Everyone knows Abeokuta for Olumo Rock and a lot of history, but here’s what I didn’t see coming: the city’s quietly becoming this fashion education hotspot. These schools are different. They’re not just teaching you how to thread a needle and call it a day. We’re talking full-blown fashion entrepreneurship, digital marketing for designers, the whole nine yards. They figured out that being a great seamstress isn’t enough anymore, you gotta be a businessperson too.
The whole landscape has shifted. Fashion used to be about measuring tape and needlework. Period. But now? It’s this massive creative industry where your Instagram game matters as much as your stitching skills. Where branding can make or break you. Where innovation isn’t just nice to have; it’s survival.
5 Best Fashion Schools In Abeokuta
1. Belart Institute Of Fashion and Technology
2. Phumies Couture and Fashion Institute, Abeokuta
3. Treasured Fashion Academy
4. Calebella Designs & Fashion Institute
5. Fúnmi Àrà Fashion Institute
Best Fashion Schools In Abeokuta
So I’ve been researching, asking around, and talking to people who’ve actually been through these programs. Here’s what I found. Five fashion schools in Abeokuta that are doing something special.
1. Belart Institute Of Fashion and Technology
This place… man, they don’t mess around. If you’re one of those people who dreams about starting their own fashion line and really making it, Belart gets it. They’re all about that entrepreneurship angle, and it shows in everything they do. What caught my attention is how they structure their approach. Students aren’t just sitting in classrooms taking notes about color theory. They’re putting on actual fashion shows. Like, real ones with lights and music and everything. They’re sketching designs that could work on runways, learning how to price their stuff so they don’t go broke in the first month.
The training covers pattern drafting, which, let’s be honest, is where a lot of people give up because it’s technical and kind of boring at first. But they also do fashion illustration, which is the fun part that keeps you motivated. And then there’s the business side. How to turn those sketches into actual, sellable pieces that people will pay good money for. The students seem happy. Their reviews are glowing, especially about the hands-on experience and how the fashion shows boost their confidence because, at the end of the day, that’s what matters.
Plus, they do ongoing enrollment, so you don’t have to wait around for some arbitrary September start date if you’re ready to jump in tomorrow. Their customer support apparently doesn’t leave you hanging either. Have you tried calling some schools lately? It’s refreshing.
Location: No. 4 Adedoyin Street, Asero Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun
2. Phumies Couture and Fashion Institute, Abeokuta
This one’s interesting because they’re into something bigger than fashion education. Community stuff. Social impact. For example, they partnered with The Radiating Church to do these free workshops. Free! Two weeks of hands-on fashion design training, business education, and even help connecting people with funding opportunities.
But here’s what’s really cool about their setup: they do more than sewing. They’ve got hairdressing programs, spa services, grooming, and all kinds of beauty stuff happening under one roof. So if you’re there learning fashion design, you’re also seeing how the whole beauty and fashion ecosystem works together. You’re meeting hairdressers who might collaborate with you on shoots. Spa people who understand the luxury market might be to target. That’s actually pretty smart business-wise.
Their fashion curriculum hits the practical stuff hard. Mass tailoring is huge if you want to make money. Ready-to-wear fashion, because not everyone can afford bespoke. Bridal wear, because Nigerian weddings are basically economic events at this point.
They’ll also help you get certified through NABTEB, which matters more than people think. Having that official credential opens doors in Nigeria’s fashion scene that might otherwise stay closed.
Location: 29 Ake Rd, Ijemo, Abeokuta, Ogun
3. Treasured Fashion Academy
In today’s world, where everyone’s juggling ten different things, flexibility is really necessary. That’s what Treasured Family Academy offers. Three months if you already know some stuff and just want to level up. Five months if you’re starting from absolute zero. Part-time options if you’re trying to balance a day job or family stuff. They get that not everyone can drop everything and become a full-time student.
The curriculum, though it’s well detailed. Like, really detailed in a way that makes you think they sat down and thought about what people need to know. Beginners start with garment construction; the foundation stuff that you absolutely cannot skip. Draping which is where you start to understand how fabric behaves on actual human bodies. Hip enhancement techniques which is a skill that’ll never go out of style in Nigerian fashion. Fashion illustration gets its own focus because being able to communicate your ideas visually is huge. You can have the most amazing concept in your head, but if you can’t sketch it out for a client or a manufacturer, you’re stuck.
Intermediate students get into the really specialized stuff. Corsetry! Luxury aso ebi work, because that market is absolutely booming. Streetwear, because the youth market is where a lot of the innovation is happening right now.
What I like is that they’re not just teaching you technique, they’re teaching you to think like a designer. To understand why you’re making certain construction choices, not just how to make them. And the business integration? Beading and embellishment work, quality control processes, branding strategy, all of it woven into the technical training.
Location: Atonda Solanke closet, Olorunsogo Iyana Mortuary junction, Abeokuta, Ogun.
4. Calebella Designs & Fashion Institute
Okay, this one’s got a story that gives me chills. Victoria Oladipo Oluwaseun started this place after switching careers from Environmental Management and Toxicology. Sometimes that outside perspective is exactly what an industry needs. She’s been at this for over a decade now, and the alumni success stories keep growing. People are starting their own brands, getting jobs with major fashion houses, and teaching at other schools. That kind of track record doesn’t happen by accident.
Nine months of training. That’s not playing around, and it’s not for people who want quick fixes. Those nine months are intense in the best possible way. Technical skills, sure, but also real projects with real deadlines. Exams that test whether you understand the material. Business training that prepares you for the realities of running a fashion business in Nigeria. They’re trying to graduate what they call “fashionpreneurs.” I kind of love that word because it captures something important, being good at design isn’t enough anymore. It is now necessary to understand marketing, pricing, supply chains, customer service, and social media. All of it.
The mentorship approach is what gets me through. Calebella, first off, understands that people learn differently, they process information at different speeds, have different strengths and blind spots, that’s why it tailors (pun intended) the support to each student instead of using some one-size-fits-all approach.
The government partnerships are expanding their reach beyond Abeokuta, which is a smart positioning. And there’s talk of a Calebella University of Fashion. A whole university dedicated to fashion education! In Nigeria, that would be absolutely groundbreaking.
Location: Kemta housing estate, Abeokuta, Ogun
5. Fúnmi Àrà Fashion Institute
This place feels more traditional in some ways, but not in a bad way. More like, they respect the craft. They understand that there are certain fundamentals you simply cannot skip, certain techniques that have been proven over decades. They use the Natalie Bray method for pattern-making– I looked that up and discovered it’s a globally respected approach that’s used in top fashion schools around the world. So, here, you’re learning techniques that would be recognized anywhere.
Beginner to advanced classes, so they’ve got a range for wherever you’re starting from. The garment construction training covers all the technical stuff you need. Business strategy gets its own focus because they understand that talent without business sense usually leads to beautiful, broke designers. Fabric embellishment work is huge here, which makes sense given how much Nigerian fashion relies on creative textile work. You’re not only learning how to sew but also learning to transform basic fabrics into something special.
It’s unique for its emphasis on design aesthetics and fashion illustration, which just shows that they want you to be able to express your creativity fully, not just execute someone else’s vision. The learning environment sounds professional but nurturing. Like they’ll push you to excellence but not break your spirit in the process.
Whether you’re interested in bridal couture or launching a streetwear label, the range of skills they offer prepares you for pretty much any direction you want to take your fashion career.
Location: No. 27, Temidire CDA, beside transformer, Oke-Abetu, Abeokuta, Ogun
Conclusion
What’s happening in Abeokuta right now feels totally significant. These are more than trade schools, they’re schools thinking about the future of Nigerian fashion– what it means to be a designer in 2025 and beyond.
Thus, it’s no surprise that each school brings something different to the table. Calebella’s entrepreneurship focus, Belart’s hands-on experience with those confidence-building fashion shows, and Phumies’ community-driven approach that gives back. Treasured’s flexibility for people juggling multiple responsibilities. Fúnmi Àrà’s respect for traditional craftsmanship combined with modern business sense.
They’re all similar because of that commitment to excellence, creativity, and real-world impact. They’re teaching way beyond yesterday’s skills.
The Nigerian fashion industry is exploding right now. Lagos gets all the attention and headlines, but Abeokuta? Abeokuta might be where the real foundation work is happening. Where people are learning not just to sew, but to think. To innovate. To build businesses that can survive and thrive in a competitive market.
