Kenneth Ize made his Paris Fashion Week debut last night presenting his Fall 2020 ready-to-wear collection with an impressive runway lineup that included Imaan Hammam, who opened the show, Mayowa Nicholas, Liya Kebede, Adwoa Aboah, Blesyna Minher, Alton Mason, and a surprising closing by Naomi Campbell.
This may be Ize’s first PFW show, but last year, he was in Paris making a case for his brand as an LVMH Prize finalist, alongside fellow African designer Thebe Magugu.
Currently at the forefront of Africa’s fashion boom, Kenneth Ize’s use of aso-oke is exceptional and has attracted the attention of top international publications as well as a spot in Naomi Campbell’s heart. The fall offerings tell a tale of his childhood attending Catholic masses with his mother.
He works with textile artisans from Lagos, Kwara, and Kogi making hand-woven aso-oke into conventional pieces hoping to preserve some of Nigeria’s heritage in the process. The Kenneth Ize checked pants and jackets frayed at the hems are some of his signature pieces.
See the full show below
PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Models walk the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Lindsey Wixson walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Models walk the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) A model walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Naomi Campbell walks the runway during the Kenneth Ize show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)PARIS, FRANCE – FEBRUARY 24: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Nigerian Designer Kenneth Ize acknowledges the audience during the Kenneth Ize show as part of Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2020/2021 on February 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images)
