Backstage at Fashion Week is a world of its own, an orchestra of chaos and beauty that plays out differently in every city. In Milan, it’s the click of stilettos echoing off marble floors as models rush from one show to another. In London, the energy feels raw and edgy, with stylists pinning punk-inspired looks under the hum of fluorescent lights. Paris? Paris is theatre, champagne in one hand, safety pins in the other, as elegance is crafted in the middle of madness.
And then there’s Lagos. The heat, the laughter, the heartbeat of Afrobeats pulsing through the walls as makeup artists powder brows and designers adjust Ankara prints with trembling hands. The air is thick, not just with hairspray, but with ambition. Power generators hum in the background, volunteers dart around with trays of water, and designers whisper prayers that their bold, culture-infused pieces will land as strongly as they dreamed. Here, backstage feels less like a room and more like a movement—where grit, creativity, and culture collide in a storm before spilling onto the runway.
From Milan to Lagos, one truth remains: the real show doesn’t just happen under the lights. It happens behind the curtain.
The Call Time Rush
It begins hours before showtime. Models arrive, coffee in hand, dragging suitcases stuffed with essentials. In Lagos, some come straight from casting calls across the city, hair tied up and phones buzzing with directions. Hair and makeup stations are already buzzing brushes, blow dryers, and beauty palettes flying everywhere. A makeup artist hums along to Burna boy as she blends foundation, while another stylist fights humidity with industrial-strength hairspray. The air is electric, a mix of sweat, perfume, and raw energy.
Racks, Lineups, and Last-Minute Fixes
Rows of clothes hang like prized artwork, each tagged with a model’s name. Bold African prints, flowing silks, sequins, and contemporary streetwear sit side by side, ready to tell the story of modern fashion. Lineup cards are taped to the wall, dictating who wears what and when. But nothing is final until it hits the runway. A zipper snaps, and a seamstress crouches on the floor, needle in hand, fixing it while the model waits. In Lagos, it’s not unusual for a designer to grab safety pins or even improvise with a strip of kente fabric to save a look. Perfection often comes together in the very last second.
The Nerve-Wracking Countdown
As showtime nears, the mood changes. The music cues echo from the stage, often a playlist of Afrobeats and highlife that sets the tone. Models line up, shoulders back, eyes forward. Designers pace, some clutching measuring tapes, others whispering final prayers under their breath. Assistants crouch at the ready, fastening sandals, straightening headwraps, or adjusting earrings the size of saucers. Everyone holds their breath until that first model steps into the lights.
Quick Changes: Organized Chaos
Once the show begins, backstage turns into a battlefield. Models rush off the runway and are instantly surrounded. Dressers yank off jackets, swap skirts, and re-tie elaborate headpieces in seconds. Someone fixes a smudged lipstick while another adjusts a beaded necklace. In Lagos, quick changes are even trickier, some outfits are layered with beads, feathers, or intricate wraps that take teamwork to undo and redo. And yet, somehow, in less than 30 seconds, a model is transformed and sent striding back out, flawless.
The Applause
The moment the last model walks, time slows again. The designer finally smiles, wiping tears or collapsing into hugs. Teams cheer, exhausted but triumphant, while models exchange laughter and selfies before the makeup wipes come out. Out front, the applause is thunderous. Backstage, it’s quieter but deeply satisfying, a collective exhale, knowing they pulled off the impossible once again.
Fashion Week may last just minutes on the runway, but behind the scenes it’s a marathon of creativity, teamwork, and resilience. In Milan, in Paris, and especially in Lagos, the grit is what makes the glamour possible. The audience sees the shine, but backstage is where the true story unfolds—a story of sweat, struggle, improvisation, and triumph. Together, they make the magic possible.
