African fashion brand Eki Orleans recently collaborated with international wedding photographer, Jide Alakija to create a series of documentary images to showcase their prints as bridal fabrics. When it comes to working with silk materials, Eki Orleans are definitely the best in the industry. With bold colours, elegant designs and that sexy feeling, Eki Orleans is all about making a bold statement. Although this collection isn’t really a collection release, it’s all about advertising their prints as bridal fabrics.
Eki Orleans
Hazel Eki Aggrey-Orleans is the creative force behind the high-end London-based fashion-label Eki Orleans. Born in Germany, raised in Nigeria and educated in London, her design aesthetic has been strongly influenced by this diverse mix of cultures. She draws inspiration from all of her cultural experiences, most notably, however, from her West African heritage. Growing up in the buzzing, chaotic and culturally diverse city of Lagos, Hazel first developed a love for the vivid and earthy colours of Africa.
While still pursuing a career in finance, she decided to follow her vocation and natural aptitude for textile and fashion design. Combining both artistic skills she launched her first fashion collection with her own fabric designs in 2009.
It is her outstanding and unusual talent for perfectly co-ordinated pattern and colour combinations that ultimately determines the styling of her day and evening dresses and co-ordinates. Where other fashion designers find fabrics to suit their visions of a dress, Hazel decides on the dress to suit her vision of a fabric design.
For inspiration and choice of subject the designer inevitably resorts back to her African roots. Her patterns tell stories reminiscent of childhood memories or are an interpretation of nature through her eyes.
Eki Orleans has been featured in many publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Drapers, The Financial Times, Arise, The Guardian, CNN, New African Woman, Le Figaro, The Washington Post, FAB etc. We have showcased our designs in London, Paris, Lagos, Johannesburg and Cannes. Our dresses and scarves have been stocked in Selfridges, and have been picked up by exclusive boutiques in Europe and in Nigeria.
