After a fantastic start last summer, this was the second time that the new collection from the label Orange Culture was presented as part of Berlin Fashion Week. The eagerly awaited Fall Winter 2026 Fashion Show “Backyards of Memory” was shown at the M60 on the evening of January 31. The audience was greeted by a catwalk bathed in orange light and the words “Good morning, rise and shine. It’s time to get up, sleepy head. It’s time to face a new morning. The sun is shining just for you. Rise, baby, rise. Keep your eyes clear, keep your heart open…” broadcast over loudspeakers. Shortly after this moment of pause, the show began.
BERLIN FASHION WEEK
After loosing his mother, the designer dedicates his Fall Winter 2026 collection to the memories that feel warmest and most comforting to him, namely the backyard of his childhood. He fondly remembers all the lively moments when he played in the backyard during his childhood, while clothes hung out to dry in the sun and different emotions mingled: from moments of joy and laughter to scoldings, music, secrets and silence – it is precisely this mixture that he cherishes so much in his memories and inspirations. Therefore, he also paints a picture of the backyard that goes far beyond a backyard. In this context, it means much more: it is a place where the lively and protected life of his childhood took place.
The Nigerian-born designer Adebayo Okelawal teaches and demonstrates that in his home country, the backyard has a much deeper meaning: it is a place where one learns freedom before having to take on responsibility later in life. It is a place where siblings play together, neighbours come to visit, and joy often exists in simplicity. The designer wishes to express that it is often the ordinary moments in life, such as enjoying the sunshine with bare feet or laughing with family members, that have a very special value in retrospect. What felt ordinary and commonplace at the time becomes precious memories of the past.
The backyard was never just a backyard, it was where life happened. – Adebayo Okelawal, Designer of Orange Culture.
The collection refers to a return to these memories. These reminiscences should be viewed and cherished with comfort rather than with sadness. If you look closely at the cuts of the collection pieces, you will notice their delicacy. This brings both vulnerability and protection to the fore. The silhouettes are easy and familiar, the material skillfully drapes around the body, blending different impressions, emotions, history and care.
As in the backyard of his childhood, the interplay of light and shadow plays a central role in this collection. Therefore, certain colours, from warm orange to bright yellow, are preferred, reminding us of the lighting conditions in a backyard. Orange appears particularly common in this line, both as a single colour and in combination with other bold shades. The colour palette can be understood as a colourful celebration of life. It includes some very expressive shades, such as orange, bright scarlet red, emerald and lime green, yellow, turquoise, azure blue, sky blue and vibrant violet. Delicate pink creates the most graceful looks. Black, dark brown and white bring clarity to the catwalk.
With this colourful expression in his creations, the designer wants to convey that memories of the past should not be recreated, but honoured, valued and never forgotten. In addition, one should never forget one’s roots and always remember them with appreciation.
As part of this new collection and fashion show, Orange Culture collaborated with several talented individuals from Lagos, Accra and Berlin. Accessories, prints, shoes and jewellery were created by local artisans to complement the runway looks.
With its Fall Winter 2026 collection, Orange Culture remains true to its values and aesthetics, combining gender-fluid silhouettes with traditional elements, sculptural tailoring with a flowing and soft interpretation, heritage-inspired garments with a modern twist, and a colour palette that literally makes the runway shine.
Review by Sussan Zeck for DSCENE Magazine
All Images Courtesy of ©Orange Culture, Photography by Andreas Hofrichter
