Prince Bazit Elegushi’s Royale Collection Is a Bold Reclamation of Modern African Nobility

Few experiences shape a young designer more profoundly than the creative environments in which they learn their craft. For Prince Bazit Elegushi, time spent as a junior designer within Banke Kuku’s studio offered an early education in the power of narrative dressing, textile appreciation, and the ability of fashion to communicate identity beyond the garment itself. Those lessons quietly resonate throughout Royale Collection, a body of work that exchanges Kuku’s signature softness and escapism for something more commanding. Here, fashion becomes a study of power, prestige, and cultural presence, drawing from the visual language of African royalty to create a collection that feels ceremonial, theatrical, and unmistakably contemporary.

Presented against rich crimson backdrops that amplified the collection’s dramatic spirit, Royale Collection immediately established itself as a celebration of grandeur. Rather than pursuing minimalism or contemporary restraint, Bazit embraced embellishment, texture, and symbolism. The result was a collection that understood luxury not as quiet exclusivity, but as visual storytelling.

One of the collection’s strongest looks featured a richly woven cobalt-blue jacket adorned with cascading strands of coral-inspired beads. The garment balanced structure and ornamentation with remarkable confidence. The textured fabric provided depth, while the extensive beadwork introduced movement and a sense of ceremony. Styled with dark sunglasses and layered accessories, the look evoked the presence of traditional rulers and cultural custodians while remaining firmly rooted in modern fashion imagery. It was a striking example of how heritage can be referenced without becoming historical reenactment.

Throughout the collection, texture functioned as a central design language. Frayed woven surfaces, hand-finished details, and layered embellishments created garments that rewarded close inspection. Bazit demonstrated a clear appreciation for craftsmanship, allowing the tactile qualities of the materials to remain visible rather than polished away. In doing so, he transformed each piece into a celebration of artisanal labour and creative process.

Perhaps the collection’s most memorable statement emerged through a dramatic black ensemble layered beneath an oversized hand-knotted structure that draped across the body like ceremonial armour. Crowned with an intricate beaded headpiece that partially concealed the wearer’s face, the look moved beyond conventional menswear and into the realm of performance. It was both imposing and mysterious, drawing on traditions of status, ritual, and adornment while simultaneously challenging contemporary notions of masculinity. The result was a garment that communicated authority without relying on conventional symbols of power.

What distinguishes Royale Collection from many heritage-inspired collections is its refusal to romanticise the past. Bazit is not interested in reproducing traditional regalia exactly as it existed. Instead, he extracts its essence—its symbolism, craftsmanship, and emotional impact—and translates it into a contemporary fashion vocabulary. Coral beads become sculptural accessories. Woven fabrics become statements of luxury. Ceremonial silhouettes are reconstructed through the lens of modern styling.

The influence of Banke Kuku’s creative philosophy can be felt most clearly in the collection’s approach to world-building. Like Kuku, Bazit understands that successful fashion extends beyond clothing into image-making, atmosphere, and emotional resonance. Yet where Banke Kuku’s work often explores femininity, travel, and dreamlike escapism, Bazit redirects those sensibilities toward questions of masculinity, status, and cultural authority. The collection reveals a designer who has absorbed valuable lessons from his formative experiences while confidently developing a language of his own.

If there is a criticism to be made, it is that the collection occasionally allows spectacle to overshadow subtlety. Some looks prioritise visual impact over wearability. Yet even these moments feel intentional. Royale Collection is not concerned with everyday dressing. It is concerned with presence. These garments are designed to be seen, remembered, and interpreted.

In Royale Collection, Prince Bazit Elegushi presents fashion as both inheritance and invention. Drawing from the visual traditions of African royalty while embracing contemporary fashion’s appetite for experimentation, he offers a collection that is ambitious, culturally grounded, and deeply expressive. More importantly, it signals the emergence of a designer beginning to transform influence into authorship. If this collection is any indication, Bazit’s most compelling work may still lie ahead.