Yinka Ilori: London-based Nigerian designer using colourful ankara prints to beautify UK

  • Yinka Ilorin is another great Nigerian who is creating colourful designs with recycled materials and ankara in London

  • Ilorin, born to Nigerian parents, and a British citizen, has also been drawing from both cultures to enrich his works

  • According to the design genius, he also draws from the parables his parents told him while he was growing up.

Nigerians are taking bold steps around the world in every field, changing stock narratives and making the world a better place.

One of the people doing that is Yinka Ilorin with his artsy decorations that incorporate Ankara fabrics. In 2019, Dezeen reports that Ilori’s design was all over London in the summer even as the 32-year-old in an interview with the magazine said there is a lot to him than design.

Another design he is known for is the use of various pieces of furniture to create amazing colourful materials never thought possible.

Yinka Ilori draws influences from both the British and Nigerian cultures to create amazing designs.

Born to Nigerian parents, he always aims to create a hybrid of British design with the loud Nigerian culture as he draws from the parables his parents had shared with him. “Our parents always told us stories about things like jealousy, love and respect. These were, for me, really important in my growth and upbringing. I always wanted to try to share their stories in my objects,” he said. With Prince’s Trust grant of £3,500, he was able to create his first wonderful furniture collection and in 2015, he hit his first break with the London Design Festival exhibition If Chairs Could Talk. In June 2019, the amazing designer and creator opened his biggest project in partnership with Precegore, and architecture studio. Speaking on how he incorporates his design and his culture into his designs, he said that having a feeling that he was part of both British and Nigerian cultures made it work.

He added that in up-cycling products, he brings two used furniture together to create amazing pieces of work.

Source: Yinka Ilori

Email:elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com