I think we needed a symbol of what is now called the African renaissance, a showpiece that is unapologetic in its approach about who we are today,...… - Reni Folawiyo

When I’m trying to define African luxury, and this is not an exclusive definition, it has to benefit the person who’s buying it in terms of its value, but it also must benefit the person who was making it and the people in that chain of making it.

My love and appreciation for beautiful things and my value for artisanal products and respect for artisanship.

We are selling our culture. We’ve clearly become an epicenter for cultural exchange for all kinds of creative people. In my native Yoruba language, alára means “wondrous performer, one who thrills endlessly”—that’s how we see African fashion and design, and how we want global audiences to experience it and embrace it.