womanthismonth.com | OCTOBER 2026 INTERVIEW 95 Lagos, Nigeria Tactile Fashion Lagos is putting material centre stage. Woven Threads, Lagos Fashion Week’s responsiblefashion platform, took CRAFTED as its 2026 theme, focusing on contemporary craft, material innovation and locally rooted making. Pettre Taylor incorporated dyed textiles, knit structures, crochet and patchwork, while Éki Kéré made raffia and textured surfaces central. Éki Kéré’s raffia draws from founder Abasiekeme Ukanireh’s home city, Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom, widely associated with the craft. The brand works with artisans using traditional weaving methods, bringing established material knowledge into contemporary fashion. Woven Threads extends that principle across its programme, treating craft as a living part of African fashion rather than simply a reference to the past. Bring it to Bahrain: Make texture the focus. A woven handbag or hand-worked textile can bring depth to an otherwise streamlined outfit without adding heavy layers. Tbilisi, Georgia Architectural Edge Tbilisi’s 2026 return to the international fashion calendar brought sharp construction into focus. Tamuna Ingorokva paired architectural tailoring and structured silhouettes with leather, jacquard and bouclé. Tatuna explored geometric volumes and pattern cutting, while Aleksandre Akhalkatsishvili deconstructed classic tailoring and worked with materials including vegan leather. That technical approach shapes Tbilisi’s contemporary fashion identity. Independent labels are recognised for experimental cut and construction, with much of their work connected to local ateliers. Tatuna produces garments by hand in its Tbilisi atelier, making pattern cutting and construction central to its look and process. Bring it to Bahrain: Seek structure without bulk. An angular blazer, asymmetric hem or sharply cut dress can bring Tbilisi’s architectural sensibility into warmer weather. Seoul, South Korea Undone Knits Seoul Fashion Week unravelled one of autumn’s most familiar staples. At Caruso, Adlielos and Mmam, knitwear appeared partially laddered and almost threadbare, with some sweaters deconstructed until barely recognisable. Loose threads and unfinished surfaces became deliberate design features. The look fits Seoul’s fashion culture, where polished dressing meets experimentation and street influence. Bring it to Bahrain: Lose the heavy wool but keep the undone effect. Try an open-knit top or lightweight distressed knit over a simple base, letting gaps and loosened construction become the detail. Mexico City, Mexico New Western Mexico’s vaquero wardrobe is riding into 2026 with renewed relevance. Montserrat Messeguer’s Mujer Caballo reworked denim, leather and her signature cowboy boots through barrel racing. Shot at a ranch in Mexico’s Bajío region, it looked to female riders within a traditionally male equestrian culture. For Ms. Messeguer, the Western connection is distinctly Mexican. Her work draws on northern Mexico’s vaquero traditions, working with Mexican artisans to preserve techniques including piteado. In Mujer Caballo, the belt buckles belonged to the riders, won through competition, while denim connected it to Mexico’s textile industry. Reclaiming Mexico’s place in cowboy history is central to her brand. Bring it to Bahrain: Take one code, not the full uniform. Cinch a flowing dress with a substantial leather belt or pair cowboy boots with a midi skirt. The idea is to borrow the strength of the silhouette while letting its Mexican roots remain visible.
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