Xuly.Bët as designed by Lamine Badian Kouyaté returned to the runway during NYFW, delighting all the fashion lovers who fell head over heels for him when he first showed in Paris in the early ’90s and brought to the forefront the concept of reconstructing garments, a technique that today has become commonplace in fashion but at the time wasn’t shown on formal runways. While a Malian by birth and clearly influenced by the mosaic color and fabric stories Africa is famous for, Kouyaté, is a rebel spirit at heart and most loyal to his own inner muse, with big, flashy and fun a thread that runs through all his collections including his most recent presentation for autumn 2016.
His pieced together jersey jacket detailed with varsity cuffs and collars provided the most pop, as did the skirts and leggings with a repeat print including the words “Xuly.Bët Funkin Fashion” (aka the label’s full name if you will). And forgive us a bitter moment for Kouyaté surely is too generous of spirit to think it himself, but while much is being made of certain designers suddenly casting lots of black women, Xuly.Bët has ALWAYS reflected an appreciation for the beauty of black women. And that isn’t no of the moment fashion thing, just an enduring truth and one of the many reason we admire him so!
Items from prior seasons may be purchased at Shop.XulyBët.com.
