A year ago, Kouto started collaborating with recycling centres in The Netherlands and
Switzerland, collecting waste garments, textiles and unusual materials to be transformed into high luxury items. The interdisciplinary installation ALL THE NOTHING THAT WILL REMAIN focuses on sustainable and environmental design systems in the creative process, mixing upcycling with couture technics and crafts on three different main layers: prints, embroidery and weaving.
From the six looks of the collection, a selection on view at Nieuw Dakota, ranging from
coats, jackets, shirts to trousers, represent a hybrid aesthetic of Western and African
influences, mixing prints, embroidery and weaving with upcycled materials. The work
includes collaborations with embroiderers, weavers, leather good designers, jewellery
designers, graphic designers and photographers.

Photographer: Diago Mariotta Mendez Retoucher: Flavio Starrita Stil life: Simone Cavadini Graphic design: Jakub Tywoniuk Hair & Make up: Meltem Sahin @ Angelique Hoorn Management Models : Ade, Jairus, Mozher, Servano

Artist statement

With a background in fashion design and work experience in couture and ethical fashion, Kouto became more critical about the creative process in fashion and the production system. “The starting point of my work is inspired by the quote of the artist Romuald Hazoume: “I send back the West that which belongs to them, that is to say, the refuse of a consumer society that invades us everyday” from which I started my personal discovery of the African culture.” The quote is built on the idea of an endless exchange between the West and Africa, fueled by globalisation and economy, in which waste of a consumer society should be sent back to its place of origin. “I want the garments made of waste and upcycled materials to become a statement of new values and meanings of a more sustainable production system.”