CEO ORANGE CULTURE

Adebayo Okelawal

Launched in 2010/2011 Orange culture is more than just a brand, it is an emotional string of socially aware stories and expressions cut
into clothing; we believe fashion can and should save lives. It is a “movement” that covers universal silhouettes with an African touch to a creative class of people, translating into a heady mixture of Nigerian inspired print fabrics,
color, and contemporary androgynous clothing. We believe clothing w be fluid and have the ability to be worn by any and every one.

The brand challenges traditional notions of gendered fashion. By blending Nigerian and other African references with universal streetwear silhouettes in unexpected fabric choices, he produces menswear and womenswear collections which blur the boundaries across both culture and gender. In particular, Oke-Lawal’s work interrogates the cues that masculine dress broadcasts to society.

 Adebayo grew up with a passion for confronting societal norms and has used fashion as his chosen platform to combat hyper masculinity, injustice and suppressed expressions of Africanism.

ACHIEVEMENTS

ACHIEVEMENTS - Adebayo Oke-lawal made the 2022 BOF 500 List - A recognition of the people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world. - String of notable collaborations with brands such as Huawei, Dennis Osadebe, Rokus London, Maxivive and many more. The brand’s most notable partnership was with globally recognized Nigerian artist Davido, where he designed a limited-edition collection sold exclusively at major store Selfridges making him the first Nigerian to be stocked there. - Features in prestigious publications such as Vogue (US, UK, ITALY), WWD, BoF, Fucking Young, L’Uomo Vogue, Huffington Post, New York Times, CNN, BET, MTV, Vanity Fair, ELLE, Marie Claire, L’Officiel, Style.com, The Guardian and The New York Times. - Orange Culture is a regular participant of Lagos Fashion Week and has been shortlisted for the LVMH Prize 2014 for Young Fashion Designers. - In 2015, Orange Culture was selected by Louis Vuitton and Moet Hennessey for their first-ever LVMH prize as one of the 20 finalists selected from over 1221 brands from all over the world. - Orange Culture has showcased at London Fashion Week and NY Fashion Week - Orange Culture has been worn by celebrities like Lupita Nyongo, Dua Lipa, Akon, Chimamanda Adichie and went on to be the first-ever African brand to be nominated for the Woolmark Prize. - Orange Culture is currently stocked in Lagos, Paris, London, New York, Atlanta, Hollywood and Kenya and has plans to stock in many more stores and in 2019 debuted a successful spring summer 2020 during New York Fashion Week - The brand increased its media presence being worn by some of the best dresser celebrities like Ncuti Gatwa, Kelly Rowland, Lupita Nyongo, Dua Lipa, Davido, Adekunle Gold, Ayra Starr, Tiwa Savage, Chimamanda Adichie, Akon and more - Orange culture has been featured in two major showings at the Victoria and Albert Museum for its impact in androgynous and Nigerian, African Fashion as well as numerous museums worldwide and recently inducted into the BOF500 impact players in the global fashion industry.