Duro Olowu

About the Artist

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and Jamaican mother, Olowu's first eponymous collection in 2004 was a critical hit with the fashion world and sold out internationally. It featured the now signature "Duro” dress, hailed by both British and American ​Vogue​ as the dress of the year in 2005. That same year, he won the prestigious New Designer of the Year Award at the British Fashion Awards.

Alluring silhouettes, sharp tailoring, original prints juxtaposed with luxurious fabrics in off-beat, yet harmonious, combinations became Olowu's signature. His collections are a reflection of his interpretation of an international style that is timeless and relevant. His curatorial projects ​Material​ in 2012 and ​More Material​ in 2014 at Salon 94 Gallery in New York met with critical praise by the art world.

Olowu's first museum exhibition, ​Making & Unmaking​ at the Camden Arts Centre in London in 2016, also garnered high critical curatorial praise and is regarded as a landmark exhibition both for the scale and range of artists included as well as the deftly original installation he designed for the show. He lives between London and New York.