PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NFL FLORAL BUTTON HAWAIIAN SHIRT

London Fashion Week PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NFL FLORAL BUTTON HAWAIIAN SHIRT . is renowned as being a hotbed for emerging talent and this season St Albans-born and London-based designer, Yaku Stapleton, a graduate of Leeds Beckett and Central Saint Martins, became the standout NewGen talent with his immersive SS25 Afrofuturism presentation.Following the success of his MA collection, which won the L’Oréal Professionnel Creative Award, Yaku launched his namesake label and debuted the ‘The ImPossible Family Reunion in RPG Space’ series, featuring looks based on a fantasy version of his family members, reimagined as though they were characters in a video game.The series, which showcased its fourth chapter during LFW, is inspired by the exploration of perception and sculptural form, rich with elements of fantasy, and viewed through the lens of Afrofuturism, a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, history and fantasy to explore the African diaspora and Black culture.This approach transforms conceptual fantasy into wearable reality, with the latest iteration of the series drawing inspiration from both prehistoric and present natural life, showcasing apparel and footwear primarily made from deadstock fabrics, which Yaku revived through in-house manipulation and dyeing. This season also included womenswear for the first time, adding “freedom and movement” to the apparel, in line with the menswear offering.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NFL FLORAL BUTTON HAWAIIAN SHIRT, hoodie, sweater, longsleeve and ladies t-shirt

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES NFL FLORAL BUTTON HAWAIIAN SHIRT . Yaku transformed 180 Strand into an interactive exhibition featuring four tableaus – The Library, Reflection, Combat, and The Forest, where actors brought his game fantasy vision “of hope and belonging” to life. The emerging designer also ensured that his sustainable approach to fashion was implemented across the presentation with the floors, ceilings, walls and props used to decorate the space made from textiles developed in-house, using deadstock fabrics, which will later repurposed into garments.Ahead of his LFW debut, FashionUnited caught up with Yaku Stapleton, who is the Cohort One in the Paul Smith’s Foundation ‘The Fashion Residency’, about his brand, inspiration, and how the fashion industry could do more to support emerging designers like him.I wasn’t expecting it, to be honest, but it was really nice to be rewarded after creating a collection I was truly proud of.Until now, the previous chapters of The ImPossible Family Reunion have been primarily built on the hope associated with my version of Afrofuturism. However, this collection seeks to take the first steps in addressing the darker past that leads to hope for a brighter future.Visually, we explored more historical references, as well as elements from different parts of my childhood compared to the previous collections, such as WWE, Berserk, folkloric monsters, and prehistoric animals.