Qasimi Rising—the brainchild of Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, launched in 2022—has partnered with Lagos Fashion Week to unearth and elevate fresh talent from Africa. This collaboration offers a crucial platform for designers to vie for a spot in the 2026 incubator program, a venture that seeks not just to spotlight but to catapult emerging talent onto the global stage.
The incubator, which was initiated by Qasimi’s creative director Hoor Al Qasimi as a tribute to her late brother Khalid Al-Qasimi, the founder of the brand, is a forward-looking initiative designed to harness the brand’s resources to nurture the next generation of designers. Khalid, who founded the London-based label in 2015, left an indelible mark on the fashion world, and this incubator serves as a lasting legacy, a way to ensure that his spirit continues to inspire.
This October, ten designers, carefully selected by the Lagos Fashion Week team, will present their collections in the Qasimi Rising lounge. Up-and-coming designers will also have the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders through intimate workshops designed to address the specific challenges these designers face and provide tailored advice to accelerate their growth.
Two designers will ultimately be chosen for the Qasimi Rising incubation scheme, where they will be mentored over a transformative three-year period, with an option to extend this mentorship for up to seven additional years. While the specifics of the financial backing remain undisclosed, it is clear that the investment is both significant and structured—distributed in six installments over three years. In addition to funding, the incubator provides access to a rich ecosystem of resources, including a co-working space, studio facilities, production support, product development, merchandising, marketing, and guidance from industry experts.
Bringing an additional layer of insight and regional expertise to the initiative is Omoyemi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion Week, who has joined Qasimi Rising as a regional ambassador and advisor. “Lagos Fashion Week has always been about nurturing talent and this partnership with Qasimi Rising is a natural extension of that mission,” Akerele noted, underscoring the impact this collaboration is poised to have on the designers involved.
Lagos Fashion Week itself is no stranger to the spotlight. Since its inception in 2011, it has grown into a pivotal event in West Africa’s fashion calendar, drawing nearly 4,400 attendees last year with a roster of almost 50 shows. Yet, despite its growing influence, the event faces its own set of challenges, particularly in attracting international buyers—a gap that Qasimi Rising’s global vision could help to bridge.
For designers hoping to catch the eye of Qasimi Rising, the bar is set high. Applicants must have at least three seasons under their belts and will be judged on their creativity, aesthetic, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial vision. Hoor Al Qasimi anticipates a competitive pool of around 100 applications for the 2026 edition—evidence of the program’s growing allure.
The incubator has already proved its mettle with its first winners, including London-based Sudanese designer Omer Asim, who, with Qasimi Rising’s backing, has relaunched his e-commerce platform and collaborated with Scarlett Rouge, daughter of Michele Lamy.
But this partnership with Lagos Fashion Week is merely the beginning. “At Qasimi Rising, we are committed to uniting talented designers from across the globe, particularly those in regions where resources are scarce,” Hoor Al Qasimi asserts. “This is just the start—several new partnerships are on the horizon, and we can’t wait to reveal what’s next.”
