Designers / Nigeria · Textile heritage
Kenneth Ize
Kenneth Ize is a textile heritage label based in Lagos, Nigeria, started in 2013. Behind the label: Kenneth Ize. It is known for striped tailoring and fringed dresses in aso oke, the hand-woven Yoruba cloth, made with his own weavers. Latest milestone on record (2026): Shows at Berlin Fashion Week, held from 30 January to 2 February 2026, for the first time.
Quick facts
Kenneth Ize at a glance
- Behind the label
- Kenneth Ize
- Based
- Lagos, Nigeria
- Since
- 2013
- Focus
- Textile heritage
- Makes
- Menswear and, since 2019, womenswear, in textiles woven for the label
- Trained
- University of Applied Arts Vienna, including an MA
- @kennethize ↗
The person and the label
Who is behind Kenneth Ize?
Kenneth Ize, who grew up partly in Austria and studied at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, launched his label at Lagos Fashion Week in 2013 and relaunched it for Spring/Summer 2016 after a break for his MA, Lagos Fashion Week records. His work centres on aso oke, the prestigious hand-woven Yoruba cloth: the V&A says a community of 10 to 15 weavers makes it at his factory in Ilorin, and that weaving enough for one jacket takes around 24 hours over a week. He was an LVMH Prize finalist in 2019, made his Paris runway debut in February 2020 with Naomi Campbell closing the show, and in 2021 co-designed a capsule with Karl Lagerfeld. In early 2026 he showed at Berlin Fashion Week for the first time, with a collection titled Joy.
Timeline
Kenneth Ize, dated
- 2013Launches his label at Lagos Fashion Week. Source ↗
- 2019Finalist for the LVMH Prize. Source ↗
- February 2020Makes his Paris Fashion Week debut with Autumn/Winter 2020, closed by Naomi Campbell. Source ↗
- July 2021Karl Lagerfeld releases a gender-neutral capsule co-designed with him, with colour patterns drawn from aso oke. Source ↗
- 2022The V&A acquires a multicoloured aso oke ensemble from his Spring/Summer 2021 collection. Source ↗
- 2026Shows at Berlin Fashion Week, held from 30 January to 2 February 2026, for the first time. Source ↗
More from Nigeria
Other Nigeria labels to know
- Lisa Folawiyo Ready-to-wear · since 2005
- Orange Culture Menswear · since 2011
- Lagos Space Programme Textile heritage · since 2018
- Tokyo James Menswear · since 2015
- IAMISIGO Textile heritage · since 2009
- Emmy Kasbit Menswear · since 2014
- Fruché Ready-to-wear · since 2014
- Bloke Streetwear and contemporary · since 2015
- NKWO Slow and sustainable · since 2012
- Andrea Iyamah Ready-to-wear · since 2011
- Ejiro Amos Tafiri Ready-to-wear · since 2010
Read the full Nigeria guide, with the method behind it and where to see the work in person.
Sources
Sources
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Quick answers
Kenneth Ize, answered
Who is behind Kenneth Ize?
- Kenneth Ize. Kenneth Ize is a textile heritage label based in Lagos.
When was Kenneth Ize founded?
- 2013, according to the sources listed on this page.
What does Kenneth Ize make?
- Menswear and, since 2019, womenswear, in textiles woven for the label. It is known for striped tailoring and fringed dresses in aso oke, the hand-woven Yoruba cloth, made with his own weavers.
Where did the designer of Kenneth Ize train?
- University of Applied Arts Vienna, including an MA.