For many American teenagers, prom night is one of the biggest moments of high school — a red-carpet event where fashion, identity, and self-expression take center stage. But a growing number of teens are ditching local boutiques and instead looking thousands of miles away for their dream outfits: African-made prom dresses.

Take 18-year-old Brianna LeDoux from Florida. She wanted more than just a gown — she wanted a story she could wear. So she commissioned a custom black sequined dress from Nigeria, inspired by Yoruba designs. When she posted her look on TikTok, it went viral, gaining over a million views. “I felt like a princess,” Brianna said, adding that she wanted a dress that celebrated her Haitian and Dominican roots while honoring African culture.

She’s not alone. Across the US, teenagers are ordering bold, custom designs from Nigerian and Ghanaian designers whose creations are becoming a global trend. Styles range from corseted bodices to feathered trains and detachable capes — outfits that wouldn’t look out of place at the Met Gala. The hashtag #AfricanPromDress now has more than 61 million views on TikTok.

For designers in Africa, this booming demand has transformed their businesses. In 2025 alone, five designers in Nigeria and Ghana collectively made over 2,800 dresses for US teens. Shakirat Arigbabu, who runs Keerah’s Fashion Cave in Ibadan, Nigeria, delivered more than 1,500 gowns this year — up from just 50 in 2019. “Prom consumes everything,” she laughs, explaining how her 60 staff members, plus 130 temporary tailors, worked in shifts just to meet deadlines.

The appeal isn’t just about fashion — it’s about pride. “There’s this pride when clients can say: ‘My dress came from Nigeria,’” explains designer Victoria Ani, who shipped hundreds of gowns to New York, New Jersey, and California this year. Some of her clients even won “Best Dressed” and prom queen titles in their schools.

The process often starts on Instagram or TikTok, where teens discover designers and place orders via WhatsApp. Virtual fittings are done over video calls, with Nigerian or Ghanaian tailors guiding families through measurements to ensure a perfect fit. When the gowns finally arrive, many teens share dramatic unboxing videos online, helping fuel even more interest.

Of course, it’s not always smooth sailing. Shipping delays, high demand, and even new US tariffs on Nigerian imports have posed challenges. Still, most clients say the experience — and the result — is worth it. Dresses usually cost between $600 and $1,000, far cheaper than the $3,500 price tag for a custom-made gown in the US.

For teens like Brianna, the investment goes beyond the price. “Prom is something girls dream about since childhood,” she says. “Honestly, if my hair and makeup had been a mess, I wouldn’t have cared — as long as I was in that dress.”

From Lagos to Miami, Accra to New York, African designers are turning prom night into a global celebration of style, culture, and connection.