Founded in 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Kente Gentlemen is the brainchild of Aristide Loua, who channels his multicultural upbringing spanning Côte d’Ivoire, India, and the United States into designs that fuse heritage with cosmopolitan flair.
Originally drawn to mathematics and even aiming for Wall Street, a gift of wax-print shirts rooted him in fashion and eventually led to the creation of his own brand that speaks to both identity and style.
Heritage through Design
Named after the iconic Kente cloth of Ghana’s Ashanti Kingdom, the brand honours Africa’s rich textile heritage while challenging misconceptions about “African fashion”, moving beyond mass‑produced wax prints to locally crafted authenticity.
Every garment is created with fabrics handwoven by artisans in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, then tailored in in-house ateliers to uphold fairness, transparency, and ethical production standards.
Philosophy: Colour, Poetry & Craft
Loua describes his work as a balance of colour (emotion), poetry (narrative), and culture (voice)—aspiring to create pieces that are more than clothing, but visual storytelling.
True to its artistic ethos, Kente Gentlemen avoids trend‑chasing and fast fashion. Instead, it opts for slow, intentional production, often paying artisans three times above minimum wage, fostering respect for craft and community.
Collections: Evolution at the Runway
Lagos Fashion Week 2024 – Spring 2024 (Debut)
Loua unveiled his Lagos debut with tailored silhouettes draped in vivid royal colors, infusing Kente cloth with oversized blazers, deep V‑neck dresses, and organic cotton tie‑dye fabrics. The women’s wear debut drew inspiration from Boomerang’s Robin Givens, reimagined as a pioneering archetype of Black leadership.
Spring 2025 – Breaking Tradition
His next collection pivoted away from Kente as the centerpiece—only a third of the looks used it. Instead, he experimented with linen-denim, lace, and lightweight pleats. Notable details included bronze shell‑shaped buttons, evoking beachside allure, and a refined palette inspired by “golden hour” romance of Côte d’Ivoire’s Grand-Bassam coast.
Why It Matters in Fashion
• Cultural stewardship: By working directly with local weavers and tailors, Kente Gentlemen preserves centuries-old techniques and invests in community resilience.
• Authentic storytelling: The brand strives to reclaim the narrative of “African Fashion,” rooted in identity rather than stereotypes .
• Global Poise: Loua proves that African designers can craft polished, ready-to-wear collections that resonate internationally—on runways from Lagos to Paris.
With continued recognition—like winning the African Fashion Up incubator (backing from Galeries Lafayette and Balenciaga)—Loua is now mentoring under global luxury influence and gently positioning the brand for potential collaborations while staying rooted in his creative mission.
Kente Gentlemen is far more than a clothing label, it’s a vivid celebration of African heritage, a movement in fairness and community, and a signature of sartorial intelligence. It is fashion as narrative, design as dialogue, and clothing as culture.
