My couture is, at its heart, crafted to truly dress women, to create garments that live and breathe with them; however, a collection also serves as a powerful narrative vehicle, a means to articulate my perspective on the world. This season, that vision turns to nature and the profoundly troubled relationship contemporary humanity has forged with it, a dynamic defined by exploitation and neglect. It is this critical subject that I seek to address through the aptly named “Ikorrok” collection. In the Ewondo language of Cameroon, "Ikorrok" signifies a garden left fallow—a purposeful act of stepping back, of ceasing exploitation to allow the land to rest, regenerate, and reclaim its inherent vitality. This concept is not one of abandonment but of respectful reciprocity, and it perfectly encapsulates the new, symbiotic partnership we must all strive to establish with the natural world, moving from extraction to nurturing coexistence.
This philosophical core is woven into the very fabric of the collection, which operates on dual levels: as a poignant story and as a deliberate stylistic exercise exploring the myriad ways fashion can evoke the essence of nature—its flora and fauna. This dialogue is expressed visually through intricate prints, rich brocades, delicate embroidery, and sculptural appliqués, including a specific technique inspired by traditional Yoruba culture that involves the meticulous beading of small animals, embedding a heritage of craftsmanship into a contemporary critique. Yet, the conversation extends beyond the visual into the profoundly material and ethical. In a more abstract and, I believe, more impactful manifestation, the collection pursues a philosophy of creating garments that are inherently “gentle” on nature itself. This commitment materializes in pieces designed for a full, biodegradable life cycle, ensuring that after their long and beautiful service, they return to the earth without trace.
A prime example of this principle is a series of garments crafted from entirely natural, biodegradable French sheep’s wool felt, which are then embroidered with unique elements that speak to both art and earth: pieces of hand-worked porcelain, fragments of semi-precious stone, and urushi lacquer, the latter developed in a deeply meaningful collaboration with visual artist Aline Putot-Toupry. These elements, while exquisite, are chosen with intention, blending artisanal traditions to create something that is not only beautiful to wear but also responsible in its very composition. Thus, “Ikorrok” is more than a presentation of clothing; it is a holistic statement, a fallow field of sartorial expression where aesthetics, ethics, cultural heritage, and environmental responsibility are allowed to intertwine and regenerate, proposing a hopeful path forward for both fashion and the world it inhabits.
