Hertunba's spring 2027 collection began with a question posed by founder and creative director Florentina Agu: what if there was a world where only women existed, and how would that change the way women dressed at night? Those questions shaped a lineup built around the idea of a women-led, liberated society in which fashion is no longer policed and women are free to be, in her words, "daring and bold."
Agu's starting point was personal. As a firstborn daughter raised in a religious and strict household, she said she still has hurdles to overcome, and she used the collection as a step toward them. Speaking during a preview, she noted that despite her independence and mental liberation she cannot wear certain things, and that when she pictures this new world she thinks of women in the diaspora living freely. The aim was to envision a Nigeria where women are liberated, empowered and free in their fashion choices.
Handwoven akwete skirts and tight dresses, the brand's staples, remain central to the collection. Alongside them, Agu introduced designs she believes will challenge society's perception of modesty: short, playful pieces that accentuate parts of the body usually concealed. She also brought in new materials, including lace and wooden beads. Among the standout looks were a blue and cream mini dress with fringe detailing and a black sequin maxi dress.
The presentation drew a crowd of women wearing new and old Hertunba pieces, many of them drawn to the label's ability to dress multiple generations and body sizes. For the past several months Agu has worked closely with her artisans so that the collection could launch online immediately after the show in a see-now, buy-now format. Because the lineup is largely handwoven and handcrafts take time, she planned far in advance, giving clients in tropical and equatorial countries the chance to shop for warm temperatures straight away. The setting reinforced the point: guests fanned themselves with folded bits of paper through a Lagos heatwave.
Sources: Vogue.