Fashion Week Yorkshire: A celebration of identity and empowerment

Under the indulgent glow of fairy lights, seven designers boldly showcased their work on the Leeds runway – uniting the cherished fashion traditions of cultures across the globe. 

Held at Left Bank Leeds, Fashion Week Yorkshire 2025 was hosted by the charismatic Danielle Broadbent, with the founder Carron Cummings and her team, including Leeds’ very own Fashion Marketing students, supporting the event.

“Fashion is for everyone … your body is your art”

Carron Cummings, founder

This year wasn’t just about style – it held messages about the identity of global designers, female empowerment, and paid homage to both past and future generations. Truly an all-inclusive event. 

Designer Emy Samuels exhibited his Victorian Era inspired designs, showcasing his goal to, “redefine what it means to be royal in the modern age”, each piece giving life to generations past. Meanwhile, Carron herself presented her female empowerment section, crowning models of our youth with the message that feminism is about equality for all, empowering the women of our future.

“My passion is to keep making women feel beautiful and confident”

Iwuji Oluchi Golden, GOLDENHOUSEOFFAB

Alongside the power of time, designers Iwuji Golden (GOLDENHOUSEOFFAB), Zainab Kolawole (STYLEDBYZK), and Tosin Ologun (TÁÀNWÁ), reflected on childhood memories to influence their works; my personal favourite being Zainab’s incorporation of seashells on her hand crafted fabrics, reminiscent of the time spent telling stories at her grandparents’.

“I’m trying to bring our culture to the western world”

Myckel Couture, MYCKEL COUTURE

Other designers at the event included Myckel Couture (MYCKEL COUTURE), and Anthony Nwok (NDOKI), both advocates of infusing African

culture with western design – as well as Anthony Gatewood-Skeete (BLESS:44), whose mission it is to spread the Word of God through urban fashion. 

The fashion show as a whole carried a delightfully diverse and inclusive community spirit, with raffles, performances, awards for the best dressed, and even an opportunity for the crowd to walk the runway. All proceeds of the event went to Pathways to Hope - the event contributed to those beyond the crowd.

As the event drew to a close, Fashion Week Yorkshire had created a sense of unity: conceptualising art without borders and stitching together stories of heritage and humanity.

Words by Lisa Clark, she/her

FASHION WEEK YORKSHIRE  DESIGNER PROFILES

Heritage in Motion: Designers Redefining Luxury at Fashion Week Yorkshire

Photography from @greenvisionphotography

Táàńwá by Tosin Kehinde Ologun

Tosin Kehinde Ologun’s Táàńwá collection arrived on the runway with a quiet, assured elegance that spoke volumes. Her work balances the delicacy of ancestral African artistry with the structure and polish of contemporary luxury, creating garments that feel timeless yet unmistakably modern. The tactile richness of her textiles, the intentional silhouettes, and the cultural fluency embedded in each piece affirm Táàńwá as a brand operating with both reverence and ambition. Ologun’s dedication to sustainability and her collaboration with local artisans elevate her craft beyond aesthetics into a philosophy — one where heritage is preserved, transformed, and presented with the sophistication of true global couture.

Myckel Couture by Damilare Michael Olaoye

At Fashion Week Yorkshire, Myckel Couture offered a refreshing interpretation of contemporary Afrocentric style. Designer Damilare Michael Olaoye has an instinctive understanding of how clothing can honour tradition while speaking directly to the energy of a new generation. His pieces feel current, clean, and deeply rooted, with each silhouette carrying a sense of identity shaped by West African heritage. Whether through the refined lines of the Urban Classic Series or the expressive forms of the Urban KEMBE Collection, his work reveals a designer confident in his vision. Myckel Couture stands as a bridge between cultural pride and modern expression — subtle, stylish, and unapologetically authentic.

GoldenHouseOfFab by Iwuji Oluchi Golden

GoldenHouseOfFab brought a captivating fusion of drama and precision to the runway. Iwuji Oluchi Golden’s work is defined by her ability to weave narrative and craftsmanship into each garment, creating pieces that feel both bold and exquisitely detailed. Her interplay of Ankara prints, tulle, and satin resulted in silhouettes that moved with intention, capturing feminine strength and artistic sophistication. This latest collection showcased a designer in full command of her aesthetic — expressive yet refined, culturally rich yet globally attuned. Golden’s longstanding commitment to celebrating heritage, empowering women, and mentoring emerging creatives gives her brand a resonance that extends far beyond the runway.

Ndoki by Anthony Nwok — “Nkeiruka” Collection

Anthony Nwok’s “Nkeiruka” collection for Ndoki stood out as one of the most emotionally anchored presentations of the season. Inspired by the memory of his late sister, the collection carried a profound tenderness, grounded in the historic beauty of Akwete — a handwoven textile that speaks of strength, resilience, and cultural identity. Nwok translated this heritage fabric into contemporary forms with remarkable sensitivity, allowing its intricate motifs to guide the storytelling. The result was a collection that felt intimate yet expansive, rooted in tradition yet reaching toward the future. “Nkeiruka” affirmed Ndoki as a brand where craft, meaning, and innovation coexist in harmonious dialogue.

Styledbyzk — “Adun” Collection

Styledbyzk illuminated the runway with the vibrant poetry of its “Adun” collection — a celebration of Yoruba symbolism, artisanal craft, and modern femininity. Designed in Yorkshire and meticulously handcrafted in Lagos and Abeokuta, each look carried a sense of cultural continuity reimagined for the contemporary woman. The brand’s Founder, Zainab Kolawole, has a rare ability to reinterpret traditional motifs — cowries, shells, rhythmic lines — into garments that are elegant, wearable, and emotionally resonant. Adun’s soft vibrancy and fluid silhouettes showcased a designer who understands the power of heritage when shaped through a modern lens. Styledbyzk’s voice is distinctive: confident, connected, and beautifully expressive.

BLESS:44

BLESS:44 brought a thoughtful, spiritually driven aesthetic to Fashion Week Yorkshire, blending streetwear sensibilities with a deeper message of faith and reflection. Founder Anthony’s vision — to create clothing that sparks meaningful conversation — was evident in every piece, from the crisp screen-printed tees to the carefully crafted accessories. There is an honesty to the brand’s approach: independent production, community involvement, and a heartfelt commitment to “wearing the word.” What emerged on the runway was not only a collection but a movement — fashion grounded in purpose, shaped by creativity, and defined by its authenticity. BLESS:44 is a reminder that style can inspire, uplift, and speak with intention.