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When he graduated in 2013, he launched his eponymous label, Kenneth Ize, at Lagos Fashion Week where he presented an impressive S/S14 show in which unisex garments were constructed using traditional African practices, which told a rich narrative of a diverse culture. He later took a two-year hiatus while doing an MA at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna, where he studied under the tutelage of Hussein Chalayan. His brand was then relaunched in 2016 for Spring/Summer. Ize returned with a bold S/S16 collection which, like the one before it, prioritised artisans practices passed down from generation to generation Ize found his source of inspiration within his designs; leading him to make varieties of cultural mixtures and traditions. After spending many years abroad, he decided to move back to Nigeria to continue working and improving within his own fashion design in the Nigeria fashion industry. He works from his studio in Yaba, Lagos. Ize collaborates with artists and design groups across Nigeria in Kwara, Kogi and Lagos, as well as supporting a small community of weavers local to Lagos. Ize did not stop there, he is also influencing the creative arts curriculum in local schools to create traditional fashion. The materials Kenneth Ize uses in his fashion brands and design are from a small community of weavers and different design groups across Nigeria. He also built a factory in Ilorin, Nigeria, where a majority of the production is done, and the finishing touches are done in Italy. Three years after his break, Kenneth showcased his collection in Paris for S/S19. He also had a slot at Arise Fashion Week in Lagos, and stockists in Vienna, Switzerland and Nigeria. Ize is among a spate of Nigerian designers at the forefront of this African fashion boom.
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In 2019, the brand introduced womenswear and currently counts Ssense, Browns and Machine-A among its stockists. Ize was a finalist for the LVMH Prize 2019 as Anna Wintour name-checked him in a video with Rihanna, while a panel of fashion titans from Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière to Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri selected him as a finalist for the LVMH Prize, which has become the fashion industry’s most prestigious Ones To Watch list. Ize is also a joint winner of the Arise Fashion Week Award for “Designer of the Year.”He is one of 10 finalists for the International Woolmark Prize. Kenneth Ize emerged winner of ARISE Fashion Week‘s “30 Under 30” fashion competition. The competition lasted for two days with top emerging African designers showcasing their pieces for the Spring/Summer 2021 season. When asked how the fashion industry in Africa changed since he started out. He replied: “The Nigerian fashion scene is definitely growing – I would use the word “spicy” to describe it. With demand comes growth, and what I’ve seen is more demand. When I started the brand, the business of fashion in Africa was not new, but it was a challenge. People were cautious – can I wear this? Is this OK to buy into? But, in time, people are becoming more comfortable and more relaxed about experimenting”. Kenneth Ize brand is set out to revamp the Nigeria fashion industry by introducing a modern creative of the olden techniques and fabrics existing, thus, giving his brand a soft landing in the global fashion scene. References Another Man Publishing Ltd. EverybodyWiki Business of fashion Graziadaily Featured Image source: Another Man
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