YAKU TOPS

Central Saint Martins graduate Yaku Stapleton uses his namesake label YAKU as a platform for adventurous creativity. The British designer of Jamaican and Vincentian descent was awarded the 2023 L’Oréal Pro Prize for his imaginative master’s collection, which showcased what he envisioned his family clan wearing in a parallel realm. With hints of Afrofuturism and unfamiliar wildlife, the line’s otherworldly attire looks as if it could have emerged from a fantasy role-playing game scaled to the caliber of contemporary fashion. Guided by sculpture and costume design techniques, YAKU shapes a grounded alternative to reality with its avant-garde ready-to-wear.