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Bunmi makes JP Morgan Power List on day she graduates

Wednesday 22 December 2010

Professor Patrick McGhee, Bunmi Olaye and Francis Udom

For the majority of students, graduation day signifies the moment of transition between the world of education and the start of their professional careers.

owever, Bunmi Olaye (UEL fashion student and Creative Director of her own luxury brand, Bunmi Koko), was announced as one of the most influential professionals in the country on her graduation day, just one year after launching her brand.

Bunmi and her partner Francis Udom (CEO of Bunmi Koko) appear in the JP Morgan Black Power List for 2011, a definitive list of the top 100 most influential people of African or Caribbean descent working in the United Kingdom.

Bunmi is Nigerian born and Francis is the Great, Great Grandson of Mary Slessor, the celebrated Aberdeen-born missionary who appears on the Scottish ten pound note.

Bunmi and Francis formed a partnership that was destined for a future in fashion. The amalgamation of their skills has resulted in a fusion of engineering and fashion where Nigerian and Scottish heritage unite to create innovative, structured designs. The most notable of these is the creation of “Longitudinal Caissons” – a new technique created by Bunmi Koko by constructing garments to produce tubular silhouettes and which was a central feature of the couture dress designed by the duo and worn by Mel B at the 2010 Brit Awards.

The couple list some of the World’s top celebrities as fans, and have earned interest from Michelle Obama and personal praise from Gordon Brown and Nelson Mandela.

Bunmi said: “It’s a thrill to be recognised for my work like this, we’ve all worked incredibly hard at Bunmi Koko to launch the brand but we don’t have the luxury of being able to rest on our laurels. Right now, we’re busy working on our shows for London and Paris fashion weeks, next year. 2010 has been an incredible rollercoaster year for us, but I think 2011 will be the year we really establish ourselves as a global brand.”

Bunmi and Francis met with the University of East London Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick McGhee, this week, to hand him a personal copy of the Power List.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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