Monotonous!: Lilian Ng’ang’a blasts copy-paste culture in online fashion trends
By Ascah Mwango, May 4, 2026Former Machakos County First Lady and author Lilian Ng’ang’a has criticised online fashion stores for lacking originality.
In a statement shared on her Instagram page on Sunday, May 3, 2026, Lilian said she had been searching for dresses online but kept coming across shops selling similar-looking outfits. She noted that many pages appear to stock the same styles, making it hard for shoppers to find something unique.
She clarified that her remarks were not meant to dismiss the effort designers put into their work, but insisted there is a clear monotony in what is currently being sold online. According to her, the repetition has made the shopping experience less exciting, especially for buyers looking to stand out.
Lilian pointed to West Africa’s fashion scene as a contrast, describing it as more creative and bold. Designers from the region have built a reputation for experimenting with patterns, structure and storytelling through clothing, something she suggested is missing from many of the outfits she is seeing locally online.
She also questioned pricing, hinting that some of the pieces being sold at high prices do not match their level of originality. H
Lilian invited her followers to recommend brands doing things differently.
“So I’m online looking for some cute dresses that I can buy. All the suggested shops sort of have the same kind of outfits. Know a brand pushing the limit, offering something different? Tag them here:). Not to discredit people’s work, especially since I’m not a designer, but there’s a monotony in what we see online, at least. I’ve been looking at the West Africa fashion scene and it’s 👌🏾 Do you have or know of a brand offering something different? Tag them here:) I will not mention the inflated prices for now :)” Lilian Ng’ang’a stated.