Hertunba. From simple silhouettes to global power dressing, we are here for everything Hertunba is morphing into.
In the bustling, fast-moving landscape of Nigerian fashion, few brands have captured the modern African elegance, and Hertunba comes top on that list.
Hertunba didn’t explode onto the scene with her designs; we’ve experienced her growth in real time. What began with a deeply personal promise – to craft sophisticated, confidence-boosting womenswear – is becoming a force with a deeply rooted Nigerian heartbeat.
Launched in 2020 by the visionary designer Florentina Agu, the brand’s name itself, derived from a powerful merge of “Her” and the Yoruba honorific Otunba (loosely translated into the right side of the king – meaning a person of distinction and influence), tells you everything you need to know about its mission.
Their process, built on these three pillars, evident in the designs, is laying the groundwork for their status as a conscious, contemporary force.
Sustainability: Hertunba adopts a near-zero waste model. The brand produces pieces in small batches and ensures that up to 90% of textile offcuts and production excesses find new life and are repurposed into handcrafted, stunning patchwork wearable art.
Cultural Preservation through Reimagined Heritage Fabrics. Hertunba champions ancestral Nigerian craftsmanship. The brand works with hand-woven textiles like Akwete, traditionally crafted by women in Abia State, and Aso Oke in contemporary silhouettes where traditional fabrics are cut into sleek suits, dramatic drop-waist gowns, and architectural bodices. This is cultural preservation.
Meticulous Local Craftsmanship: Every Hertunba piece is meticulously crafted in their Lagos atelier. The brand is deeply committed to supporting and empowering local artisans, including their weavers, threaders, and tailors. They provide tailored training and fair compensation. This commitment ensures that the story and skill of Nigerian hands are literally woven into every garment.
This quiet confidence culminated in a spectacular show at their outing at the recent Lagos Fashion Week (LFW) 2025. Hertunba unveiled a standout collection. The sculptural shapes and movement seen in the sculpted corsetry and the fluidity evident in layered ruffles and flowing skirts created a wave-like sway.
They explored texture with intricately hand-threaded fringe into their signature Akwete fabric pieces and cowries embellished into body-hugging pieces with colours grounded in sophisticated neutrals.
Intentional, sustainable, and rooted in heritage. Hertunba is proving that the future of global elegance is being woven, stitch by conscious stitch, right here in Lagos, Nigeria.
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