Spring
Summer
20
23
Africa Is Limitless
At the heart of SS23, are the boundless and enduring marks of the African people and their cultures. The research process led by Creative Director Priya Ahluwalia saw the creation of a vast visual tapestry in the studio, inspired by everything from vintage museum blankets from Tunisia, to technicolour Sapeurs, album covers from Cote d'Ivoire and beaded elements from Kenyan and Rwandan cultures. With 'Africa Is Limitless', Ahluwalia celebrates the nations of Africa’s many individual stories as a testament that all Africans know it to be: a vast wonderland of cultural innovation, rich in stories and histories that have waited too long to be told authentically. These stories will wait no longer.
Woolmark
Prize
20
22
Ahluwalia was a finalist in the Woolmark 2022 prize and presented a collection featuring bespoke merino wool and silk blend jacquards, naturally dyed yarns and upcycling of vintage merino wool garments. Inspiration came from Bollywood and Nollywood cinema posters and was reflected in the patterns and textures created. The collection featured tailored and knitted pieces.
Ahluwalia
GANNI
20
22
Drop 2
"Working with the GANNI archive has been really interesting, delving into it and reimagining it through an Ahluwalia lens. All pieces are made from pre-existing garments and deadstock materials, making each item unique, a collectible made to be worn and lived in. Working with an all-denim collection has also been a great challenge, really amplifying the power of using one universal material - which was also a first for me. Denim is so interesting, as people from all walks of life wear it. We wanted to underline that versatility throughout the campaign and collection.”
- Priya Ahluwalia
Ahluwalia
&PaulSmith
20
22
Combining distinctive codes and signatures from each designer, from Ahluwalia’s seaming and panelling techniques and Paul Smith’s distinctive check fabrics, the results are a creating a rich collage-like effect collection. The vibrant colour palette takes its cue from Priya’s personal archive of photographs taken in Nigeria and India, while Paul’s love of sport is represented by references to vintage cycling paraphernalia.
Autumn
Winter
20
22
From Nollywood to Bollywood
AW22 explores the deep connection its creative director, Priya Ahluwalia, has to both Bollywood and Nollywood, influenced by the heady imagery and dramatic plots of traditional Indian and Nigerian storytelling, taking from Ahluwalia’s cross-continental heritage. From Bollywood to Nollywood is Ahluwalia’s love letter to the films that informed her youth, placing them on a shiny pedestal for all to enjoy.
Spring
Summer
20
22
Parts of Me
Ahluwalia's first joint men's and women's outing celebrates Afro-Caribbean hair's artistry, symbolism, and rituals through braid inspired seam lines, prints and embroidery. The collection was inspired by photography by J.D. Okhai Ojeikere, 90’s music videos and vintage hair salon posters. The lookbook features Ahluwalia x Mulberry collaborative bags.
Shop the collection →
Ahluwalia
x GANNI
20
21
Drop 1
Ahluwalia’s first 19-piece womenswear collection made in collaboration with GANNI. A key narrative of the exclusive collection is both brands’ affinity for partying and imagery from Ahluwalia's family archive. All pieces have all been designed and made using GANNI's surplus materials and leftover styles.
Autumn
Winter
20
21
Traces
The clothes from this collection offer a more subdued look with colours of navy blue, dark green, earthy brown and black. The pieces are complimented with Ahluwalia’s renowned graphic theme of stripes, diagonal lines and curved detailing, creating smaller blocks of bold colour.
Spring
Summer
20
21
Liberation
Mixing references from the 1960s protests in Nigeria with illustrated infographics about Black Americans by W. E. B. Du Bois, this collection features elaborate prints and graphics designed in collaboration with Dennis McInnes.
Autumn
Winter
20
20
Frequency
Researching events and culture across India, Nigeria and the UK, this collection is heavily inspired by 1965 - a year that is significant for both major political events and on a personal level. The signature Wave print is introduced through prints, vinyl graphics, puffer coats and beading.
Browns
Capsule
A 10-piece capsule collection that takes inspiration from the 70s and 80s. Using Ahluwalia’s signature patchwork technique, this collection focused on reworking tailoring to create pieces that felt both familiar and experimental at the same time.
Spring
Summer
20
20
A Family Affair
A collection made up of nostalgic memories of the 1990s and reinterpreted pieces from Ahluwalia’s childhood. Digital prints feature family photos are reworked into rave flyers inspired by the UK Garage scene.
Autumn
Winter
20
19
Foundation
AW19 uses deadstock through traditional techniques to create a collection that explores the idea of passing pieces on through generations and giving the garment new life. The unique patchwork process means that no two pieces in the collection are the same.
Spring
Summer
20
19
