It’s party time and everyone’s invited!
Step into a vibrant world of colour, creativity and celebration, where fashion, dancing and dressing-up take centre stage. Here, children are invited to explore their creativity through fashion and design, be active and make their own fun.
Come inside and discover outfits and accessories from the NGV Fashion and Textiles Collection, created by some of the most imaginative designers from around the world, including Issey Miyake, Romance Was Born, Imane Ayissi and Yves Saint Laurent. From spectacular gowns and punk-inspired looks to teddy bear shoes and banana hats, be inspired by this exhibition that celebrates individuality and creativity for kids of all ages.
Danielle Brustman is a Melbourne-based interior designer with over a decade of experience in residential, retail and early education interiors. With a degree in interior design from RMIT, she is also known for her furniture, lighting, installations, exhibitions and bespoke cabinetry. Through her distinctive use of vibrant colour and geometric references, Brustman draws on both historical and contemporary influences to create striking spaces.
Brustman’s design pieces and installations have featured in major exhibitions at the NGV, including Melbourne Now 2023, NGV Triennial 2020 and the Rigg Design Prize 2018.
Display headpieces by Michelle Boyde and Danielle Brustman.
Within each cabinet, artwork labels are listed in order of presentation from left to right.
J’aton Couture, Melbourne fashion house
Australia est. 1994
Jacob Luppino designer
Australia born 1972
Anthony Pittorino designer
Australia born 1971
Gown
2023
synthetic fabric (from recycled plastic bottles), glass (beads),
metal
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2023
2023.749.a-b
J’Aton Couture is a fashion house started by two designers, Jacob and Anthony, right here in Melbourne. They began making bridal wear but now create stunning dresses that look like works of art. The J’Aton style is inspired by their Italian heritage, and they make their clothing using rich fabrics and expert sewing. Each dress takes more than 200 hours to make and is designed especially for one person. J’Aton dresses have been created for pop stars, musicians and actors. What kind of dress or outfit would you have made just for you?
Nike, Beaverton, Oregon manufacturer
United States est. 1971
Marc Newson designer
Australia born 1963, worked in Japan 1987–91, France 1991–97, England 1997–
Zvezdochka
2004 designed, 2005 manufactured
neoprene, silicone, rubber, metal
Gift of Brett Pooley, 2012
2012.388.a-b
Australian designer Marc Newson was inspired by space travel when he designed this snazzy sneaker. The shoe fits the foot like a second skin and has four parts: a breathable outer cage, a soft inner sleeve, a comfy insole and a strong outsole. The different parts can be worn in different combinations. In 2014, ten years after it was first made, the shoe was brought back to celebrate its tenth birthday. Do you have a pair of sneakers with interesting design features?
Issey Miyake, Tokyo fashion house
Japan est. 1971
Issey Miyake designer
Japan 1938–2022
Evening dress
2003
spring–summer 2003
cotton, polyester (jersey)
Purchased with funds donated by Mrs Krystyna Campbell-Pretty in memory of Mr Harold Campbell-Pretty, 2015
2015.636
Issey Miyake was a Japanese designer who created clothes in amazing new ways by working with his team to invent new materials and come up with fresh ideas. For his 2003 spring–summer collection, Issey designed this colourful evening dress using a soft, stretchy fabric called jersey. The dress moves beautifully when walking or dancing, flowing through the air like a breeze. With bright colours like red, blue and green, this dress is perfect for a party!
Adidas, Herzogenaurach, Germany manufacturer
Germany est. 1948
Jeremy Scott designer
United States born 1974
JS bear
2012
synthetic materials (plush laces), rubber
Purchased, 2012
2012.329.a-b
American fashion designer Jeremy Scott is a star in the fashion world. After graduating with a fashion degree in New York, he moved to Paris, full of dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Five years later he launched his brand in Paris. Jeremy says fashion is about escape from the real world and that he hopes his clothing designs make people smile. What do you think inspired Jeremy when he came up with ideas for these shoes?
Tomo Koizumi, Tokyo fashion house
Japan est. 2011
Tomo Koizumi designer
Japan born 1988
Look 27, top and skirt
2019
autumn–winter 2019–20
polyester (organza), metal (fastenings)
Purchased with funds donated by Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family, Tania and Sam Brougham, Tommy Hilfiger Australia, PVH Brands, Rob Gould, SIRAP Art Collective and donors to the 2020 NGV Annual Appeal, 2020
2020.761.a-b
Tomo Koizumi is a fashion designer from Japan. He makes big, colourful clothes that look fluffy, like this top and skirt made from more than 200 metres of a light, shiny fabric called organza. First, Tomo cut the fabric into long strips and shaped them into ruffles. Then, he sewed all the ruffles together by machine, layer by layer, until the outfit looked like a colourful cloud. Can you name the colours as your eye travels from top to bottom?
Romance Was Born, Sydney fashion house
Australia est. 2005
Luke Sales designer
Australia born 1981
Anna Plunkett designer
Australia born 1982
Crazy crochet dress, Del eye print
leggings and crochet rooster beanie
2008
Garden of Eden collection, autumn–winter 2008
wool, cotton, plastic, metal
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2009
2009.192.a-c
This crochet dress with a rooster beanie was made by Australian designers Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett, who run the fashion house Romance Was Born. Crochet is like knitting with wool but using a hook instead of two needles. Anna and Luke both liked making things when they were kids: Luke sewed together cardboard boxes to make robots and Anna made clothes for her Barbie dolls. The two designers met at university and love creating outfits together. Their ideas come from everywhere: superheroes, storybooks from childhood, the Australian bush, bright colours and even dinosaurs. Can you imagine one of your favourite stories as an outfit?
Thea Cadabra, London shoemaker
England est. 1979
Thea Cadabra designer
England born 1951
Dragon, shoes
1979
leather (calfskin), rubber
Purchased, 1982
CT102.a-b-1982
In the 1970s, designer Thea Cadabra loved wearing colourful clothes to London nightclubs and parties, but she couldn’t find shoes to match. So, she learned to make her own. She trained with a shoemaker from Türkiye and soon won a big prize for her amazing shoes. Thea was inspired by theatre shows and stars like David Bowie. This pair of high heels, shaped like Chinese dragons, was made with more than 100 different pieces. How many different parts of a shoe can you name?
Orange Culture, Nigeria fashion house
est. 2010
Adebayo Oke-Lawal designer
Nigeria born 1990
Coat, shirt and shorts
2024
It Comes in Waves collection, spring–summer 2024
linen, cotton, polyester, plastic and metal (fastenings)
David Richards Bequest, 2024
2024.224.a-c
Fashion designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal chose orange, a colour he knew was not often linked with boys and men, to represent his label. Growing up, Adebayo was teased for not fitting in at an all-boys school, and it was these experiences that inspired him to challenge ideas about masculinity and self-expression. Why are some colours seen as ‘for boys’ or ‘for girls’? Adebayo asks us to question these ‘rules’. What colours do you like to wear?
Karl Lagerfeld, Paris fashion house
France est. 1984
Kirstin Woodward milliner
England born 1959
Hat
1985
polyester (satin, wadding), cotton (buckram), elastane
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2023
2023.584
Kirsten Woodward is a milliner, someone who designs and makes hats. Known for her stylish and imaginative hats, she began designing them after studying at the London College of Fashion and quickly gained many admirers of her work. The designer Karl Lagerfeld noticed her talent and invited her to Paris to design hats that look like delicious French pastries and others in the shape of chairs, like this red one. What other objects do you think would make for an interesting hat design?
Within each cabinet, artwork labels are listed in order of presentation from left to right.
Bernhard Willhelm, Paris and Los Angeles fashion house
Belgium est. 1999
Bernhard Willhelm designer
Germany born 1972
Totally awesome muscles, outfit
2017
This is All Very Dangerous collection, autumn–winter 2017–18
screenprinted cotton, cotton (chenille), wool, cork, glass (lenses), metal (frames)
Gift of the artist, 2021
2021.224.a-f
Bernhard Willhelm is a fashion designer who doesn’t take fashion design too seriously. Born in Germany, he studied in the city of Antwerp in Belgium, and went on to work with leading designers like Vivienne Westwood. This outfit is inspired by many things in Bernhard’s life, such as Los Angeles, the city he lives in, his interest in martial arts, and Zen Buddhism. His outfits often depict symbols and images such as spiritual monks, wise owls and magical creatures. Look out for a pair of pink fluffy boots and a hat with bananas that he also designed.
Bernhard Willhelm, Paris and Los Angeles fashion house
Belgium est. 1999
Bernhard Willhelm designer
Germany born 1972, worked in Belgium 1999–2002, France 2000–13, United States 2013–
Duane Paul designer
Jamaica born 1969
Hat
2016
spring–summer 2016
plywood, plastic, felt, metal, ink
Gift of the artist, 2017
2017.603
Bananas are bright, fun and lots of people find them delicious. Perhaps fashion designer Bernhard Willhelm agrees, because he featured banana prints and big banana shapes in one of his clothing collections. Artist Duane Paul took the idea even further, creating a sculptural hat topped with bananas. Let’s look closely. The hat is built from curved plywood pieces screwed together, with bananas spiked on top. The finished hat looks almost like a crown. What objects could you combine to create a hat no one has seen before?
S!X, Melbourne fashion house
Australia est. 1994
Peter Boyd designer
Australia born 1971
Denise Sprynskyj designer
Australia born 1960
S!X, Melbourne manufacturer
Australia est. 1994
The 3R’s – Recycle, reconstruct, ready to wear
1996
found garments: nylon, cotton, wool, lacquer, acetate, elastic, wood, leather, paper, ink, glue, paint, adhesive tape,
photographs
Purchased, 1996
1996.582.a-h
Melbourne designers Denise Sprynskyj and Peter Boyd started the fashion label S!X in 1994. They took old clothes apart and rebuilt them in a style called ‘deconstruction’. Clothes in this style show the seams, pleats and stitches that are often hidden, so we can admire how things are made. Let’s look closely. This outfit has a halter top made from the front of a jacket and a pair of trousers has been turned upside down and inside out to create a skirt. Can you think of an old outfit that you could unpick, cut up and sew back together to turn it into something new? Maybe you could draw it when you get home.
France manufacturer
Evening purse
1940s
leather (suede), metal (cord, fastenings), plastic (comb), glass (mirror)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2019
2019.947
Is this a handbag or a musical instrument? It’s shaped like a mandolin, a string instrument used to play beautiful music. Fashion can take us into different worlds, and this handbag takes us into the world of music. This bag would be ideal for a night out at a concert or musical. It’s a stylish way to carry your things and show your love for music. Which outfit on display in this exhibition would you wear to match the bag?
Saint Laurent, Paris fashion house
France est. 1967
Tom Ford designer
United States born 1961
Shoes
2004
spring–summer 2004
leather, cotton elastane (laces), diamantés, rubber (stopper)
Gift of Anastasia Fai Kogan, 2024
2024.39.a-b
When American designer Tom Ford worked at the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, he made these high-heeled shoes covered in sparkly diamantes. They were inspired by the clothes worn by a dandy. In the late 1700s, dandies were men who loved fashion and dressing up. These shoes feature details seen on men’s dress shoes, such as shoelaces and patterns of small dots.
Yves Saint Laurent, Paris couture house
France 1961–2002
Yves Saint Laurent designer
Algerian 1936–2008, worked in France 1954–2008
Look 86, evening dress
1989
spring–summer 1990
silk (gazar, satin, organza), plastic (beads), metal (fastening)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2019
2019.965
Yves Saint Laurent was a successful French fashion designer who loved creating clothes from a young age. As a child, he made outfits for paper dolls and told his sisters stories of fun and adventure. When he grew up, he started his own fashion house in Paris and made stylish clothes that were elegant and luxurious. One of his designs was a tuxedo suit for women and another was a jacket inspired by a glittering chandelier. What do you think inspired this evening gown?
Yves Saint Laurent, Paris couture house
France 1961–2002
Yves Saint Laurent designer
Algerian 1936–2008, worked in France 1954–2008
Suit
1967
spring–summer 1967
silk, cotton, plastic (buttons)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and the Campbell-Pretty Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2017
2017.254.a-c
In the 1960s, young people in Britain and Europe didn’t want to wear dress like their parents so they wore new clothes made from materials like vinyl, polyester, nylon and rayon. Girls wore short skirts, bright colours and outfits that looked like they came from space! French designer Yves Saint Laurent tried something new too. He took the traditional suit men wore and made it for women. Now, everyone could wear a suit! Would you wear a suit like this to a party?
Jacques Heim, Paris couture house (attributed to)
France 1930–69
Jacques Heim designer (attributed to)
France 1899–1967
Evening dress
c. 1950
silk (velvet, shantung)
Purchased with funds donated by Mrs Krystyna Campbell-Pretty in memory of Mr Harold Campbell-Pretty, 2015
2015.640
This gorgeous dress was created by Jacques Heim, a fashion designer who opened his own fashion house in Paris in the 1930s. His house made haute couture, or ‘high fashion’, clothing, which means high-quality, handmade outfits specially designed to fit one person only. Instead of inventing new styles like other French designers such as Christian Dior and Coco Chanel, Jacques liked to choose the best ideas in fashion and combine them in clever ways. He called himself an ‘editor of clothing’.
Yves Saint Laurent, Paris couture house
France 1961–2002
Saint Laurent, Paris fashion house
France est. 1967
Anthony Vaccarello designer
Belgium born 1982
Roller boot stilettos
2017
ready-to-wear 2017
patent leather, rubber, metal
Purchased with funds donated by the Bertocchi family, 2020
2020.738.a-b
These boots are designed by Anthony Vaccarello for the French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent. Can you see the high heels and the rollerskate wheels? The boots are a wild idea, aren’t they? Sometimes designers push ideas to their limits. While these shoes are eye-catching and stylish, they are not practical. What do you think would happen if someone tried to walk or rollerskate in them?
Lisa Waup designer
Gunditjmara/Torres Strait Islander born 1971
Ingrid Verner designer
Singapore born 1979
Verner, Melbourne fashion house
Australia est. 2012
Continuity, suit
2019
Journeys collection, spring–summer 2019–20
screenprinted cotton
Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2020
2020.168.a-b
This suit was created by Gunditjmara and Torres Strait Islander artist Lisa Waup in collaboration with fashion designer Ingrid Verner. When they met up to create the collection, Lisa shared sketchbook drawings that symbolised protection of her family, culture and history. Together, Lisa and Ingrid chose four designs. Ingrid ensured that Lisa’s artwork was respectfully incorporated into her fashion collection. This suit shows that clothes can be both practical and hold personal meaning.
Iris van Herpen, Amsterdam couture house
Netherlands est. 2007
Iris van Herpen designer
Netherlands born 1984
Jólan van der Wiel designer
Netherlands born 1984
Shoes
2015
Magnetic Motion collection, spring–summer 2015
iron, resin, pigment
Purchased with funds donated by Fair Shen, 2018
2018.478.a-b
Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen teamed up with designer Jólan van der Wiel to make fashion accessories using magnets. They made shoes, belts, necklaces and bags that looked like they grew on their own! Using iron, resin and colour, they shaped the pieces with strong magnets, making the material stretch and spike. Then they shaped it by hand. Their work mixes nature, science and design in creative ways.
Within each cabinet, artwork labels are listed in order of presentation from left to right.
Nixi Killick, Melbourne fashion house
Australia est. 2014
Nixi Killick designer
Australia born 1989
Sweater and trackpants
2019
Cryptic Frequencies collection, 2019
printed polyester
Purchased, NGV Supporters of Fashion and Textiles, 2022
2022.805.a-b
Nixi Killick is a creative fashion designer who makes colourful and futuristic clothes. She studied fashion at RMIT University and now runs a studio here in Melbourne. Nixi uses bright, swirling patterns inspired by her love of art, the circus and performance. She also mixes fashion with technology. Some of her clothes even come to life with special animations using an app! This work is from her Cryptic Frequencies collection. The outfits are decorated with bright colours in interesting patterns that look like they may have come from a sci-fi party.
WORLD, Auckland fashion house
New Zealand est. 1989
Denise L’Estrange-Corbet designer
New Zealand born 1960
Francis Hooper designer
Hong Kong born 1964, New Zealand 1972–
Sanderson suit
1997
World International collection, spring–summer 1997–98
cotton, acetate (lining), plastic (buttons), metal (fastening)
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2009
2009.56.a-d
WORLD is a clothing brand from New Zealand created by Dame Denise L’Estrange-Corbet and Francis Hooper in 1989. Both designers travelled the world when they were young and worked with top fashion designers in London and other places. When they came back to New Zealand, they were full of energy and big ideas. They began making clothes in a small cupboard at the back of a shopping arcade. They used unexpected materials like plastic tablecloths, upholstery and wallpaper fabrics, and often mixed colours that don’t usually go together to create unique outfits. This suit is made from fabric that usually covers a chair. Think of a fabric at home and imagine it turned into a jacket or a pair of pants!
United States
Handbag
1950s
plastic (lucite), metal, fabric (flowers)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2019
2019.505
This pearly-white handbag is like a treasure chest. On top, you can see a bubble-like lid displaying a row of beautiful fabric flowers in soft pink, creamy white and leafy green. It’s like a magical garden. Who do you think would own a bag like this? A fairy? A mermaid? You?
Anya Hindmarch, London fashion house
England est. 1987
Anya Hindmarch designer
England born 1968
Crisp packet, clutch
c. 2014
brass, metal (chain, fastening), leather (suede)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program, 2023
2023.179
This shiny gold evening bag looks just like a crumpled chip packet, but it’s actually a fun and fancy design by Anya Hindmarch, a fashion designer based in London, England. Anya is known for turning everyday things like food wrappers and googly eyes into fashion. She also cares about the Earth. Almost twenty years ago, she made special cloth shopping bags to help people use less plastic. Thanks to her, lots of people now use cloth bags when they shop.
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Paris fashion house
France est. 1978
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac designer
Morocco born 1949, France 1955–
Teddy bear jacket
1988
autumn–winter 1988–89
modacrylic, polyester, acrylic
Purchased with funds donated by Krystyna Campbell Pretty AM and Family, 2021
2021.284
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, often called JC/DC, is one of France’s greatest living fashion designers. He is inspired by art, loves drawing and painting, and enjoys working with artists and creatives to come up with ideas. One of his early outfits, made when he was about nineteen years old, was a jacket cut from an old blanket from his boarding school. He was recycling years ago! Over the years he has dressed many talented people in outfits inspired by Donald Duck, Snoopy, Mickey Mouse, Bambi and teddy bears, just like this jacket. He has even dressed the Pope! Would you like to design an outfit for a friend or a pop star?
Walborg Co., New York manufacturer
United States late 1940s – c. 1963
Hilde Weinberg founder
United States active 1940s
Evening bag
1950s
glass (beads), synthetic (lining), metal (fastening)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2019
2019.948
Behind this cute dog handbag is an interesting story. Hilde Weinberg, a businesswoman and creative designer in New York, started her handbag company in the 1940s. She designed bags just like this one, which talented craftspeople in places like Belgium, Japan and Hong Kong made by hand, threading and stitching thousands of tiny beads. Look closely. Can you see how the beads are carefully looped to make a soft, furry effect? Which animal would you choose for a handbag design?
Lanvin, Paris couture house
France est. 1909
Jeanne Lanvin designer
France 1867–1946
Bag
1930
cotton (velvet), silk (lining)
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty and the Campbell-Pretty Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2018
2018.1592
This velvet bag shaped like a flower is from Lanvin, a fashion house in France. It was started in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, who opened a small hat shop in Paris when she was twenty-two years old. Her hats became popular, and her boutique, Lanvin Modes, became a top fashion spot. Inspired by her daughter, she began designing children’s clothes and, later, menswear too, something no other designer in Paris had done before. Today, Lanvin is the oldest couture house in France that is still operating. What shape would you like a bag to be?
Imane Ayissi, France couture house
est. 2004
Imane Ayissi designer
Cameroon born 1969
Look 22, dress
2024
Mguilguidigueu-Mteun collection, autumn–winter 2023–24
silk (faille) Madagascan raffia, metal (fastenings)
Purchased, NGV Supporters of Fashion and Textiles, 2024
2024.222
Fashion designer Imane Ayissi made this stunning dress. Imane is originally from Cameroon and combines African textile traditions with Parisian haute couture, or ‘high fashion’ in English, which is the art of designing and handmaking clothes to custom-fit one person. Imane learnt to sew as a boy, when he would take apart his mother’s clothes and put them back together. When he was older, he made stylish outfits for her. Imane also used to be a ballet dancer, and his designs show that he understands how fabric and shape work with the way our bodies move. Can you imagine how the swish of the raffia would sound if you were dancing in this fabulous dress?
James Lynch
Australia born 1966, active mid 1980s
Des Kirwan
Australia born 1965
Unknown, Australia
Punk outfit
c. 1983–84
leather, cotton, metal, rubber, plastic, paint, fur, found badges, wool, blood
Purchased, 1984
CT163.a-n-1984
Back in 1983, one of the fashion curators at the NGV was riding a tram when she spotted something wild! Across from her sat a young man with a bright-red mohawk and a spiky leather jacket. It was James Lynch, and he was in a punk band. His friend Des Kirwan had designed and decorated a leather jacket for him using safety pins, patches and hand-drawn symbols. The NGV curator noticed this outfit and asked James if he would create a full punk outfit for the NGV Collection. He said yes, and this is the result! Would you like to wear an outfit like this?
Adidas, Herzogenaurach, Germany manufacturer
Germany est. 1948
Jeremy Scott designer
United States born 1974
JS wings 2.0
2011
synthetic materials, rubber, synthetic fibre (laces)
Purchased, 2012
2012.328.a-b
One of Jeremy Scott’s most successful collaborations with the sports brand Adidas was a pair of sneakers with wings! He designed high-top shoes and added wings on the sides, making it look like you could fly away in them. These sneakers became popular with celebrities and fashion fans all over the world. With stars, bright colours and stripes, they look like they came straight out of a comic book. Would you wear these sneakers to a dance party or to play sport?
W<, Antwerp fashion house
Belgium est. 1994
Walter van Beirendonck designer
Belgium born 1957
Jacket, jumper, overalls, T-shirt and bag
1995
polyamide nylon, polyvinyl chloride, cotton, wool, acrylic
Purchased, 1996
1996.201.a-e
In the early 1990s, Belgian fashion designer Walter van Beirendonck started a fashion brand called W<, which stands for Wild & Lethal Trash. His designs were like nothing people had seen before and were made for people who love bold colour, striking patterns and standing out in a crowd. Walter takes inspiration from daily life, his lively imagination and his huge collection of toys. His fashion shows are like a big party! Models wear big hair, techno music plays full blast, and there are surprises everywhere. Walter is almost seventy years old now but he continues to surprise with his creative ideas. What about you? Do you have a toy that could inspire a new outfit?
Bernhard Willhelm, Los Angeles fashion house
United States est. 2013
Bernhard Willhelm designer
Germany born 1972, worked in Belgium 1999–2002, France 2000–13, United States 2013–
Camper, Spain manufacturer
Spain est. 1975
Mykita manufacturer
Germany est. 2003
Moritz Krueger
Germany born 1979
Boots
2021
autumn–winter 2021–22
polyester
Gift of the artist, 2021
2021.822.a-b
Do you wear shoes and socks? What if they were both combined into one? German designer Bernhard Willhelm did just that when he created these pink, furry sock boots. They look like they’d be perfect for snowy weather. The boots are called Himalayan Shoes, named after the Himalayas, a mountain range in Asia. What would you wear with these boots?
Orange Culture, Nigeria fashion house
est. 2010
Adebayo Oke-Lawal designer
Nigeria born 1990
Top, pants and cummerbund
2024
It Comes in Waves collection, spring–summer 2024
silk (chiffon, mikado), metal (fastenings)
Purchased with funds donated by Bruna Capodanno, 2024
2024.223.a-c
Adebayo Oke-Lawal is a Nigerian fashion designer who created Orange Culture, a clothing brand that celebrates creativity and self-expression. Growing up, Adebayo faced challenges because he didn’t fit traditional ideas of what boys should be like. He used fashion to show who he really was and began designing clothes that anyone can wear. Adebayo’s designs encourage people to be confident, love what makes them different, and express themselves freely through fashion. How would you wear this long red sash to a party?