Within an increasingly competitive and dynamic global fashion industry, designers are exploring new ways to preserve cultural heritage while moving with current fashion trends. Temiloluwa Esther Fagbemi is among those contributing to this evolving conversation as the founder of MBW Fashion Addict, an independent African-inspired brand established in 2019.
Fagbemi’s journey in fashion brings together her formal training, independent brand development, collection creation and participation in fashion platforms across the Nigeria and the United Kingdom. At MBW Fashion Addict, she creates ready to wear designs inspired by African aesthetics, with her collections showing the style and ideas behind the brand.
Her design foundation was established through a Diploma in Fashion Design at GMYT Fashion Academy in 2020. She followed this with a Master of Arts in Fashion at Nottingham Trent University, graduating in 2023. This postgraduate training offered a clear setting to build on her creative work and engage with the broader UK fashion landscape.
As part of her academic journey, Fagbemi’s MA Fashion graduating collection was selected for presentation at a London exhibition through Nottingham Trent University. The opportunity provided a platform for her work to be presented beyond the classroom and introduced her designs to an audience within a broader fashion and creative setting.
Fagbemi established MBW FashionAddict in 2019 with a focus on African inspired fashion. Over time, the brand has developed a collection based approach, presenting clothing that includes dresses, two piece outfits, palazzo and short sets, as well as other ready to wear designs. The brand’s online platform showcases its collections, including The Queen Energy Collection, The Omolara Collection and The New Harmattan Collection.
One of the brand’s notable collections is The Queen Energy Collection, which was showcased at Afro Fashion Show Manchester earlier in the year. Its presentation at a UK fashion event provided an opportunity for Fagbemi to engage with a wider audience and demonstrate her approach to African inspired contemporary fashion.
In recognition of her work within the fashion and creative industries, Fagbemi received the Sustainable Fashion Designer of the Year award at the African Fashion & Arts Awards 2025, an event that held last week friday, on the 5th of December 2025. The recognition forms part of her professional record and reflects an award associated with her work as a fashion designer.
Fagbemi’s fashion enterprise also expanded through the establishment of MBW FashionAddict Limited in the United Kingdom in May 2025. The formation of the UK company represents an additional stage in the development of her fashion business and complements her existing connection to the UK fashion environment, which includes her postgraduate education and participation in exhibitions and fashion showcases.
Through MBW FashionAddict, Fagbemi continues to develop a fashion identity that brings together African inspired design and contemporary ready to wear clothing. Her work spans fashion education, independent entrepreneurship, collection development, runway presentations and fashion media coverage, creating a professional profile that extends across creative and commercial settings.
As MBW FashionAddict continues to grow, Fagbemi’s work demonstrates her interest in connecting African inspired fashion with contemporary consumer preferences and international fashion platforms. The continued development of her collections, commercial activities, industry collaborations and independent recognition will remain important to the next stage of her career as a fashion designer and business owner.
