On Fashion as a Cultural Movement
I first discovered Orange Culture last season when I was invited to watch the SS26 show at Berlin Fashion Week – and immediately fell in love. Am I biased because I adore a joyful colour palette amid the sea of Berlin black and grey? Most definitely. But it’s not just the rich colours or intricate prints that captivate me – it’s the textures: fringes, woven details, and the craftsmanship visible in every seam from my front-row seat. This is a brand that fascinates me, and I suspect it might intrigue you too. So, here are the questions I would ask to peek inside Adebayo’s conceptual mind:
Subject: Fashion’s Culture Has A Colour – And It’s Orange
To: Adebayo Okelawal
From: Amelie Klewe
Time: 19:24
Orange Culture has often been described as a “movement” rather than just a brand. At what point did you realise fashion could function as emotional and social activism for you? And do you see Orange Culture as reacting to society, or actively imagining a future beyond it?
Since showing organza on men as early as 2011, Orange Culture has consistently challenged hyper-masculinity. In many African societies, masculinity remains tightly policed. Have you faced resistance locally for the way Orange Culture redefines male and androgynous dress – and has that resistance evolved over time?
Your garments are designed to be worn by “any and everyone.” Do you think fashion is finally catching up to the idea of fluidity, or is it still commodifying it?
In a global fashion system obsessed with scale and speed, what does it mean to insist on local production and training as a form of resistance?
Through Painting Your Dreams and Orange Mentorship, you invest deeply in youth education. Why was it important for Orange Culture to extend beyond clothing into direct social impact?
After more than a decade of Orange Culture, has fashion changed you as much as you’ve tried to change fashion?
And if this conversation ever leaves the drafts folder – what are you ordering?
Maybe conversations do not require replies to exist.
But if you’re reading this – the thread is open.
