MBW FashionAddict Redefines Aso Oke at AFWL with Omolara: Threads of Her

By Yemisi Suleiman

At the recently held Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) 2025, one collection that caught my attention was Nigerian fashion brand MBW FashionAddict, who showed a lot of dexterity with the Aso Oke fabric, the storied handwoven fabric of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Known for its regal texture and vibrant symbolism, aso oke becomes the canvas upon which the designer’s story is told, a story woven in strength and whispered in softness. The designer sent models down the runway in classic short and long tube dresses, with peekaboo and tassel details, all highlighting the female form, while projecting the beauty of Aso Oke on the global stage.

Stealing the spotlight in the lineup was a short blue aso oke dress with flower embellishments. This look gives traditional chic with a classy edge. Though made with aso oke, it is ideal for any cocktail or red-carpet event. Another standout was a mini skirt paired with tube top, featuring a peekaboo cleavage — a look that also speaks to the designer’s love for blending African and Western culture. This was further reflected in the aso oke mixed and matched with a linen dress, styled with an asymmetric shoulder. Another highlight was the long version of the mini aso oke dress, accented with long tassels and floral details. The look was finished off with a white woven neckpiece, giving grace to the neckline and outfit as a whole.

The collection, tagged Omolara: Threads of Her, is a celebration of the multifaceted African woman — a collection where tradition meets tenderness. For Temiloluwa Esther Fagbemi, Creative Head and CEO of MBW FashionAddict, the collection pays credence to her mother, ‘Omolara’ whose strength, courage, and bravery are balanced by a delicate and soft nature, desired to be loved and cared for amidst the strength. This inspiration is expressed in the branches, vines, and flowers emerging from the aso oke.
Each piece embodies duality: the rich, structured elegance of aso oke contrasts yet harmonizes with the soft fluidity of hand-knitted yarns. Knits, traditionally seen as delicate, are infused with architectural lines and subtle tension, reflecting the quiet resilience of the feminine spirit — therein lies the designer’s strength.

However, there were some noticeable areas where the designer’s creativity seemed limited. For instance, I noticed that the aso oke used for this collection — even though the number of clothes was not much — was the same, with the same neckline for most dresses. This limited the designer’s show of creativity. She should have used at least three different designs, and the same applies to the necklines, as variety is the spice of life.
Aso oke should also have been mixed and matched with other fabrics to create a more contemporary and stylish design that would appeal beyond the shores of Africa.

These notwithstanding, ‘Omolara: Threads of Her’ is envisioned for the woman who walks with purpose but isn’t afraid to pause. The woman who wears her culture not just with pride, but with intention. Who knows that to be African, to be woman, is to live in the space between steel and silk.

The collection redefines Afrocentric fashion in structure, silhouette, design and colour.
For MBW FashionAddict, ‘Threads of Her’ is not just fashion. It is identity, stitched, looped, and woven with a vision to empower women and boost their confidence in a super kind of way.