Date of Submission
Spring 5-12-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Architecture
Department
Architecture
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Ameen Farooq
Abstract
Ilé Ìdásílẹ̀ Aṣọ directly translates to “House of Cloth Creation”. Yoruba fashion is more than attire; it is a cultural system that encodes identity, resilience, and social belonging through fabric. Every textile from the indigo-dyed adire of Osogbo to the ceremonial aso-oke woven in Abeokuta carries a story of community, heritage, and continuity. These materials serve not merely as garments but as living archives that express the Yoruba worldview through color, pattern, and form. Just as fashion weaves meaning into cloth, architecture can weave culture into space. Both disciplines involve composition, layering, and adaptation, reflecting how societies construct and express identity. This thesis therefore proposes that Lagos be reimagined as a fashion-informed city, where urban and architectural spaces act as conduits to “dress” the city and its people. This proposition emerges from an understanding that fashion in Lagos is both a cultural and economic driver. Scholars such as Oyeniyi and Oladejo show that Yoruba fashion connects art, commerce, and social interaction. Markets like Balogun and Tejuosho and creative hubs across Yaba and Surulere demonstrate the city’s role as a vibrant center for textile production and tailoring. Yet, despite this creative energy, many young and underprivileged designers lack access to affordable workspaces, resources, and visibility. This thesis argues that architecture can bridge this divide by providing physical and social infrastructures for making, collaboration, and learning. Drawing from Yoruba fashion principles such as adaptability, layering, weaving, and customization the project proposes an architectural system that mirrors the processes of textile creation. The adaptability of aso-oke weaving reflects spatial flexibility; the layering of iro and buba translates into multi-programmed environments; and the tailoring of cloth becomes a metaphor for modular construction. These principles guide the creation of an interconnected ecosystem across Lagos: market halls for fabric trade, workshops for weaving and tailoring, cultural galleries for heritage preservation, plazas for fashion performances and gatherings, and educational and residential spaces that nurture young designers. Each component acts as a thread in a broader urban fabric that strengthens Lagos’s identity as a fashion capital. The thesis situates this system within Lagos’s dynamic cultural landscape, where informal economies coexist with global ambitions. Fashion is already one of the city’s strongest cultural exports, shaping tourism, entertainment, and urban identity. By integrating Yoruba textile traditions into architectural and urban design, Lagos can redefine itself as a city that wears its culture proudly. This vision supports the development of fashion tourism, encouraging local and international visitors to experience Yoruba creativity through marketplaces, exhibitions, and festivals, while boosting local economies and global recognition. Central to this proposition is accessibility. Fashion should not be a privilege but a collective cultural right. By creating spaces that empower underprivileged designers through shared resources, mentorship, and education, the project transforms fashion into an inclusive practice of making and belonging. Architecture, in this sense, becomes a social fabric that connects people, culture, and economy. Through Yoruba textile logic, Lagos can be tailored into a living garment: dynamic, expressive, and inclusive global city that wears its heritage as its identity.