ORANGE CULTURE’S SPRING 2026: A POIGNANT “LETTER TO HER”

At Lagos Fashion Week, Adebayo Oke-Lawal’s Orange Culture delivered its most emotionally raw and refined collection yet. Titled “Letter to Her,” the show was a heartfelt tribute to his late mother, opening with a solemn minute of silence that set the tone for a deeply personal narrative woven throughout every look.

In a departure from the bright hues the brand is known for, the entire collection was rendered in all-white, evoking purity, healing, and a sense of quiet reflection. Through sculptural shapes, delicate fabrics, and a careful mix of textures, Oke-Lawal explored new forms of vulnerability. Key pieces included a crisp white shirt layered under a pleated cream vest, paired with inflated balloon trousers, and a sheer one-shoulder top trimmed with feathers and finished with an exaggerated rope hem.

The only print in the lineup was deeply meaningful: portraits of Oke-Lawal’s mother and brother, digitized by artist Yasser Claud Enin, anchoring the collection to personal memory and legacy.

Stylist Olalu Ebiti helped steer the aesthetic toward a gentler, more introspective design language. In doing so, Oke-Lawal bid farewell to what he referred to as the old Orange Culture, a brand once built on bold, gender-fluid silhouettes and vibrant color, while preserving its essence.

Backstage, the emotional weight of the collection was felt. The designer was visibly shaken, embraced by guests who whispered words of affirmation like, “Your mother would’ve been so proud.” Now, Oke-Lawal plans to step back to heal, before turning his attention to returning to Berlin Fashion Week in the new year with renewed purpose.