By Kunle Adeboye

Fashion in Nigeria has always been more than clothes — it reflects heritage, status, and identity. From Yoruba lace and aso-oke to the tailored kaftans of the North, style has long been a social and cultural marker. But in the past decade, a quiet revolution has reshaped this landscape. Enter Alte — short for “alternative” — a youth-driven movement that celebrates self-expression, rebellion, and freedom.

Alte began as an underground aesthetic tied to experimental music and DIY fashion. Today, it’s a full-blown cultural force. Spearheaded by young Nigerians — artists, photographers, stylists, models — this is about more than dress; it’s a reimagining of what it means to truly belong.

What is Alte

Before “Alte,” Denrele Edun was already pushing boundaries with his platform boots and bold makeup in the early 2000s — a trailblazer for creative freedom. The word itself took off in the 2010s as artists like Odunsi (The Engine), Lady Donli, Santi (now Cruel Santino), and Amaarae broke away from mainstream Afrobeats. They blended genres like neo-soul, psychedelic pop, and trap, and their looks were equally daring: thrifted pieces, genderless silhouettes, experimental hair, and grainy VHS-style visuals. Alte challenged mainstream notions of polish and status, embracing authenticity, imperfection, and self-expression.

The Aesthetic of Rebellion

Alte is unapologetic and diverse — a bold remix of thrift-market finds, post-punk rebellion, Nollywood nostalgia, Japanese street style, and Y2K hip hop. Cropped kaftans with punk chains, oversized denim and crochet crop tops — all of it intentionally eclectic. For many in the scene, Alte is political: a way of reclaiming identity in a society that often prizes conformity. Odunsi told Teen Vogue in 2019 that his sound — like the style — was born from a need to navigate life’s “confusing world,” turning fashion into a mode of therapy and resistance.

 New Voices Driving the Movement “More than a style, Alte is powered by a new generation of multifaceted talents. Mars Ezechukwu, for example, is known for dreamy editorial photography capturing Black bodies with softness and intimacy. Stylist and documentarian Stephanie Aniekwe fuses Northern Nigerian dress codes with grunge aesthetics. Pelumi Agbaje, a gender-fluid model, explores masculinity poetically, while Ochuko Obire — or Ø — uses bold, expressive looks to challenge traditional casting.

Ø, who’s also a Law student, embodies this duality. “I describe myself as a non-conformist,” he told ThisDay in 2023. “The industry is making room for alternative bodies and individual expression.” The global industry is shifting, too — celebrating diverse bodies and styles. Ø and other Alte creatives embrace this change.

Alte is more than its visual codes; it’s an ethos of liberation. In a deeply conservative society, choosing to dress differently is radical. Thrifted and upcycled looks serve as both armour and canvas, allowing these youths to say: “I exist, and I will not hide.” Alte is reshaping not just style but visibility, making space for people who never fit traditional Nigerian beauty ideals.

Though Instagram is the movement’s public face, Alte thrives in real-world spaces like Thrift Fest, Alte Cruise, and pop-ups across Lagos and Abuja. These gatherings become safe spaces to connect, collaborate, and build creative ecosystems outside mainstream expectations. No dress codes, no gatekeeping — just expression and mutual support.

Alte creatives are blurring boundaries: they’re stylists and lawyers, DJs and coders, models and academics. They reflect a wider truth about Nigeria’s youth — one that refuses to choose between discipline and dream. This generation is remapping the style conversation across Lagos, Abuja, and beyond.

Alte is not a fleeting trend. It’s a movement — and it’s only getting louder.