You speak about refusing to conform to the fashion system. Can you expand on that? I never want to lose the joy and sense of fulfillment I get from my work. I am not interested in creating collections in the traditional format every season, I like the idea that in two or three seasons from […]
Author Archives: Ly Nguyen
I’ve also developed a series of woven fabrics with Oakland-based artist flatspot_. His work explores the possibilities of light sculpture through various video formats. He uses analog camcorders, projectors, and TVs to create feedback loops, which appear on the screen or projection surface as a visual representation of the very moment and space in which […]
What techniques do you use? (I think some are very traditional?) Yes, especially adire, a very old form of storytelling through fabric via a series of resist dye techniques. I was intrigued by the idea behind this process, wearing stories on one’s body. I wanted to explore adire in a contemporary way, so I developed […]
How does heritage come in? Through my line, I get to explore my rich heritage as a Yoruba (an ethnic group in Western Nigeria) person. I want to contribute to centuries-old conversations on African design. My ancestors left so much behind. I believe they expected us to continue telling these stories and building up on […]
My line is proposing a new conversation in African design. It’s very different from what I believed most people in Lagos understood fashion to be. But it seems to have found a place though as I’ve seen sales increase. What is the role of community in your work? I made a manifesto when I started LSP […]
How did you come up with the name Lagos Space Programme, and what does it mean? I have always been very fascinated by space travel; I wanted a name that contextualized my interests in archival textiles and culture, while also alluding to an idea of the future. In 2018 I showcased my first collection under […]
Yes I did [at Birmingham City University], but I had to drop out as tuition got really expensive and the funds just weren’t available. There’s no support for international students in the UK. The system was quite brutal so I had no choice but to move back to Nigeria. I had developed a great portfolio […]
Probably be when I was in art school [Coleg Menai] in North Wales. Having access to the amazing library on campus opened my eyes to different subcultures, like ’70s punk and the New Romantics of the ’80s. I also discovered the anti-fashion movement of the ’80s led by Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. They explored […]
In our interview we discussed his brand manifesto, the use of traditional techniques, and the importance of community. I remember drawing clothes as a child: It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, making clothes. I was lucky to come from a family who helped foster my talent. I grew up around incredibly stylish people, especially […]
Educated in England, Thompson takes inspiration from everywhere and everything—Yohji Yamamoto, architecture, New Romantics—but it’s how these references are filtered “through a Nigerian lens,” and evoke a sense of “national pride,” that brings them into the LSP orbit. “I want to challenge obsolete norms around blackness, African design, mental health, masculinity, and beauty,” says Thomspon. […]