- AFP
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Nigerian Kenneth Ize made a storming Paris
fashion week debut Monday with his “fairy godmother”, supermodel Naomi
Campbell, closing the showing.
The 29-year-old, who has had a meteoric rise to the Paris catwalk,
lavished
praise on the ageless British model who he said had supported him “from day
one”.
Both were cheered by the fashionistas as the end of the show.
“I am living my dream,” Ize told reporters backstage after the show on
the
opening night of Paris fashion week.
“Naomi made this happen. She has been part of the journey since day one.
She is very supportive. She is my fairy godmother,” he declared.
Ize has made an name for himself reinterpreting traditional West African
fabrics such as the aso oke cloth woven by the Yoruba people, and his
autumn
winter collection was full of it.
He told AFP that the show was inspired by his memories of going to
Catholic
church in Lagos with his mother, with everyone in their Sunday best outfits.
Black hearts
“It is about my religion, love, who I am, the people I believe in and
sharing,” he added.
It is a big week for black African designers on the Paris catwalk with
the
South African Thebe Magugu, who won the LVMH Young Fashion Designer of the
year prize, getting a special official presentation slot Tuesday.
Last month Cameroonian creator Imane Ayissi made history by becoming the
first black African designer to be admitted to the elite ranks of Paris
haute
couture.
Like Ayissi, Ize is a champion of traditional African fabrics and
techniques with the LVMH prize jury — where he lost out to Magugu —
praising
his “authenticity and the fight to source and produce locally in Nigeria”.
Ize also reflected African silhouettes with tunics worn over trousers.
“I
believe in the way I dress, this is who I am,” said the designer, who
partially grew up in Austria, where he studied in Vienna under the Turkish
Cypriot British designer Hussein Chalayan.
Earlier, South Korean designer Kiminte Kimhekim sent out a playful black
and white collection centred on black heart motifs, with one model even
sporting a heart-shaped hairstyle. (AFP)
Credit: Kenneth Ize AHW20-21 Catwalkpictures
