Artist, illustrator and textile designer Jamilla Okubo is fast making her mark in NYC. Born in North Carolina to an African American mother and Kenyan-Trinidadian father, she grew up in Washington DC where she developed passions of hip hop culture and African textiles, and is currently studying at Parsons The New School of Design. Her diverse creative output draws heavily on her heritage. “I call my style Afro-chic black contemporary art,” Okubo explains. “My work is very playful in terms of color and prints but I also like to keep a balance of conceptuality, controversy and beauty drawn from my background and the power within our culture.”

For KISUA, Okubo curates images taken from her series We The People of the Diaspora - Black Culture Exploration around Tina Lobondi’s metallic print circle skirt. The images reflect her personal interest in African fashion. “I am so lucky to live in the era where both emerging and established African fashion designers are finally being recognized globally. Although it took such a long time, we are finally present,” she says. “I love the way KISUA uses vibrant and traditional elements from Africa to create contemporary ready to wear. It’s a refreshing approach.”

Images: Jamilla Okubo