It just so happens that the brand @namacheko is also the name of a coffee, although now probably better known as founder @dilan.lurr’s fierce adaptation of his Kurdistani roots, Swedish upbringing, and Antwerp base. Having studied art and civil engineering, Lurr has been issuing an under-the-radar challenge to the mens and womenswear status quo. For Namacheko’s Spring/Summer 2023 offering, the show took place on a Sunday afternoon in the courtyard of École Duperré School of Applied Arts. Located in the Marais district of Paris, it was an appropriate nod to where Lurr’s color-coded and sharply-silhouetted tropes were first stocked around the corner from the neighbourhood’s fabled and famed concept store, The Broken Arm, back in 2017. It became abundantly clear that Lurr is more interested in developing a brand that could be a cultural creative container rather than producing anything ‘trend-driven’ or ‘of the moment.’ With the SS23 collection showcasing an amalgam of ‘Cobainesque’ eyewear, deconstructed mesh footwear, and biker-chain adorned trousers, Lurr’s first foray into designing accessories was all forged by his steadfast independent approach. ‘Independence is a very important aspect of Namacheko. I’m not necessarily interested in collaboration unless it benefits the brand in the long-term. I am striving to achieve longevity. I’m not really concerned about lending my name to something ephemeral.’ I caught up with Lurr for @systemmagazine online to discuss his recent show, the power of autonomy and why he doesn’t want his ethnicity to singularly define his creative legacy. Special thanks to: @kravits_inaba and @tamaradolgieva for making this one happen. And to 📸 @thomasneaume for the beautiful collection imagery.