In episode nine of Creative Conversations, Suzy is joined by DURO OLOWU, the fashion designer who works at the crossroads of fashion, art and culture. The wonder of Duro Olowu is that he has developed himself as an art curator as well as a creative fashion artist. The two fit hand to glove. He is autonomously able to express himself artistically through his fashion creations, or through selecting art for museum exhibitions.

The remarkable Nigerian-born creator’s greatest skill is in the delicate, artistic mix of those joyous patterns. In his elegant embrace, the African influences come alongside hyper-sophisticated silks created for Parisian haute couture. Together they express the originality and the elegance of exceptional fashion work which is evident on the walls and rails of his London shop.

Duro’s instinctive love of fabrics stem from a childhood in Lagos with a Nigerian father and Jamaican mother. He is married to Thelma Golden, an American curator heading up a museum in Harlem, and his own deeply artistic connections are currently on show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

The female visitors to this exhibition opening in February 2020 were dressed almost entirely in a rainbow coalition of his designs, and his famous fashion clients - which he is too discreet to reveal - is headed by Michele Obama.

Produced by Natasha Cowan.
Edited by Tim Thornton.
Music by @joergzuber.
Graphics by Paul Wallis.
Production Assistance by Lauren Sweeting.
Support for the Creative Conversations podcast comes from the Condé Nast Luxury Conference.
To find Suzy's articles visit https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/suzy-menkes
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