Kader Diaby is a man with myriad talents. The fashion designer and photographer weaves his eye for aesthetics and his Ivorian heritage into the menswear brand Olooh. For his AW21 capsule collection Boulevard Lagunaire, he focuses less on the nostalgic past and instead is bringing legacy and strength into the future, using fashion and finesse as the vehicle for his pronouncement.

Boulevard Lagunaire hails the Ivorian popular culture boom that took place in the 90s and 20s as golden eras for urban music in the country, and carries this spirit into the contemporary imagination within Abidjan and its diaspora. True to Olooh’s minimalistic style, the silhouettes are uncompromisingly clean and adorned with sleek details such as upcycled domestic brass reborn as buttons. These are pieces designed for comfort in a tropical climate – organic linen, cotton and handwoven textiles rule. The soft-hued colour palette and playful prints bring the celebration of the past into a collection fit for the modern man.

The collection is brought to life in this very special campaign shoot featuring collages by multidisciplinary artist Alex Tako and visual artists Zatri and Dadi. The surrealist scenes atop brutalist architecture and concrete cityscapes make the pieces stand out yet still feel right at home. Diaby has proven yet again that Olooh is a brand breaking borders on Côte d’Ivoire’s fashion scene.

Kader Diaby’s image Oath, and an Olooh shirt, is available on Joyeux Store. Buy Oath here. Buy the Olooh shirt here.

Read our full interview with Kader Diaby here.