For spring 2026, Ghanaian founder and creative director David Kusi Boye-Doe returned to the Lagos Fashion Week schedule for the second time, bringing his fresh take on upcycled streetwear to the Nigerian metropolis. As the saying goes, one man’s waste is another man’s treasure, and Boyedoe has quickly built a reputation for turning textile scraps into desirable garments. It’s a move that earned the five-year-old brand a place on this year’s LVMH Prize semi-finalists list.
Titled “Paradise Regained,” this collection was composed entirely of upcycled garments and exuded a level of tailoring and craftsmanship that many would not expect from secondhand goods. “I want people to see [these garments] and wonder how many days it took to create,” Boye-Doe said. “That wondering excites me as a designer.” Indeed, some pieces took about three months to make, including a multicolored patchwork skirt constructed from tiny pieces of fabric, he said. For Boye-Doe, the true marker of a success is being able to create something unique on the market, while pushing the boundaries of our collective imagination, particularly for sustainable fashion.
Sourcing the majority of his material from Ghana’s Kantamanto market, one of the biggest secondhand clothing markets in Africa, Boye-Doe wanted to create a collection that “speaks to the soul,” he said, adding that “more is more, especially when it comes to upcycling.” Key silhouettes included a colorful, patchwork cropped top and matching skirts, as well as a floor-length denim trench, paired with a two-tone denim vest and matching mini skirt.
As the collection title suggests, inspiration came from John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Regained.” Towards the end of the collection, Boye-Doe appeared to present his own version of paradise, one that is bright and defiant.
