After an opening reception of champagne and pastries (obviously all drink was gone long before the food: this is fashion after all!) we took our seats, ready for the show to begin. Following an encounter with what resembled a dancing African warrior hidden within a giant pom-pom, we knew that what Bunmi Koko was about to present us with for the rest of the show was certainly going to be of an exciting nature.
Bunmi Koko (meaning 'God gave me my other half') used her homeland, Nigeria, as inspiration for her SS 11 Collection entitled ‘Matriarchy.’ Combining sleek, sharp silhouettes with traditional African techniques including fringing and tie dye print, models descended down the runway holding tribal canes whilst their faces were hidden behind theatrical feather masks. A strong colour palette of deep reds, browns and golds as well as staple black and whites, also reflected Bunmi’s native.
With an already strong celeb fan following, the luxury womenswear label certainly had an array of stylish audience members at their Vauxhall Fashion Scout salon show this morning, including actress Ali Bastian and our very own exhibition designer, Rhiannon Jones, a.k.a Bolshie.
Words: Sarah Barlow
Illustration: Vic Riches
Photography: Nicole Trundle