Oh, but the magnitude of talent
evident in Nigerian Fashion Designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s work is undeniable. Every
collection, whether in preview or full, continues to solidify his position in
menswear fashion in Africa as one of the best. He preserves my bias towards him
with fine distinctions of inspiration, colour obsessions, fabric production and
choices and not to mention his exciting collaborative relationships witnessed
in the look books produced.
The Feeling is the latest
offering the from the menswear label, Orange Culture. Created to ‘tell the
story of an artistic lover, who is crowned by the feeling of love he fails to
understand’; the collection sees the designer choosing to explore Adire,
designing and creating its print from scratch. Along with adire, aso-oke and
cow skin leather are used to depict the storyline seen in reverberating hues of
mustard; royal blue; red; and coral green.
The collection introduces
prints for both shirts and suits. Blazers come in one-button and a new form of
zip-up blazer. A cute quirk for me is the inclusion of a short sleeve style
blazer, which is great for transitional periods in the seasons. Dress-shirts
are back and looking peculiarly glam and tailored. Small pocket and hem details
add an interesting touch and the finishing is as impeccable as ever.
“The collection was built for
Woven Threads,” notes Orange Culture Director and Designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal.
“An exhibition organized by Lagos Fashion and Design Week. It looked to the
future of Nigerian fashion as it explored the art of textile craftsmanship.
Such traditional arts are an integral part of Nigerian heritage and cultural
identity and they bring employment and income for many communities in the
country.”
Woven Threads was hosted by the
British Council and British Fashion Council. The exhibition completed the link between the art of textile
craftsmanship and the fashion industry’s emerging talent in Nigeria, making its
vision of synergy between the country’s garment heritage and blossoming fashion
industry a reality.
This opportunity provided the
ideal space for Orange Culture to further explore its fascination with story
telling and as a result produced a collection that transcends materialism and
evokes a more emotional and platonic exploration with the fabric of style.
Look Book Credits:
Photography Obi Somto
Styling by Terence Sambo of One Nigerian Boy
Stylist Assistant Solomon Aroge
Model Yemi Torresma (AMCK Models London)
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