Interview: Laura Momodu, founder of Renaissance – 2026 Fashion x Art Happening
We caught up with future fashion queen Laura Momudu ahead of the Renaissance 2026 fashion x art extravaganza…
RENAISSANCE 2026: Global Origins – Stories Untold | Saturday 29 August, 16:30–21:30, Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YE (2 min from Liverpool Street)
Tell us about Renaissance. How did the idea come about?
Renaissance was born from a desire to create a space where emerging creatives could be seen, heard and taken seriously. I’ve always believed that fashion and art are more than aesthetics — they are ways of telling stories, preserving culture and imagining what is possible. After working in fashion and completing my MBA in International Fashion Management, I wanted to create something that went beyond a traditional fashion show. Renaissance brings fashion, art, music and culture together while giving emerging creatives a platform to connect with audiences and with each other. The name Renaissance reflects that idea of renewal — creating something new, giving people space to evolve, and allowing new voices to shape culture.
What should attendees expect this year?
Global Origins – Stories Untold, is an immersive celebration of identity, heritage and creative expression. Attendees can expect a fashion showcase featuring emerging designers, a curated art exhibition, live music and performances, and an environment designed to feel more like a cultural experience than simply a show. Most importantly, I want people to leave having discovered someone new — a designer, artist, musician or creative whose work they didn’t know before.
What advice would you give to up and coming artists and designers to make a splash?
Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Build your own platform, tell your story clearly and keep creating even when nobody’s watching. Your originality is your greatest asset, so don’t become so focused on what is trending that you lose what makes your work your and importantly, learn how to communicate your vision. Talent matters, but being able to articulate what you are creating and why it matters can open doors.
Who or what are your influences to make your work?
My biggest influence is people – their stories, cultures, contradictions and experiences. I’m particularly inspired by African heritage and the way culture can be translated through fashion, art, music and space. I’m also influenced by people who challenge existing systems and create opportunities where none existed before. I think I’m most inspired by possibility: seeing an empty space and imagining what it could become, or seeing an emerging creative and imagining how far their work could travel.
What are your favourite London haunts?
For art and culture, I love spaces where you can encounter different perspectives and ideas, particularly the V&A and Tate Modern. For food and atmosphere, I love exploring different parts of London rather than having one fixed favourite – London is at its best when you’re discovering somewhere new. And for going out, I’m drawn to places with a strong creative atmosphere where fashion, music and different communities naturally come together. I think that’s one of the things I love most about London: there is always another neighbourhood, exhibition, restaurant or creative space waiting to be discovered.
I am Joint Editor at To Do List. I like free, cheap & offbeat London, especially: cabaret, art, theatre, pop-ups, eating out, quirky films, museums, day trips, social enterprise & much more.
