Foday Dumbuya, the recipient of this yr’s Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, headed to the 4 Seasons lodge overlooking the Tower of London for a ritzy celebration of his Sierra Leonean roots with the spring 2024 assortment.
After rounds of mini-bottles of Moët & Chandon, legendary Arsenal footballer Ian Wright opened the present, donning a blue patterned double-breasted go well with and a pair of Adidas Sambas, personalized for the German sportswear large.
Dumbuya didn’t specify if the shoe collaboration might result in one thing greater however confirmed that he’s “engaged on one thing that I can’t talk about.”
“He was my icon after I moved to this nation. He’s executed a lot for the neighborhood. Additionally, I’m performing some work with Arsenal and he’s an Adidas ambassador. When he mentioned sure, it was every little thing,” Dumbuya mentioned backstage of Wright’s look.
The designer mentioned he selected the situation as a result of it was once the Port of London Authority, the place folks got here to get a allow to work in London. “My story is about folks motion, migration and designed by an immigrant. So it’s not dissimilar [to last season’s show at the Brixton Market],” he added.
Dumbuya additionally thinks it’s not a foul concept to convey his neighborhood from Brixton to “an area the place they don’t assume they belong. You are available and you’ve got all this lovely reception, that usually modifications folks’s perspective, and it helps them perceive the juxtaposition of Brixton and the drive of luxurious.”
Moreover his signature colourful tailoring numbers, a spotlight within the assortment was using material woven with masks motifs from the Temne and Mende peoples, two of the most important tribes of Sierra Leone, the place his dad and mom are from.
Different standouts included a tracksuit in collaboration with Hackney Wick FC and Netflix’s crime drama collection “Prime Boy,” and blazers and coats adorned with prints primarily based on Nomoli collectible figurines, which in native tradition are believed to convey good well being and good harvests to the house owners. The Nomoli art work may be discovered on the Adidas Sambas.
The present was accompanied by an emotional music efficiency by his pals, singer Tawiah and pianist Karim Kamar. Because of their emotional build-up, and the way inspiring Dumbuya’s journey has been, the designer acquired a standing ovation on the finale.
