This spring, menswear brand Labrum has partnered with John Lewis for the second time
Labrum, the menswear label by British-Sierra Leonean designer Foday Dumbuya, has once again joined forces with Britain’s beloved department store John Lewis. The second edition of their collaboration follows on from its debut last winter.
The new spring/summer collection spans denim, suiting and, for the first time, accessories, blending West African cultural heritage with refined sartorial silhouettes. Soft tailoring and co-ord sets feature intricate jacquard fabrics in a muted colour palette.
One of my favourite pieces is a turquoise cotton and linen vest, knitted in an open mesh weave–a smart solution for warmer days. At its centre, the contrasting Labrum Nomol ilogo shines in yellow, referencing ancient stone sculptures characterised by large heads, originally found along the Upper Guinea coast. Style it with an oversized brown leather varsity jacket and textured denim shorts for an effortless yet polished look.
‘For me, this partnership is about the meeting of cultures and craft,’ says founder and creative director Dumbuya, who is known for infusing his designs with narratives of migration, diaspora and cultural identity. ‘Each detail reflects heritage, movement and exchange–a reminder that when cultures come together, something beautiful is created,’ he adds, pointing to the Adinkra motifs.
Printed on square silk scarves, these symbols originate from the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, expressing philosophical proverbs and embodying ancestral wisdom. Elsewhere, wide-leg jeans feature patchwork panelling, styled with matching overshirts that blend utility with craftsmanship.
The 35-piece collection is available in store at Oxford Street, Peter Jones, Stratford, Leeds and Trafford, as well as online.
