MBW Couture at London Fashion Week: A New Season of Strength, Identity, and Couture
This February, MBW FashionAddict brings a powerful new voice to London Fashion Week, presenting The New Harmattan on February 19 at St John’s, Hyde Park. The presentation, produced in collaboration with Fashion Week and the City and Paris Runway Official, marks a defining moment for the brand... one that blends cultural storytelling with modern couture on an international stage. The founder, Temiloluwa Fagbemi, is bringing her Autumn/Winter 2026 Collection Debut to one of the largest runway shows in the world - known as the big 4 - London Fashion Week.
Titled The New Harmattan, the collection is inspired by autumn as a season of transformation... quiet, deliberate, and deeply powerful. Much like the Harmattan wind, which carries change across landscapes, the designs explore transition through layered textures, sculptural ruffles, and fluid silhouettes. Rich, earthy tones echo nature in motion, while structured forms soften into organic movement. Rooted in African heritage yet reimagined through a contemporary couture lens, the collection celebrates duality: strength and softness, structure and flow, tradition and evolution.
Past season drawings of MBW - from visual, to sketches - to life
At its heart, The New Harmattan is a tribute to modern African womanhood. It speaks to women who are confident in their bodies, fearless in their presence, and unapologetic about their roots. Cultural identity is translated not through literal references, but through intention through form, craftsmanship, and emotion allowing tradition to move boldly into the future.
The collection showcases meticulous couture techniques, with fabrics such as silk crepe, organza, chiffon, and velvet chosen for their ability to move, drape, and command space. Corsetry, hand-gathering, layered construction, sculptural ruffles, and 3D appliqué create garments that feel both powerful and personal. Every piece is hand-finished, carefully draped, and thoughtfully constructed, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to intentional design over mass production. Subtle African aesthetics are woven into the work through color, silhouette, and presence without reliance on traditional prints... creating a refined dialogue between heritage and contemporary fashion.
Based in Nottingham, the designer draws inspiration from the city’s rich textile history and quiet creative confidence, which informs a deep respect for craftsmanship and detail. While the UK shapes the discipline of the work, African culture remains the soul of the brand... blended seamlessly with British fashion sensibilities to create designs that feel rooted, global, and emotionally resonant.
Inclusivity and empowerment are central to MBW FashionAddict’s identity. The brand champions diversity across size, shape, and identity, creating garments that are not only worn but felt. On the runway, the designer’s greatest reward comes from witnessing transformation... the moment when a model steps into a garment and carries herself differently, embodying confidence, pride, and power. The runway becomes a living narrative, where empowerment is not spoken, but seen.
Following the show, The New Harmattan will be available exclusively online via the brand’s website and social media platforms, offered on a custom-made, made-to-order basis. Each piece is created with care and individuality, reinforcing the belief that fashion should be personal, intentional, and deeply connected to the wearer.
Looking ahead, MBW FashionAddict envisions a future defined by global presence and purposeful storytelling. With aspirations to present at Paris Fashion Week and beyond, the brand seeks to challenge traditional beauty standards, expand inclusive representation, and position fashion as a powerful vehicle for cultural pride and self-expression.
Grounded in a deeply personal journey... from childhood experiences of exclusion to learning garment-making by hand, inspired by a seamstress mother - the brand was born from a desire to create what was once missing: clothing that empowers, includes, and truly sees women. This season, the designer extends heartfelt gratitude to her family, and to Fashion Week and the City alongside Paris Runway Official for the opportunity to share this vision on a global platform.
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