As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, British leather brand Mulberry has announced a collaboration with Ahluwalia, a label founded in 2018 by Nigerian-Indian designer Priya Ahluwalia. Fresh off of winning the British Fashion Council’s 2021 award fund for menswear, Ahluwalia designed a capsule of Mulberry tote offered in various sizes.
The collaboration was revealed in mid-June as part of London Fashion Week with a short film directed by Akinola Davis Jr. Titled “Parts of Me,” the film is a celebration of “artistry, rituals and symbolism of Afro-Caribbean hair and Priya’s own personal narrative” according to the press release.
Commenting on the collaboration and film in an interview with British Vogue, Alhuwalia explained, “I’m trying to produce work that is inclusive, positive and provokes conversation. I needed to feel like I could be myself and be frank with what I think is important.
“It became empowering quickly [to learn] that the team was very open to my opinion. I hope people who have insecurities about having Afro-Caribbean hair, or not having Eurocentric or white hair, get a drop of confidence or feel special or celebrated. It sounds so dramatic because I’m just a clothes designer, but how can we make this world we live in better and more supportive?” ”
The Mulberry and Alhuwalia capsule launches on mulberry.com from June 14, 2021 and in stores globally on June 15th.
Check out Ahluwalia’s “Part of Me” visual below.
