Torishéju Dumi
Title
Honorary Doctor
Person Type
Honorary
Nigerian-Brazilian fashion designer Torishéju Dumi is one of the industry’s most promising young talents. A graduate of University of the Arts London, her sophisticated garments draw inspiration from her family’s heritage and themes of folklore and tradition.
Born and raised in London and Buckinghamshire, Torishéju has cited her Catholic upbringing and the priestly garments she saw at Mass as one of her earliest introductions to fashion. After attending a 1-year course in fashion design at De Montfort University, she received a BA in Menswear from London College of Fashion in 2018. Following her time there, she worked at CELINE during Phoebe Philo’s tenure and at Ann Demeulemeester.
A graduate of Lee Alexander McQueen’s Sarabande Foundation, Torishéju went on to complete an MA in Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins in 2021. While there, she caught the attention of Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Vogue’s Global Contributing Fashion Editor, who would later become a collaborator. Torishéju launched her namesake label in 2022, with designs that marry African aesthetics and traditional British tailoring through modern silhouettes.
She released her first collection, titled Mami Wata, in 2023. Inspired by Nigerian and South American folklore, the garments are made from 100% deadstock fabric. The Met Museum in New York later acquired pieces from the collection for its 2024 Sleeping Beauties exhibition.
With the support of Lucien Pagés Communication and Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Torishéju made her Paris Fashion Week debut with her Spring/Summer 2024 collection. The show, which featured modeling powerhouses Naomi Campbell and Paloma Elsesser, received widespread media attention. Shortly afterwards, her brand started being stocked by Dover Street Market. Dover Street Market President Adrian Joffe has become a champion of Torishéju’s work since their initial meeting.
Now, with 2 Fashion Week presentations and a Vogue cover under her belt, Torishéju’s career is on an upward trajectory. Her designs have appeared in world-renowned publications such as Elle and have been worn by celebrities including Zendaya.