SPIEF 2025: Nigeria Shines at the International Adaptive Clothing Design and Inclusive Fashion Contest

In a world increasingly attuned to equity and inclusion, fashion is emerging as more than a statement of style and becoming a vehicle for visibility, confidence, and empowerment.

This year, the International Adaptive Clothing Design Contest, an initiative of On the Wings Project in partnership with The Inclusive Community for Advocacy and Development (TICAD) Nigeria, brought this vision to life by challenging fashion designers from around the globe to create clothing that responds not only to aesthetic values but also to the lived experiences of people living with with disabilities (PWDs).

Hosted during the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum SPIEF, the contest welcomed participants from countries as diverse as Brazil, Jordan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Belarus. The event stood as a celebration of intercultural design, disability inclusion, and shared humanity, where threads of culture, creativity, and compassion were woven into garments with meaning and purpose.

From the outset, the contest called for submissions across seven programme categories: We Are Family, Older Generation, Everyday Comfort, National Costume, Sport & Active Life, Celebration, and Peaceful Image of a Defender of the Fatherland.

Among the many talents that stood out, Nigeria’s Joyce Chinyere Nwagwu of House of Daachi and Oyiboka Oluwayemi Adaze of Moreni Woman emerged as two of the most inspiring contributors, each bringing with them powerful personal stories, thoughtful design, and bold intercultural vision.

Joyce, representing Nigeria in the Celebration, Everyday Comfort, and We Are Family categories, captivated the jury with a vibrant collection that masterfully blended traditional Nigerian fabrics and ethnic motifs with modern adaptive design.

Her garments were not only aesthetically striking but also functionally considerate, crafted with users’ ease, dignity, and joy in mind. In recognition of her innovation and cultural fluency, Joyce, under her brand name “House of Daachi”, was named Winner of the Celebration Category, a major milestone that she described not just as a personal achievement but as a turning point for adaptive and inclusive fashion in her country. “In Nigeria, adaptive fashion is just emerging,” Joyce noted. “This win is more than a prize. It’s the beginning of a social initiative.”

Meanwhile, Adaze of Moreni Woman, a fellow Nigerian contestant competing in the Everyday Comfort category, showcased her unique interpretation of inclusion by designing apparel that prioritised both comfort and cultural identity. Drawing from indigenous fabrics and contemporary silhouettes, her work responded to real-life needs, creating clothing that could be easily worn, removed, and cared for by individuals with limited mobility. Her participation reflected a growing movement among African fashion designers to reimagine traditional styles through the lens of accessibility and global relevance.

Their presence in this international event was more than symbolic; it was transformational. By integrating Nigerian cultural elements into designs tailored for Russian and global users, Joyce and Adaze bridged geographical and social divides, demonstrating how design can speak across borders and lived realities. Their stories underscore the central philosophy of the contest: that clothing is not only a necessity but also a form of affirmation.

The celebration of inclusive excellence did not stop there. Brazilian designer Silvia Alencar, winner of the Bronze Prize in the Everyday Comfort category, presented designs inspired by her time as a caregiver to the elderly. Her brand, Reapta, is now a leader in Brazil’s adaptive fashion space.

Costa Rican designer Maria Lucia Alpizar Porras received a Special Prize for her imaginative use of adaptive elements, while Belarusian designer Mikhail Mytnik triumphed in the Sports and Active Life category with garments engineered for functionality in athletic environments.

Highlighting the necessity of inclusion in the fashion industry, Christabel Nwagwu, founder, TICAD Nigeria, stated that designers from geographically and culturally diverse contexts, exemplified by Nigeria, Costa Rica, Brazil, and Belarus, are collaboratively redefining the core purpose and aspirational promise of the fashion industry. They are showing the world that inclusion is not a trend but a necessity and that adaptive fashion has the power to change lives, open industries, and shift mindsets.

Through their leadership, the Inclusive Community for Advocacy and Development TICAD Nigeria and the On the Wings Project have set the stage for a global reimagining of design; one that values function and flair, tradition, and transformation. By spotlighting creative voices like House of Daachi and Moreni Woman, the contest has helped amplify the message that fashion belongs to everyone and that innovation often begins with the people and places least represented in mainstream style.

As the global momentum for inclusive design continues to grow, Nigeria’s emerging talents are not just keeping pace. They are leading with purpose and stitching a new legacy for the future of fashion.