YAKU

YAKU was founded in 2023 by St Albans-born and London-based designer, Yaku Stapleton, a graduate of Leeds Beckett and Central Saint Martins. Following the success of his MA collection, which won the L'Oréal Creative Award as judged by Ib Kamara, Yaku launched his namesake label and debuted the 'The ImPossible Family Reunion in RPG Space' series, inspired by the exploration of perception and sculptural form, rich with elements of fantasy, and viewed through the lens of Afro-Futurism. 

Within this series, each piece is developed as part of a look representing a fantasy version of Yaku's family member, reimagined as an RPG character in a limitless world. This approach transforms conceptual fantasy into wearable reality, featuring 99-Strength Jackets, heat-textured 'Zilla-skin' techwear made from upcycled nylon jackets and six-armed warrior puffers filled with recycled bedding.

At the heart of the brand's philosophy lies the ethos: 'explore, self-reflect, exchange, evolve, enjoy', which guides every design and interaction. The brand welcomes all who appreciate clothing that tells a story and provides an opportunity for wearers to revisit the feeling of childlike discovery, reconnect with the pure joy of self-exploration, and experience nostalgia for times of great freedom.

Alongside his mainline collections, Yaku has been conducting free upcycling workshops to enhance accessibility to his brand beyond ownership. He has worked on a heritage project with East Street Arts in Leeds, collaborated with international brands such as MSCHF and Nike, earned the Swedish Fashion Council's Challenge the Fabric Award, and joined the Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield.

Having joined the most recent cohort of the British Fashion Council's NEWGEN, YAKU will present their first interactive exhibition at London Fashion Week in September, showcasing the SS25 collection titled 'The ImPossible Family Reunion in RPG Space Chapter 4: Looking Back to Look Forward to Look Back Again'.