At London Fashion Week, YAKU’s AW26 presentation unfolded as something far more immersive than a standard runway. The audience stepped into a living RPG narrative, shaped by combat, nostalgia and identity. Last season YAKU highlighted the caregivers of a family. This Chapter ‘Evolution of Combat’, centers around the brothers Amir and Nathaniel, with contrasting personalities, one impulse and emotionally driven, the other one disciplined and duty-bound. They anchor a story about growth, consequence and the weight of responsibility.
The collection started through an Afrofuturistic lens. The desire to see positive black protagonists represented in media. That same desire shaped the brands purpose: to expand what feels possible and allow people to imagine beyond the limits of their own lives. Drawing from a wide spectrum of influences, the brand blended references from ‘Enter the Dragon’ and WWE to Caribbean practices like Kalinda, Machete and Danmyé, reframing combat as both ritual and self-development. Movement played a big role, with a dancer-led cast interpreting the characters through tension filled, almost frozen snapshots inspired by ‘Harakiri’.
Visually the collection was like seeing all the characters from a video game. Some pieces leaned fully into fantasy, with 3D printed elements and sculptural silhouettes, while others seemed more ‘from this world’ with abstract forms. The jewelry and accessories were crucial to these characters. All the jewelry, alongside the Wii swords and the Meramorphic Gameboy were developed in collaboration with Artist Orlando Dean.
YAKU also collaborated with NIKE, introducing up-cycled designs through the NIKE Re-creation Program. The show was accompanied by an evolving soundtrack that fused orchestral composition with UK Underground influences.
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photography: Hannah Khatib
Performance Director: Dermot Daly
Movement Direction: Gabi Wolosik
Set Design & Development: Sookyung Kim
Training Score: Ollie Berg
Journey Score: Jordan Fox mixed by JobiFuego
Battle Score: Jordan Fox
Finale: Jordan Fox featuring Patrick Shiroishi
Jewellery Designer: Orlando Dean
Make Up: Michelle Dacillo
Hair: Richard Phillipart
Production: Brian Jones & Blonstein Productions
Show Notes Graphic: Louis Shelton and Charlize Pfister Supported by Nike
Cast:
Shaman: Roshaan Asare
Training: Keiran “Mad Max” Simon, Keilan Stafford, Kailon Chéry, Joshua Gadget, Lily Armah, Ophelia Nunes-Wickham
Journey: Vivien-Chrys Samba, Tomique Gibson, Gaddi Gad, Richie Lucas
Battle: Isaac Ouro-Gnao, Havier Mendoza, Daryl Okene, Jamai Robinson
Consequence: Sohaila, Miguel Angel
Swing: Kenya Sterling
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34th issue of KEYI MAGAZINE with JEFF MILLS on the cover
