Maiyaah, a fashion technology platform founded by Nigerian digital artist, animator and software developer Levi Philip Oluka, known as Leviphil, is introducing a new model for how African fashion is designed and produced.
The platform began as an idea in 2021, when Leviphil set out to address a challenge many African designers face: the long journey from creative concept to finished garment, and the difficulty of reaching international markets. In 2025, Maiyaah was presented to the public for the first time at Africa Fashion Week, marking its formal entry into the fashion and technology space.
Maiyaah was developed from Leviphil’s bedroom and built as a single system that supports the entire design process. It brings together design creation, virtual sampling, remote collaboration and digital editing tools in one platform. Designers can sketch garments directly from their mobile phones and make changes using written instructions. Through text prompts, users can generate designs for African clothing such as Agbada, Kaftans and traditional gowns.
The platform uses what Leviphil describes as a “conversational design system”. This allows designers to alter colours, shapes and details by typing simple commands. For example, a designer can change a blue dress into a red one with sleeves within seconds. The system is built to support creativity while reducing time spent on repeated manual edits.
Maiyaah also includes virtual try-on technology. This feature allows users to view how garments would fit their bodies without physical fittings. The platform generates body measurements digitally, reducing the need for repeated physical tailoring sessions and sample production.
For designers across Africa, this offers a shift in how they work with clients. With digital measurements and virtual samples, designers can serve customers outside their physical location, including clients in the diaspora. This reduces delays, production errors and the cost of shipping multiple samples across borders.
The platform also addresses environmental concerns within the fashion industry. By limiting physical sampling and long-distance shipping during the design stage, Maiyaah estimates a reduction of up to 45 per cent in carbon emissions linked to garment development.
Leviphil, who has worked in software development for over ten years, says his focus has been on building digital tools that strengthen Africa’s position in the global economy. With Maiyaah, he aims to place African designers in a system where technology supports scale, access and sustainability.
As Africa’s fashion industry continues to connect with global markets, platforms such as Maiyaah point to a future where design, technology and remote work operate together to reshape how African fashion reaches the world.
