Orange Culture was one of those rare, tear-jerking shows that leaves everyone speechless. Before it started, a minute of silence was dedicated to founder and creative director Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s late mother, who passed away last year. The collection, titled “Letter to Her,” was a personal collection, intended to honor one of the most influential in Oke-Lawal’s life. “It’s tough seeing your loved ones really vulnerable, and I wanted to celebrate her… and who she has transcended to become,” he said.
With this collection, styled by Olalu Ebiti, Oke-Lawal bade farewell to the old Orange Culture. The buzzy brand, which launched in 2011, had a reputation for colorful clothes in contemporary silhouettes. “It’s still Orange Culture in its essence, but it’s taking a path that we’ve never taken before,” he said.
To start with, every single look was all-white, something his community would have never expected from the young designer. It’s undeniably challenging to create a full collection using only one color, but Oke-Lawal experimented with shapes, fabrics, and silhouettes to create a captivating lineup. Standout looks included a white shirt with a pleated cream vest top, paired with inflated balloon trousers, as well as a sheer white one-shoulder top with feather detailing and an exaggerated rope hem. The only print featured in the collection was of Oke-Lawal’s brother and mother, designed by artist Yasser Claud Enin.
It’s evident that Oke-Lawal put his all into this collection. Backstage, he was shaking with emotion. Guests rushed over to congratulate, embrace, and comfort the designer. “Your mother would’ve been so proud,” one guest said tearfully. Now, Oke-Lawal is going to take some time away to “finally heal” before turning his attention to Berlin, where he is set to return to the Berlin Fashion Week schedule in the new year.