Qasimi Rising, Now Q Rising, Unveils Mentorship Candidates With Lagos Fashion Week

LONDON — Qasimi Rising, the fashion incubator that stems from the fashion label Qasimi, is now known simply as Q Rising.

The rebrand came in conjunction with the announcement of the eight mentorship candidates with Lagos Fashion Week, which runs until Sunday.

The shortlisted brands included Abiola Olusol, Oshobor, Pepper Row and Y’Wandelag from Nigeria, Ghanaian fashion brands Ajabeng and Boyedoe, Kente Gentlemen from Ivory Coast, and LilaBare from Kenya.

As part of a partnership aimed at showcasing and promoting emerging designers and creatives throughout Africa, Q Rising will help Lagos Fashion Week identify designer talents and offer them a place in the 2026 incubation lineup. An awards gala will take place that year to reveal the winner.

“By offering mentorship and resources, we hope to cultivate a new wave of designers whose work reflects both their local heritage and a broader global narrative,” said Hoor Al Qasimi, who is now leading the brand that her late twin brother, Khalid, founded in 2015.

“Through this partnership, we aim to highlight the region’s untapped potential by providing a platform for emerging designers to express their unique perspectives. This collaboration is about fostering long-term growth and ensuring that these talents receive the support they need to thrive on a global stage,” she added.

On Friday and Saturday, Q Rising will host workshops and talks with the designers on subjects spanning the African fashion industry, sustainability, digital fashion, community building, and how fashion can be a catalyst for change.

A monthlong residency at luxury retailer Temple Muse will also commence on Friday to showcase the work of current Q Rising winner Omer Asim alongside Qasimi collections.

Every three years Q Rising offers chosen designers three years of funding, along with an additional seven years of mentoring.

Over the course of the mentorship, participants have access to Qasimi’s resources, including a coworking space and studio, as well as production, product development, merchandising, marketing and business function support from industry experts.

For the first edition of Qasimi Rising, which was unveiled last year, the brand picked emerging designers Omer Asim from Sudan and Salim Azzam from Lebanon as winners. Their creations were featured during Qasimi’s spring 2024 presentation in London.