A clothing design entrepreneur is spearheading plans to stage an annual Hull Fashion Week.
Seguntuyi Onakoya, the founder and Creative Director of fashion brand HOUSEOFTUYI – which blends cultural storytelling with contemporary design – has outlined his bold vision for the event.
Since moving to the UK from Nigeria in 2022 to complete a master’s degree in Advertising and Marketing at the University of Hull, Seguntuyi has embedded himself in the region’s creative scene.
Now, the 28-year-old setting his sights on transforming Hull into a northern hub for fashion, culture and community.
The proposed Hull Fashion Week is being planned for May or June 2026 and aims to be a landmark event celebrating local talent and global heritage.
Seguntuyi is currently working with Hull City Council to develop the framework and secure investment for the project. The aim is to position Hull Fashion Week as a flagship annual event, comparable in ambition to London Fashion Week.
“The dream is for people to eventually look at Hull Fashion Week the way they look at London Fashion Week,” said Seguntuyi.
“We want to draw national attention to Hull and the wider Yorkshire region. This is about more than fashion – it’s about culture, creativity and economic growth.”
Seguntuyi’s vision is inclusive and community-led. Hull Fashion Week will provide a platform not only for designers but for a wide range of creative professionals – from photographers and stylists to hairdressers and make-up artists.
Students from the University of Hull and Hull College will also be invited to showcase their graduation collections, offering valuable real-world exposure and a boost to their creative CVs.
“Hull Fashion Week will be about people and stories,” said Seguntuyi. “It will celebrate the cultural threads that run through this city, from migrants to makers, students to small businesses.”
This vision of inclusivity and representation is also at the heart of House of HOUSEOFTUYI, which was originally launched in Nigeria in 2018.
The brand specialises in clothing that speaks to cultural identity – featuring symbols, motifs and patterns that resonate with people from diverse backgrounds.
“The clothing tells a story,” Seguntuyi explained. “It’s about cultural interpretation and identity, whether you’re from Pakistan, Nigeria, or Yorkshire.”
Following a successful pop-up sale in July 2024 and runway show at Hull’s Ferens Art Gallery in January this year – which over 150 guests attended – HOUSEOFTUYI is set to host its next showcase on Saturday, June 21. The event, taking place at Princes Quay shopping centre from 11am to 4pm, will feature designs from six independent labels and is free to attend.
“This is more than a sales event,” said Seguntuyi. “It’s about building a community of designers and giving fashion a new home in Hull.”
Seguntuyi’s efforts are beginning to generate attention from local retailers, with conversations underway to stock HOUSEOFTUYI clothing in regional outlets. The brand is also evolving toward bespoke collections, including wedding attire and custom designs, supported by a team of five spanning Hull and Nigeria.
Seguntuyi is currently teaching Fashion and Design part-time to children at Hull’s Astra Youth Centre, which acts as a pathway to Fashion courses at Hull College. He believes the city has untapped potential when it comes to original fashion design.
“Hull is a city that loves fashion, but it lacks independent designers and home-grown brands,” he said. “There’s a real opportunity to fill that gap, create jobs and change perceptions about what this city can offer.”
Seguntuyi’s personal journey into fashion began at school in Nigeria, where he sold handmade garments to friends, inspired by his sharply dressed, lawyer father.
“I’ve always known what I wanted to do,” he said. “And that’s work in fashion.”
He credits his time at the University of Hull for giving him the marketing insight to grow HOUSEOFTUYI internationally, but his ambitions remain firmly tied to his local roots.
“Hull welcomed me, and now I want to give something back,” he said. “Fashion can be a tool for regeneration, for representation, for change.”
Seguntuyi is now calling for local businesses, creatives and supporters who want to help make Hull Fashion Week a reality to get in touch and play their part.
Councillor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure at Hull City Council, said: “There’s incredible talent in our city and it was a huge privilege to take Seguntuyi and other designers to BusinessWeek recently.
“We’re now working in partnership with Seguntuyi to develop a plan for Hull Fashion Week, starting with the pop-up event in June. Very exciting!”
For more information about the plans for Hull Fashion Week, or to get involved, contact Seguntuyi at houseoftuyi@gmail.com
