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Loza Maléombho Brings African Futurism to Life at NYFW with “An Immersive Fashion Portal”
- Qui Joacin
- Sep 21
- 2 min read
In partnership with Orun Studios, Loza Maléombho unveils her Spring/Summer 2026 collection—blending heritage, technology, and art into a fashion experience like no other with an Immersive Fashion Portal
Fashion lovers, let me tell you — the Loza Maléombho Spring/Summer 2026 show wasn’t just a runway event, it was a fashion immersive portal. On Friday, September 12th, I stepped into a world that felt like another realm, where heritage, innovation, and artistry converged to create something unforgettable.
The evening kicked off with an elegant cocktail reception, but even before the first look hit the runway, the energy was electric. You could feel that everyone in the room knew they were about to witness something extraordinary — and Loza delivered beyond expectations.
Instead of a straightforward catwalk, we were taken on a 15-minute multisensory journey—a blend of AI-powered visuals, ancestral storytelling, soundscapes, and couture. It was like walking through time: from speculative African utopias to deep ancestral traditions, all while being firmly grounded in the present.
Loza Maléombho’s Vision
If you don’t know Loza yet, here’s the tea: born in Brazil, raised between Côte d’Ivoire and the U.S., she’s one of those designers who doesn’t just make clothes—she makes statements. Loza is known for blending African heritage with futuristic design. Her creations have dressed icons like Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Teyana Taylor, and even appeared in Coming 2 America. With this new collection, she’s proving once again that fashion is both art and activism.
This season, she showcased 21 silhouettes celebrating Côte d’Ivoire’s craftsmanship under the theme Heritage as Avant-Garde. The designs were architectural yet fluid, cultural yet modern—pieces that felt powerful on the runway but timeless in meaning.
Why This Show Was Different
To bring her vision to life, Loza collaborated with AI artist Delphine Diallo and Ivorian sound designers Becce and DJ Ben Ivory. The result? A show that wasn’t just about watching models walk—it was about being transported. Every sound, every projection, every garment told a story of resilience, identity, and the future of African fashion.
As Loza herself said: “Fashion is not just about garments, it is a vessel of identity, resilience, and transformation.”
More Than a Fashion Show—A Movement
This showcase was part of Orun Studios’ two-day pan-African creative event, which highlighted not just fashion, but also art, music, and thought leadership. From exhibitions like Ivorian Masks to live performances by avant-garde artists like Xander Pratt, to panel discussions on Africa’s role in shaping the global creative economy—the event was a celebration of cultural sovereignty and Africa’s power to shape the future.
Why This Matters
What I love most about Loza Maléombho is that she’s not just designing clothes—she’s rewriting narratives. Her work is bold, architectural, rooted in heritage, and forward-looking. She shows us that African creativity isn’t just part of the fashion conversation—it is the conversation.
This wasn’t just a fashion show. It was a portal into the future of global style, and Loza Maléombho is leading us there.