Adebayo Oke-Lawal has been designing since the age of 10, and since officially entering the fashion industry, he’s dabbled in writing and styling, working with African designers, actors, pop stars and even magazines but design is his greatest passion, and since starting the label in 2011, he’s been hard at work trying to bring Orange Culture to the world. Adebayo Oke-Lawal describes Orange Culture as a “movement” more than a clothing line, for a creative class of men who he describes as “self aware , expressive, explorative, art-loving nomad[s].”
The label previously produced womenswear options, but Oke-Lawal says he’s since decided to focus on the fellas. Combining classic and contemporary western silhouettes (like collared button-ups and lapel-less blazers) with African sensibilities, Oke-Lawal creates offerings for modern men who like a little flair, and of course: color.Orange Culture is a heady mixture of Nigerian inspired silhouettes, print fabrics and contemporary urban street wear. Since it's inception the brand and it's creative director have been featured in Vogue , Elle, Marie Claire, Voice of America, Financial Times, Wings, and the list goes on and on. the brand has been a finalist for huge design platforms like the LVMH (Louis Vuitton and Moët Hennesey ) prize - where he was picked alongside 29 of the hugest emerging designers from all over the world out of 1221 . The brand was also selected by Vogue Italia and GQ to present at the fashion buzz in Florence and by Ethical Fahion Initiative and pitti uomo to be one of the first menswear brands to show on the runway in Florence during fashion week.
Projects
- Collection: School of RejectsOrange Culture SS17 collection “School of Rejects” takes a stroll back into Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s teenage years and explores the themes of adolescent rejection. Growing-up and going to school Adebayo Oke-Lawal felt like he was being taught to fit-in; stuck to stereotypes and everytime he didn’t he was made to feel like an outcast or rebellious for choosing to create differently. Celebrating the beauty in being.
- Collection: Etched JourneyGrowing up in the metropolitan city of Lagos that was constantly nestled in chaos, vitality and a spiral of fleeting hopes, it was almost impossible to catch a moment beautified by its silence alone. Everyone always seemed in a hurry to somewhere, for something. But I remember driving past Third Mainland Bridge often with my family,
- Collection: PrettyFor this collection, Adebayo Oke-Lawal, the Creative Director chose to infer on garments, the religion of romance. Romanticism is at the base of the fabrications and shapes. A story of blossoming teenage boys - the full spectrum of what it means to be young, which encompasses the carelessness of love, the angst of failure, and also the delicateness of hurt. The collection begins
- A Nasty Boy Feature: On the Edge of GloryWords: Richard Akuson Original Article: here Editorial Credits: Photography by Ofure Ighalo, Makeup and Hair by Desmond Macauley, Creative Direction by Richard Akuson, Art Design by Ofure Ighalo, Pieces by Orange Culture. Lagos, Nigeria – It’s a sunny day and we’ve just arrived the Muri Okunola Park in Victoria Island, the location of our debut cover shoot with Adebayo Oke Lawal of leading menswear brand Orange Culture. Adebayo had at this point quickly opened his umbrella to shield himself from
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Work history
C.E.O, Creative Director
Full Time
Fashion Editor
- Full Time
Skills
- Design
- Fashion
- Fashion Design
- Art Direction
Education
International Business
- Sutherland Building, 2 Ellison Pl, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
BSC Science, Finance
- Lagos, Nigeria