YAKU AW25

Get your passports ready for YAKU’s AW25 presentation at 180 Strand. Always an immersive experience, YAKU AW25 felt less like attending a fashion show and more like being teleported into a richly layered RPG Universe. Titled "The ImPossible Family Reunion in RPG Space: Chapter 5 Sunset on Tutorial Island", this collection wasn’t just about clothes, it was a full sensory odyssey blending Afrofuturist aesthetics with deeply personal narrative and interactive storytelling. Arrival at the show consisted of receiving a Passport book and answering a short questionnaire to see which group you belong in. Are you an adventurer, warrior or an introspective thinker? From that point, we began our journey through the YAKU Universe of various vignettes and of course through a journey of fashion.

YAKU’s designer transformed familial bonds into mythic archetypes, with each garment embodying a character’s journey. Mum, the shapeshifter, dazzled in reptilian scales and fur-textured layers, while Ricky (The Provider) and Lorrelle (The Protector) wore hunting-inspired silhouettes and armor-like detailing. The collection’s RPG-inspired setting, Tutorial Island, served as a metaphor for transition, capturing the tension between preparation and adventure.

YAKU’s genius lies in immersion. Guests explored Grandad’s Workshop, interacted with AR displays, and even received YAKU passports to map their own stylistic "biomes". Collaborating with theatre director Dermot Daly, the show unfolded like a day-long cinematic saga, blending hope, anxiety, and bravery into every stitch. The staging, complete with cave paintings, a reflection pool, and live studio spaces, felt like a sci-fi film set.

In an era of fleeting trends, YAKU AW25 redefines fashion as a storytelling medium. The collection’s Afrofuturist vision champions sustainability, cultural identity, and emotional resonance. It’s a masterclass in how design can transcend fabric to become a portal for imagination, proving that London Fashion Week’s most groundbreaking moments often lie beyond the traditional catwalk.