Kenneth Ize

Kenneth Ize
Born (1990-10-05) October 5, 1990 (age 36)
Lagos, Nigeria
EducationUniversity of Applied Arts Vienna
Known forUse of traditional West African fabrics and craftsmanship
LabelKenneth Ize
AwardsFinalist, LVMH Prize (2019)

Kenneth Ize (born October 5, 1990) is a Nigerian fashion designer. He is the founder of Kenneth Ize, an eponymous fashion brand, known for its use of traditional West African fabrics and craftsmanship.

Early life and education

Ize was born in Lagos, Nigeria. At the age of four, he moved to Austria with his family. At the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Ize studied fashion and was mentored by designers Bernhard Willhelm and Hussein Chalayan. A New York internship with Edun, the sustainable fashion label co-founded by Bono and Ali Hewson, inspired his decision to start his own label and base it in Nigeria. After graduating in 2013, Ize launched his label at Lagos Fashion Week but took a two-year hiatus to pursue a master's degree before relaunching in 2015.

Career

Ize's work focuses on the use of Aso Oke, a traditional Nigerian fabric woven by local artisans. Ize collaborates with weavers and design groups across Nigeria. Made by the Yoruba, aso oke is traditionally worn on special occasions, and Ize produces it with a community of 10 to 15 weavers at his factory in Ilorin. His designs often feature technicolor suiting and androgynous looks, which he says pay homage to his Pan-African heritage.

In 2019, Ize was a finalist for the LVMH Prize and introduced a womenswear line. He made his Paris Fashion Week debut in February 2020, with models Imaan Hammam and Naomi Campbell participating in the show. In December 2020, he was among 20 honorees at The Fashion Awards, presented by the British Fashion Council, recognized in the community category.

In 2021, he was named a finalist for the International Woolmark Prize. He also collaborated with Maison Karl Lagerfeld. He returned to the Paris runway in September 2021 with his Spring 2022 collection, titled "It's a New Dawn".

In 2022, Ize parted ways with his investor and put the label on hiatus, settling in Lagos; for his Fall 2023 collection, shown in Paris, he assembled garments from upcycled clothing sourced in the city's street markets. An ensemble from his Spring/Summer 2021 collection was acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum and displayed in its 2022 exhibition Africa Fashion.

Personal life

Ize is openly gay. He has spoken about working as a queer designer in Nigeria, where same-sex relationships are criminalized, and has used his collections to draw attention to LGBTQ+ rights.

References

  1. ↑ "How Designer Kenneth Ize Is Championing Nigerian Craft". ELLE. October 15, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  2. ↑ Coop, Elizabeth (May 1, 2019). "The Designer Reimagining Traditional West African Fabrics for a New Generation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Designer Kenneth Ize's Latest Collection Is His Most Personal Yet". The Zoe Report. March 2, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hunt, Kenya (December 3, 2020). "Kenneth Ize, The Designer Loved By Naomi Campbell, Has Just Been Honoured At The Fashion Awards". Grazia. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Kenneth Ize | BoF 500 | The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry". The Business of Fashion. August 5, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Ensemble - Ize, Kenneth". Victoria and Albert Museum. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Kenneth Ize Brings Loom Exhibition to Ghana". The Business of Fashion. May 21, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  8. ↑ Odu, Mazzi (July 16, 2019). "Kenneth Ize, the LVMH-prize finalist redefining African luxury". CNN. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  9. ↑ Freeman, Liam (February 23, 2020). "Meet Kenneth Ize — the Nigerian designer making his Paris Fashion Week debut". Financial Times. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  10. ↑ Nnadi, Chioma (February 6, 2019). "This Nigerian Designer Has Naomi Campbell and Imaan Hammam Rocking His Mesmerizing Handwoven Suiting". Vogue. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  11. ↑ Theodosi, Natalie (December 3, 2020). "British Fashion Council Honors 20 Change Makers at 2020 Digital Awards". WWD. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Meet the 2021 International Woolmark Prize Finalists". International Woolmark Prize. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  13. ↑ Phelps, Nicole (July 5, 2021). "Kenneth Ize on His Maison Karl Lagerfeld Collab: "Sometimes It Feels Like He's Beside Me and I'm Telling Him a Story"". Vogue. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Kenneth Ize Says 'It's A New Dawn' At Paris Fashion Week". Essence. September 29, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Diderich, Joelle (April 27, 2023). "Kenneth Ize Plucked His Fall Collection From the Streets of Lagos". WWD. Retrieved June 20, 2026.