By Yemisi Suleiman

Polo Avenue, West Africa’s leading fashion destination has announced its collaboration with Nigerian fashion designer Banke Kuku, for this year’s Polo Fashion Series event.
This collaboration aligns with Polo Avenue’s dedication to promoting growth and vitality in the African fashion industry.

With over 35 years of industry expertise, Polo Avenue remains steadfast in fulfilling its longstanding commitment to providing unwavering support to emerging and exceptional fashion brands in Africa through its annual event, the Polo Fashion series.

The launch of this collection will mark a new direction for the Banke Kuku brand, one that emphasises craftsmanship whilst elevating the mainline with new seasonal prints.

This season will unveil a first-ever ‘Atelier Capsule’ collection showing creations of a couture-style approach, employing elaborate embellishment and never-before-seen embroidery.

The inspiration behind the “Atelier Capsule” drop stemmed from the consistent requests from loyal Banke Kuku clientele and the remarkable collaborations the brand has fostered with creative luminaries.

Furthermore, we are delighted to announce that this exclusive collection will be accessible at all Polo Avenue boutiques across the nation.
Drawing cues from Banke’s near-meditative morning walks, transporting her to serene gardens reminiscent of Eden, has led to a rich set of new prints based on Lagos’ stunning fauna and flora, adding to the already vibrant print library.

Nature is a recurrent theme both in the print and collection designs intertwined with the impactful work Banke Kuku continues to be involved in.

The brand’s platform ‘Prints for Purpose’ sees Banke support local causes such as the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, providing donations to help preserve natural wildlife in Nigeria.

The EDEN collection is a manifestation of this passion for the outdoors – a dreamy and scenic collection with silhouettes reflecting the key essence of the brand’s Occasion Loungewear, delivered this season with an ethereal twist.

Introducing a fresh perspective on occasion wear with EDEN, Banke is offering her clients, loyal and future the possibility of “building your look” through layering monogrammed and statement prints conveying movement across the spectrum.

This principle of “combinability” is a modern way to use prints and layering light textiles promoting inclusivity and diversity. Lagos has become a fertile fashion hub, where “Creativity is Currency” according to Banke who frequently collaborates with musicians, contemporary artists and designers to help propagate this creative fertility onto the international scene.

The prints tell captivating tales of the plants and animals hailing from the brand’s home, Nigeria. Hummingbirds whispering to Bougainvillea.

Ladybirds amid Nigeria’s national flower – the Yellow Trumpet, and the brand’s new signature monogram in colours inspired by natural elements – earth, water, fire, and air. Banke will curate the Flower Shop Cafe in Lagos throughout Lagos Fashion Week, consistently infusing the space with natural and floral themes over a three-month period.