Karl Lagerfeld and Kenneth Ize have teamed up on a SS21 capsule collection, merging Nigerian and European style. Curated by Karl Lagerfeld style advisor Carine Roitfeld and co-created by Kenneth Ize and Karl Lagerfeld design director Hun Kim, the Karl Lagerfeld x Kenneth Ize collection teams vibrant Nigerian prints and fabrics with sleek silhouettes.
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A celebration of culture and sophisticated design, the ready-to-wear capsule features gender-neutral styles, with clothing and accessories taking form in the signature Karl Lagerfeld shades of black and white, as well as eye-catching pops of colour courtesy of traditional aso oke cloth. The collection includes a refined range of sharply tailored separates, knitted tops and pants, as well as flowy pieces, and a co-branded muscle shirt. Highlights include a colourful set crafted from aso oke style fabric and a black-and-white printed silk shirt teamed with matching hemp pants.
“This was such an incredible experience. It allowed me to play with the brand’s existing style codes and expand my own approach to design,” said Kenneth Ize of the collaboration. “I hope the public falls in love with the result.”
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Kenneth Ize is a fashion designer whose work combines elements of the worlds he has inhabited; including that of his formative years, which were spent in Austria. “There’s an elegance to Austria and an extravaganza to Nigeria — it’s fascinating to combine these two things together,” he explains. Ize work has been instrumental in bringing traditional Nigerian fabrics to the forefront, with his collections championing the use of aso oke, a colourful handwoven material. “I want my brand to help my community, to build them up and serve as a platform to show them to the world.”
The Karl Lagerfeld x Kenneth Ize capsule collection will be available online via the Farfetch, Karl Lagerfeld, and Browns Fashion webstores, as well as in select Karl Lagerfeld physical stores from July 7th onwards.
Words by T. Angel
