Duro Olowu
Duro Olowu is a London-based womenswear label founded in 2004 by the Nigerian-born British designer of the same name. It is celebrated for its print-mixing and the empire-line Duro dress.
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Duro Olowu |
| Base | London |
| Signature | The Duro dress |
| Award | New Designer of the Year, British Fashion Awards 2005 |
What is Duro Olowu?
Duro Olowu is the eponymous womenswear label of Duro Olowu, a designer born in Lagos in 1965 to a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father. He moved to the UK at 16 and studied law at the University of Kent before turning to fashion.
History
Olowu launched the label in 2004 with a Spring/Summer 2005 collection. Its breakthrough piece, the Duro dress, an empire-waist silk dress in multiple prints, was named dress of the year by both American and British Vogue. In 2005 he won New Designer of the Year at the British Fashion Awards, followed by Best International Designer at the African Fashion Awards in 2009.
Products and positioning
The label is known for luxurious womenswear that layers contrasting prints and textures. Olowu is also an exhibition curator, with shows including Material and More Material at Salon 94 in New York, Making and Unmaking at Camden Arts Centre in London and Seeing Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Distribution
The label has been stocked by retailers including Browns and Harrods in London and Ikram in Chicago.
Why it matters
Duro Olowu's print-led approach and cultural work have made him an influential voice linking African, Caribbean and European references in luxury fashion.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Duro Olowu?
Duro Olowu is a Nigerian-born British designer, born in Lagos in 1965, who launched his London womenswear label in 2004.
What is the Duro dress?
The Duro dress is the label's signature empire-waist silk dress in mixed prints, named dress of the year by American and British Vogue.