Emerging Independent
Emmy Kasbit
Self-taught Emmanuel Okoro studied computer science in Calabar before founding Emmy Kasbit in 2014 around the Akwete cloth of his Igbo hometown in Abia State. The handwoven striped textile becomes precise menswear suiting and elegant womenswear pieces, returning royalties to the cooperative weavers. Winner of the 2018 Lagos Fashion Focus Fund and Vogue Italia's 2020 Scouting for Africa Initiative, the label opened Lagos Fashion Week 2025.
Timeline4
2014—2021·7 yrs
- 2014
Founded by Emmanuel Okoro
Emmanuel Okoro founds Emmy Kasbit in Lagos, building a menswear label that draws on Akwete weaving from southeastern Nigeria.
- 2017
Lagos Fashion Week Debut
Emmy Kasbit presents at Lagos Fashion Week, becoming a critical voice in modern Nigerian menswear.
- 2019
GTBank Fashion Weekend Win
Emmy Kasbit wins the GTBank Fashion Weekend competition, validating his work with traditional Akwete textiles.
- 2021
International Showcase
The brand begins showing at international platforms like Pitti Uomo, amplifying African menswear on global stages.
