There are few names in Nigerian fashion that carry the quiet authority of Lanre Da Silva. For two decades, the designer, known simply as LDA, has built a brand that is both timeless and modern, merging old-world glamour with contemporary edge. Her clothes have graced red carpets, global runways, and the wardrobes of women who understand that style isn’t about trends, it’s about attitude.
A Passion That Chose Her
Lanre didn’t set out to be a designer. With a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Coventry University and a Master’s in Finance from the University of Leicester, her early ambitions were corporate. But destiny had its own design. “I loved fashion long before I realised it could become a career,” she once said. “I used to shop for vintage pieces in London — lace, tulle, embroidery — and it fascinated me how something old could still feel powerful.” That fascination became her foundation. When she launched LDA in 2005, her debut pieces channelled the glamour of 1940s couture — nipped waists, voluminous skirts, and unapologetic femininity. It was nostalgic yet fresh, an ode to classic craftsmanship reimagined for the modern African woman.
Her vision was simple but profound: to create clothes that bridge the past and the present. And in doing so, she reintroduced Lagos to the enduring magic of elegance.
Building an Empire, One Seam at a Time
In the beginning, couture in Nigeria was a dream that often collided with reality. Skilled pattern-makers were few, supply chains unreliable, and quality materials came at a price. Lanre faced all of it head-on.
“There were times I was truly fed up,” she recalls, “when things weren’t going smoothly. But I endured a little longer, and behold, there was light at the end of the tunnel.”
That persistence birthed a brand built on excellence. LDA grew from a small atelier to a full-fledged fashion house. Her clientele expanded quickly: women who wanted clothes that spoke before they did.
Through the interplay of pattern, print, texture, and traditional fabrics, Lanre developed her distinct signature — one that was unmistakably African, yet cosmopolitan. The LDA woman became a cultural archetype: sophisticated, intelligent, and bold — confident enough to make an entrance and graceful enough to own it.
The World Takes Notice
In 2012, Franca Sozzani, the late Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, and Italian designer Roberto Cavalli visited Nigeria and made a point to stop by LDA’s flagship boutique. That meeting opened doors. Shortly after, Lanre was invited to showcase a capsule collection during Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week under the United Nations’ Fashion 4 Development initiative — an event honouring Sozzani’s humanitarian work. It was a career-defining moment.
“I’ll never forget that experience,” Lanre said later. “It reminded me that what we create here can speak to the world.”
The international spotlight followed. LDA was featured in L’Uomo Vogue’s “Rebranding Africa” issue, spotlighting designers changing the global narrative. Her collection was also launched on Yoox.com’s “Discovered in Africa by Vogue Italia” platform, making her one of the first African designers to sell globally through a major fashion e-commerce site.
Then came Milan. In 2013, Lanre’s Butterfly Kisses collection debuted at Dolce & Gabbana’s Spiga 2 Concept Store — the Italian brand’s curated retail space for new design talent. For four consecutive seasons, LDA’s pieces were sold alongside the biggest names in luxury fashion.
For a designer who started with sketches on her living room floor in Lagos, it was nothing short of history.
Rooted in Lagos, Resonating Worldwide
Despite her global reach, Lanre has never abandoned her Lagos roots. Her studio remains a hive of creativity — tailors cutting, beading, stitching — all under her watchful eye. She knows every fabric, every finish, every hem. “I’ve learned that Nigerians are willing to pay for value,” she said in a recent interview. “If they see quality and authenticity, they’ll support it.”
That authenticity defines her work. Each collection reflects a deliberate balance between nostalgia and innovation, between structure and softness. Whether it’s the architectural gowns she’s known for or her more fluid ready-to-wear pieces, Lanre’s clothes always tell a story, one of craftsmanship, confidence, and cultural pride.
Over the years, she’s shown at Arise Fashion Week, GTBank Fashion Weekend, Lagos Fashion Week, Pitti Immagine in Florence, and Vogue Talents Milan, among others. Her collaborations with Vlisco on collections like Urban Beat, Gallery of Poems, and Trésor Brillant further established her as a designer capable of translating African textile traditions into high-fashion artistry.
The LDA Woman
Ask anyone to describe an LDA woman, and you’ll hear the same words: sophisticated, radiant, and impossible to ignore. She’s not trying to fit in; she already belongs.
For Lanre, design has always been about the woman first. “When a woman wears LDA,” she says, “she should feel powerful and beautiful. I design for women who want to look good and stand out, women who want their clothes to say something before they even speak.”
That philosophy has made her a go-to for celebrities, first ladies, and discerning fashion lovers. From glamorous red carpets to intimate soirées, the LDA woman is always a step ahead, dressed not just in beauty but in confidence.
A Renaissance of Ideas
As she celebrates two decades in fashion, Lanre is again reinventing herself — and the industry. Her new initiative, The LDA Runway Renaissance, is a creative platform dedicated to mentorship, sustainability, and collaboration. “The launch of this platform was inspired by the next frontier of fashion,” she explains. “It’s about creating consciously and working together to strengthen our industry.”
Through Runway Renaissance, she’s nurturing emerging designers, fostering local craftsmanship, and advocating for a more responsible approach to fashion production. For Lanre, this is the natural next step — to give back to an industry she helped shape.
Timelessness Over Trend
If there’s one thing that defines LDA, it’s her relationship with time. Her pieces aren’t designed to chase the moment; they’re designed to outlive it. In her 2024 presentation, Eternal Glamour, she asked a simple question: “Is fashion seasonal, or can it last longer if we are more conscious?” The answer lay in the collection itself — clothes that transcended fleeting trends, merging craftsmanship with intention. Every detail, every cut, every shade of colour was a reminder that longevity is the ultimate luxury.
A Legacy in Motion
Lanre Da Silva has built a brand that embodies excellence, established global relevance without losing its roots, and mentored a generation of designers who now see her as both muse and mentor. Her success is not measured in seasons, but in influence — in how her vision continues to shape the way we see African luxury. “Fashion changes,” she says with a smile, “but style endures. The only thing constant in life is change — and you must be brave enough to evolve with it.”
That quiet courage — to adapt, to stay curious, to keep creating — is what has kept LDA at the forefront of Nigerian fashion for twenty years.
Two Decades of Style and Sisterhood
Two decades after her debut collection, Lanre Da Silva Ajayi’s name still evokes the same admiration it did when she first burst onto the scene. Her gowns continue to turn heads, her shows remain among the most anticipated of fashion season, and her story continues to inspire.
As she looks back on twenty years of creativity and courage, Lanre isn’t done; she’s just getting started. The next chapter promises even more colour, more innovation, and more magic. Because for her, fashion has never been about the moment. It’s about legacy.
And that legacy is best captured in this week’s cover image — Lanre surrounded by 21 women who have inspired her journey. Her muses. Her sisters in style. Together, they represent two decades of friendship, creativity, and faith in fashion’s power to transform. Because LDA has never been about one woman, it has always been a celebration of the women who wear it, live it, and bring it to life.
