About me

Tolu Coker is a Young British-Nigerian Fashion Designer, Textile Designer and illustrator based in London. Following several successful stints at Maison Margiela, J.W. Anderson and Celine, she recently graduated from London's prestigious Central Saint Martin's Design school with First Class Honours. Largely inspired by identity and social climates, Tolu's work and collections have since been internationally recognised by publications such as Vogue, Love Magazine, Dazed, Hunger, An0ther, WWD and NME, as well as LVMH teams and even the French News! She boasts a global client base, with her roster including high-profile names such as Rihanna, Jorja Smith, Elton John, Steff London, Tiwa Savage and Mr Eazi. The young designer is now based in London and focusing on building her eponymous label, TOLU COKER.

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Projects

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  REPLICAREPLICA isn’t a concept, its an experience, real people's feelings. We often internalise others expectations or interpretations of us and I think it’s important to create more dialogue around that. It struck a cord to me that the idea of one’s ‘Blackness’ being measurable or definable is absolutely absurd- I could never really make sense of my ‘Blackness’ because it isn’t a real thing that one’s identity can be measured by or attributed to. Your identity is not only skin deep - it’s so much mor
• 14

  PANTHER
• 3

  MAISON MARGIELA COUTURE AW16

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Projects credited in

• Tolu Coker - ShowstudioShowstudio presents ‘Bodies of Knowledge’ by designer & creative director Tolu Coker. I worked on set as the set assistant for the shoot located in the Showstudio London headquarters.
• TOLU COKER ‘CHAVAH’ SS23Worked with womenswear & menswear brand which specialised in creating story telling pieces for this past London fashion week SS23 collection ‘CHAVAH’.
• 1

  TOLU COKER AW19 'JUVENILE CONSCIOUSNES'Worked with contemporary unisex brand Tolu Coker for the AW19 'Juvenile Consciousnes' collection for London fashion week - Fashion Scout Merit Award.
• 18

  MMScenePerspective Dissipation Styling Letizia Maria Allodi Photographer Sophie Ronget Devred
• 7

  Masqueraded MemoirsMasqueraded Memoirs project is a multimedia art project documenting the social landscape of London’s diasporic community across different generations through the lives of the Nigerian residents within the North Kensington housing estates. Created for exhibition at the Lagos Biennial 2019.
• 1

  SORO SOKE - TOLU COKER AW21

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Work history

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Womenswear DesignerInditex
Aug 2017 - Feb 2018SpainFreelance
Womenswear Designer responsible for research, trend analysis, design and development of Womenswear Collections across all seasons. Responsible for overseeing Womenswear Denim and Outwear categories, with a strong ability to present research, sketches and samples, as well as direct the design process with internal patternmaking and external suppliers, from sampling to commerical production. Additional duties include working closely with buying and merchandising teams to source, present and select commericial ranges.
Client AdvisorLouis Vuitton
Aug 2016 - Apr 2017London, United KingdomFreelance

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Skills

• Ethical Fashion
• Womenswear Design
• Menswear Design
• Fashion Print
• Print Design
• Fashion Textiles
• Illustration
• Couture Sewing

Education

BA (Hons) Fashion PrintCentral Saint Martins (UAL)
Sep 2013 - Jun 2017London, United Kingdom
FIRST CLASS HONOURS
Art and Design Foundation DiplomaCentral Saint Martins (UAL)
Sep 2012 - Jun 2013London, United Kingdom

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Awards

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Sophie Hallette Design AwardSophe Hallette
Award for best use of lace and design in the graduate year 2017
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Nina Stewart AwardCentral Saint Martins
Design Award Sponsorship for final graduate collection