Born in Lagos in the 1980’s,Banke Kuku moved to the United Kingdom at the age of eight. At the age of 19, Banke graduated from Central St Martins College and then Chelsea College of Art and Design, having gained a bachelor degree in Textiles. In 2011, Banke launched the textiles arm of her business, after working at a number of international fashion houses including that of Jasmine di Milo and with the leading interior company, Designers Guild, assisting with fabric design for the Royal collection which showcased at Buckingham Palace in 2010.The cultural fusion, between the country of her birth and the country where she spent her formative years, has heavily influenced her bold patterns, resulting in statement prints with captivating impact. Over the years, Banke Kuku Textiles has collaborated with brands to create exquisite and unique pieces. Our collaborative designs are created to our clients’ meticulous taste, as well as according to project briefs. Our collaborations range from: – Fashion prints for seasonal collections- Prints and product design for fashion and lifestyle accessories- Interior fabrics and furniture for residential and corporate (hotels, restaurants, bars, office spaces) clients the resultant designs, through collaborations with fashion houses including Duro Olowu, Jewel by Lisa, Virgos Lounge and Lot78, have been worn by the likes of Michelle Obama and Lupita Nyongo as well as gracing the catwalk in New York Fashion Week.
In 2013, Banke launched the interiors arm of her business, which was inspired by her dedication to and creativity infusing West-African and Western cultures to create a sense of a modern Africa, with a design aesthetic that is a striking kaleidoscope of colour and vibrancy. Each design is then used as a stencil to create luxurious fabrics for interiors, soft furnishings and fashion. All products meet international quality standards. Positive reactions to her interiors were almost immediate with orders from prestigious customers such as Selfridges, Aynhoe Park Hotel Oxford Bon Marche Paris, Bazar et Grande Manger Tokyo and ABC Carpet and Homes New York to name a few. In 2014, Banke Kuku Textiles was selected from thousands of applicants to win Triumph’s ‘Women in Making ‘competition for female creatives. The judging panel which included fashion stalwarts Roksanda Ilincic and Sophia Webster. In 2019, Banke Kuku opened her Lagos boutique for women where she debuted her first womenswear and accessories collection.
This was followed by the launch of her e-commerce store in 2020 and inclusion of childrenswear in 2021.Combined with local and international stockists and specialty retailers, it works in unison to bring her collections to a global audience.Since moving back to Lagos in her native Nigeria, Banke has built animpressive repertoire as a leading designer, dressing A-Listers and creatives, including: Gabrielle Union, Davido, Naomi Campbell and Kelly Rowland. Dedicated to amplifying the beauty and intricacies of African culture and practices, Banke has been a prominent voice on the world stage. Further to being featured in the likes of Vogue, WWD and Marie Claire, in June2023, she was a guest judge on BBCOne’s The Great British Sewing Bee, sharing traditional West African sewing values and design sensibilities. Showcasing Banke’s Nigerian origins, timeless, seasonless, nature-inspired and monogram signature prints see the layering of textiles and movement acting as collection fundamentals.
Banke Kuku is a regular fixture on our television screens with appearances worldwide, including features on Africa Day, The Great British Sewing Bee, and Stanbic IBTC where Banke was a judge on The Fuze talent hunt. In addition to TV features, Banke is an avid panelist speaker; speaking at the Governor’s Spouse Forum on gender based
violence, the Lagos Entertainment week on how technology has enhanced fashion, and the United Bank of Africa on African innovation during Africa week. As a fashion insider, Banke has been invited to several round table conversations with the minister of trade and industry on how to boost the creative economy in Nigeria.
Educational qualification
Key achievements in the last decade
Her range of speaking topics
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1st Floor, ENSPIRE, Nigerian National Merit Award House
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