Immersed in the rawness and poetry of Lagos, a place where creativity shines through the energetic concrete landscape, the young and energetic Kenneth went on a well-deserved hiatus after his successful SS22 collection.

On a quest for stability, sustainability and authenticity, Kenneth was inspired by everything Lagos has to offer, from the bold typography on roadside stickers to the eclectic Katangua market located in the heart of the Lagos Mainland. 

The designer understood the inspirational force Lagosians have : the talent to upcycle found objects, and elevating them in a way that always looks unique and personal. This practice, although many times not followed by choice but by necessity, resonates with the French poet Baudelaire : he believed that through the process of sublimation, an artist could transform mundane or even unpleasant experiences into something beautiful and meaningful. This idea was closely tied to Baudelaire’s belief in the importance of individuality and the role of the artist as a kind of alchemist, able to transmute the ordinary into the extraordinary. 

And what an alchemist Kenneth Ize is, finding the synergy between his house codes like the art and technique of the weaving process, and the deep-routed upcycling he has seen during his time in the Nigerian city.
The runway took place on the street of Norman Williams, a street Kenneth walked by everyday to walk his dog; pushing the viewer further into the atmosphere of Lagos, and continuing to define Kenneth Ize’s rich and colorful brand in this boundary-pushing collection titled « Backward Never, Forward Ever ».

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