Kente Gentlemen
Côte d'Ivoire
Kente Gentlemen is an Ivorian fashion label founded in 2015 by designer Aristide Loua. It makes tailoring and gender-fluid suiting that reworks kente and other West African textiles in a contemporary way.
| Founded | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Aristide Loua |
| Origin | Côte d'Ivoire |
| Signature | Tailoring in kente and African textiles |
| Website | kentegentlemen.com |
What is Kente Gentlemen?
Kente Gentlemen is a contemporary African label from Côte d'Ivoire that describes itself as gender-fluid. Its signature is menswear-inspired suiting cut from traditional West African cloth such as kente, giving classic tailoring an elegant and colourful twist.
History
Founder Aristide Loua was born in Gagnoa, Côte d'Ivoire, and returned to the country in 2015, when he started the brand. A central part of the label's mission is preserving kente and other African fabrics and supporting local textile industries.
Products and positioning
- Suit jackets and tailored trousers
- Menswear-inspired pieces for all genders
- Dresses and separates in African textiles
Its collection Birth of Cool drew on artists including Miles Davis, Fela Kuti and Gordon Parks.
Distribution
The label is sold internationally through Industrie Africa, the platform for African designer fashion, where many pieces are offered made to order.
Why it matters
Kente Gentlemen is part of a new generation of West African designers turning heritage textiles into contemporary tailoring for a global audience, while backing local textile production.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Kente Gentlemen?
Kente Gentlemen was founded in 2015 by Ivorian designer Aristide Loua.
Where is Kente Gentlemen from?
Kente Gentlemen is an Ivorian label from Côte d'Ivoire, despite its name referencing Ghanaian kente cloth.