Lagos Space Programme SS24 and Designer Adeju Thompson Interview

It wasn't very long ago that it would almost be unheard of that a Nigerian based designer would be showing in any of the European fashion weeks. But designer Adeju Thompson of Lagos Space Programme reached deep into his heritage for inspiration to develop a collection that is not only true to where Nigeria has been but where it is going. Through the Lagos Space Programme we all finally have a chance to experience the centuries old artisanal applications to cloth, apparel and accessories, with a modern translation of course!

How did you get started in fashion and why fashion? 

My earliest memories in my childhood are of me making drawings, button drawings. I'm very happy to have a progressive family that really allowed me to foster my interests. And why am I doing this? It’s just very important that I get to speak for myself I think. It's very important that we highlight this alternate African narrative. It’s not very visible on the global stage when it comes to African fashion. I think we see African fashion in a very one dimensional way. The fact is, as African designers we tap into global codes. It’s very important to show the core history of techniques and silhouettes. A lot of the shapes and silhouettes are centered around historical Yourba garments. That is the foundation and build of the collection.

Who do you design for? 

I design for everybody. In my work I endeavor to be inclusive. The people who predominantly buy my clothes now are a lot of artists, musicians… you know, people who want great style, but also like utility. Also, we have people who are in non-creative industry who like to support what we do.

What do you prioritize in your design process?

I think first and foremost I’m someone who does a lot of research and my approach can be very conceptual, but I think when I'm making clothes I'm a very pragmatic designer. So even though I want to make very elegant clothes, I also want clothes that you can live in. You know, clothes that are very functional, it's very important to me. So you can likely wake up in the morning, go to work, go for a lunch meeting [and] in the evening go for a cocktail with your friends. That's what really informs the work that I do.

What were you inspired by this season? 

I was inspired by fusing and these different ideas, you know these euro-centric with Yourba dress codes to produce an entirely new aesthetic. I think that’s really the inspiration behind my collection. But really it's about my entire journey so far and coming to a place in which I feel a lot more confident and the product just feels a lot more ready and the idea feels a lot more ‘now’. It's always been great but it's more fine tuned.

Is there anything you like to explore more in the future? 

I'm enjoying my exploration of lace, it’s something I really enjoy. So I definitely want to explore and do more experiments. Produce my own lace, maybe work with communities that can really help me. But also I’d like to expand my existing ideas. They’re ideas that I have been researching for a long time. I want to expand them as much as possible and push them out as far as I can. 

And lastly, if you were not a fashion designer, what would you be doing? 

I'll be an artist. Yeah, a painter.