Nigerian fashion designer Banke Kuku has just showcased her latest runway for the Spring
Summer 2024 collection ‘EDEN’ in Victoria Island, Lagos, on the 21st of October 2023. This marks a new direction for the brand, focusing on craftsmanship whilst elevating the mainline with new seasonal prints.
Drawing cues from Banke’s near-meditative morning walks, transporting her to serene EDENlike gardens has led to a rich set of new prints based on Lagos’ stunning fauna and flora, adding to the already vibrant print library. The new collection draws on classic silhouettes that effortlessly accentuate the female figure.
EDEN showcases an array of styles, from long gowns with a draped cape to relaxed blouses and elasticated trousers in dreamy silk, as well as a new range of kaftans, a brand staple. Every piece is crafted from one-of-a-kind prints exclusive to Banke Kuku. For men, the new collection focuses on effortless styling, combining button-down shirts with matching trousers for a sophisticated and refined look.
Banke Kuku
Nature is a recurrent theme both in the print and collection designs intertwined with the impact work Banke Kuku continues to be involved in. The brand’s platform ‘Prints for Purpose’ sees Banke support local causes such as the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, providing donations to help preserve natural wildlife in Nigeria. The EDEN collection manifests this passion for the outdoors – a dreamy and scenic collection with silhouettes reflecting the key essence of the brand’s Occasion Loungewear, delivered this season with an ethereal twist. Lagos has become a fertile fashion hub where “Creativity is Currency”, according to Banke, who frequently collaborates with musicians, contemporary artists and designers to help propagate this creative fertility onto the international scene.
The prints tell captivating tales of the plants and animals hailing from the brand’s home, Nigeria. Hummingbirds whispering to Bougainvillea. Ladybirds amid Nigeria’s national flower – the Yellow Trumpet. The brand’s new signature monogram in colours are inspired by natural elements – earth, water, fire and air.
BANKE KUKU
Now Lagos-based, Banke Kuku studied her craft in London, graduating from the prestigious Chelsea College of Art and Design and Central Saint Martins before returning to her native Nigeria. From Lagos, she has built an impressive repertoire as a leading designer, dressing Alisters and creatives, including Gabrielle Union, Davido, Naomi Campbell, and Kelly Rowland.
Dedicated to amplifying the beauty and intricacies of African culture and practices, Banke has been a prominent voice on the world stage. In June 2023, Kuku was a guest judge on the BBC One’s programme The Great British Sewing Bee, sharing traditional West African sewing values with the contestants and viewers, and her work has been featured in Vogue, WWD and Marie Claire.
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Learn More
bankekuku.myshopify.com
farfethch.com
With love,
FWO
