South African singer Tyla, recently made headlines with a bold fashion moment of her own. In an Instagram Reel shared in early May 2025, the 21-year-old Grammy winner, walked confidently in a bespoke ensemble by Nigerian designer Tolu Coker.
Tyla’s flowing printed dress was a vibrant fusion of modern chic and African heritage. The outfit featured a structured bodice and a full skirt covered in eye-catching graphics – reminiscent of Tolu Coker’s signature style – that paid playful homage to Nigerian cinema culture and bold ’60s-inspired patterns.
Designer Spotlight: Tolu Coker
Tolu Coker is a British-Nigerian fashion designer and artist based in London, known for blending artisanal craft with cutting-edge design. A graduate of Central Saint Martins (class of 2018), she launched her eponymous label the same year.
Coker’s collections draw on Yoruba heritage and diasporic identity, often featuring vibrant prints, hand-crafted details and unisex silhouettes. Vogue noted her 2025 fall collection “Ori” (Yoruba for “head”) as a “dignified act of reclamation and celebration,” with crisp white shirt-dresses and whimsical graphics that “sat somewhere between poppy ’60s prints and ankara cloth”. The brands’ runway shows are theatrical and artful – models strut in layered pieces with bold colors, oversized proportions and multimedia elements – all underscoring Coker’s theme of heritage as high fashion.
Coker herself describes her recent LVMH Prize semifinal nod as an achievement not just for her, but for the whole community of African creatives: “these stories, this heritage, this craftsmanship – it is luxury,” she explained.
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Tolu Coker’s runway show blends bold African prints with avant-garde tailoring (London Fashion Week AW25). The Nigerian-born designer often merges heritage textiles and artful graphics in her collections.
A Pan-African Moment on the Global Stage
Tyla’s choice to wear Tolu Coker highlights the growing visibility of African talent in international fashion. Industry observers note that designers across Africa – from Nigeria’s Kenneth Ize to South Africa’s Lukhanyo Mdingi and Thebe Magugu – are fusing tradition with modern luxury and earning global collaborations.
For example, Nigeria’s Kenneth Ize recently partnered with fashion house Karl Lagerfeld, showcasing Aso-Oke weaving to the world, and Thebe Magugu won the LVMH Prize with his Afro-inspired couture. In this context, a South African pop star proudly sporting a London-made, Nigerian-designed dress is more than a style statement – it’s a symbol of unity and creative exchange.
