Nigerian-born fashion designer Ugochi Iwuaba, known for her flamboyant ethnic-inspired couture, debuted her first ready-to-wear (RTW) collection at the sold-out Runway 40 Fashion Gala held at the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Hosted by media personality Abena Akuaba, the event celebrated Iwuaba’s 40th birthday and marked a new direction in her design career.
The RTW collection, a vibrant fusion of African heritage and Western influences, included womenswear, menswear and children’s wear. Iwuaba’s signature use of bold colors, intricate patterns, and luxurious fabrics like aso-oke was evident throughout. Standout pieces included streetwear puffer sets in African prints, a tailored aso-oke suit for men, a flowing silk gown with a hand-painted motifs, elegantly structured blazers with traditional embroidery, and a delicate floral pant set.
“With this collection, I wanted to create wearable pieces that celebrate the beauty and diversity of African culture while incorporating modern design elements,” said Iwuaba. “These are clothes I would wear every day. I’m excited by the positive response and can’t wait to see how customers style them.”
The Runway 40 Fashion Gala provided a platform for Iwuaba to introduce her RTW line to a global audience and connect with potential buyers and collaborators.
Ugochi has shown her work at the New York Fashion week, the London Fashion Week and the San Diego Fashion week. Her designs have been worn by Toni Braxton, KMichelle, Spice, Yemi Alade, Nina Parker and many more. Her designs have made it to the best dressed list on the MET Gala and the premiere of Black Panther.
Watch Runway 40 here: https://youtu.be/ZK0FCWJM91Q?si=epWGGQI46mlKvkfr