LABRUM London AW24 - designed by an immigrant: Journey of colours

The new AW24 collection from emerging fashion brand Labrum London pays tribute to the inspiring stories of immigrant artists who have overcome adversity and made significant contributions to art and fashion. Creative Director Foday Dumbuya designed this collection to celebrate the vibrant and diverse cultures brought by immigrants across continents throughout history.

Global textile techniques fuse in harmonious patchwork

The collection seamlessly incorporates a range of textile techniques from around the world including digital embroidery, patchwork, quilting, woven fabrics and screen-printing. Fabrics wrap and drape around the body, inspired by traditional techniques of adornment, resilience and survival. The Naimbana patchwork blazer serves as a symbol of the harmonious fusion of different cultures and heritages. Its improvised patchwork design and quilting highlights the rich cultural tapestry that has shaped Labrum London.

Silhouettes embrace the diversity of cultural identities

The range of silhouettes throughout the collection can be described as a 'Cultural Confluence', embracing the diversity of cuts, shapes and styles that come from the cross-pollination of cultural identities in the modern world. The accessories also pay homage to the journeys of courageous individuals seeking new beginnings, with a contemporary reinterpretation of how people would carry their belongings.

Bringing heritage and modernity together

By combining traditional techniques and contemporary elements, Labrum London demonstrates the beauty that emerges from the harmonious fusion of heritage and modernity. The collection reimagines African design as a vibrant, contemporary language for today's world. Creative Director Foday Dumbuya invites us to join the journey as Labrum redefines what it means to be an African fashion brand in the 21st century.

RESEARCH / INSPIRATION: 

- Artist Man Ray
- Artists Eric N. Mac
- ‘Valley Curtain’ - Artists Christo & Jeanne-Claude
- ‘Lost & Found’ - Tom Kiefer, boarder protections janitor presented migrants seized belongings - Street Artist Dreph
- Nomadic tensile tents
- ‘Cross the River in a crowd’ - Nobukho Nqaba
- Pin research - Nomoli & Kple Kple mask
- Afghanistan Turkmens tribes - silk rap ikat design
- Burmese 1800s htamein - womenswear silhouette 

Foday Dumbuya would like to give thanks to:

Styling by Mark Makanaka Mutyambizi @makanak_a

Casting by Jonathan Johnson @iamjonjohnson @jonjohnsonstudios

Hair by Nick Irwin with thanks to Schwarzkopf Professional @nickirwinhair
@schwarzkopfpro #schwarzkopfprofessional #sessionlabel @kim_howells

Make up by Jane Richardson at Gary Represents with thanks to The Ordinary @theordinary @garyrepresents @citizenjanes

Soundwork by Julianknxx with Paul Cousins and Tawiah @julianknxx @paulcousinsmusic @tawiah @studioknxx

Poem ‘When the Colours Spoke’ by Grace Nichols

Choir
Tobi Obisanya Layla Ley
Jade Joseph Deborah Osibodu Niiella Dankwah-Coffie Jabez Walsh James Numbere

Footwear by

Adidas @adidaslondon @adidasoriginals

DrMartens @drmartensofficial

Headwear by Lucy Barlow @lucybarlow.hats

Patchwork & Quilting by Masha Guyard @madeinmash

Byborre - Engineered Knitted Lab @byborre

Moet & Chandon @moetchandon @ivanalostudio

British Fashion Council @britishfashioncouncil

Production @weare24.______

PR & Comms @b_theagency

Zak Group @zakgroupoffice

180 Studios @180.studios

LABRUM Team @labrumlondon @iamfods Abisola Akanni Aneta Blanka Pejcharova Damilola Ajani
Dina Ozorio Saldanha Finlay West Marcelle Agyapong Nathan Carbon Natalie Krauter Rachael Adegoke Tess Fontaine Maiah Marriner

Thank you to my family for your continuous support and for keeping me grounded.