Self-taught designer Adebayo Oke-Lawal founded Orange Culture in Lagos, Nigeria in 2011. Established as a menswear label, Oke-Lawal created Orange Culture as a space to discuss and challenge toxic ideas of masculinity, creating designs which explore male vulnerability and emotionality through use of perceived ‘feminine’ colours, styles and fabrics. Since its foundation the brand has become increasingly genderfluid, which Oke-Lawal attributes to him becoming more comfortable with his vision for Orange Culture, and less concerned about societal expectations. Central to his design philosophy is the belief that ‘clothing should be fluid and have the ability to be worn by any- and every- one.’

The ensemble is an orange cotton jacket and shorts set from Orange Culture’s Autumn/Winter 2020 collection, Flower Boy. The title alludes to derogatory remarks Oke-Lawal received as a young boy, now reframed as a celebration of masculine vulnerability. The bold orange colour of the ensemble is both a reference to the name of the brand but also Oke-Lawal’s mission to reclaim bright colours for menswear, remarking ‘In our studio, no colour or cut is gendered’. The jacket and shorts are printed with a technical graphic design which was also a key feature of this collection.