Released in 2025, Ajere draws its name from the Yoruba word often associated with a vessel or container — something that holds, gathers, and preserves. The collection reflects this idea through layering, patching, and the coming together of fragments to form a cohesive whole.
Ajere explores patchwork as a sculptural and compositional tool. Panels of fabric are carefully patched and layered onto one another, creating artistic formations that sit prominently across the frontal bodice of tops. Rather than traditional quilting, the technique leans toward constructed collage — engineered placements that build dimension, depth, and visual intrigue.
The palette moves through soft pastels and grounded earthy tones, balancing delicacy with warmth. Hints of emerald green velvet emerge throughout the collection, offering richness and contrast — sometimes as subtle detailing, sometimes as bold accents that interrupt softer hues. Frayed aso-oke elements are introduced sparingly, adding tactile texture and cultural grounding while maintaining a contemporary silhouette.
Silhouettes remain clean enough to allow the surface work to command attention. The patch compositions create structure across the torso, shaping the garment while maintaining wearability. The interplay between softness and rawness — pastel tones against frayed edges, velvet against matte surfaces — reinforces the narrative of gathering different elements into one harmonious form.
Ajere embodies construction as storytelling: pieces assembled, layered, and held together with intention.
