his skills while he goes in his second decade.
Looking at the future, James said that he and his team are building the brand of the brand in Lagos and is investigating the show in London, “because London is home”, or, possibly, in Paris, “because Paris is Paris!“ Designers such as James give ‘Global’ a completely new definition by approaching this locally – one city at the same time.