Ahead of his fall show, designer Lamine Badian Kouyaté discusses the inspirations behind his new collection, emphasizing the blend of cultural heritage and sustainability.
Days before his anticipated fall show, Mali-born designer Lamine Badian Kouyaté provided insight into his latest fashion collection, which he described as a reflective journey that aims to move forward by looking back. In an interview with Vogue, Kouyaté expressed the foundational influence of his upbringing, stating, “I even went back to my parents, all the education that I took from them, and my source of Africa.” He emphasized a cultural ethos prevalent in his homeland, noting, “People there don’t like to throw things away,” which contributed to his inspiration for incorporating recycled materials into his designs.
Kouyaté’s extensive collection served as a showcase of his signature styles, featuring elements such as red-stitched Lycra, touches of fur, silk-screened denim, and upcycled sports jerseys, along with vibrant wax prints. The collection introduced new techniques as well, including knits crafted from fabric scraps using a colossal needle, yielding pieces like a lace skirt and a scarf-turned-dress. Notably, the tunic was remarkably heavy, and patchworked, upcycled jeans flaunted exceptionally long legs, creating a slinky aesthetic.
While Kouyaté has consistently followed his unique vision—evident in the guerilla shows where models carried boom boxes through Paris—his collection also embraced contemporary trends. It featured an array of colors and patterns, reflecting popular elements of the season such as neons, lace, animal prints, and heritage fabrics, blending Western styles like tweed and plaid with African influences like Bogolan.
Sustainability remained at the core of Kouyaté’s collection, showcasing his commitment to environmentally conscious fashion. “I’m trying to get back to the essence of funkin’ fashion—make it sexy, but even if you pick it from the trash [meaning: recycled fabrics] to keep that dignity of the product, make it high,” he articulated, underscoring his philosophy that fashion can be both playful and responsible.
Source: Noah Wire Services
