FACE Excellence 2026
Ella Mackie speaks to FACE Excellence winner Rachael Adegoke
Rachael Adegoke from Westminster University with judge Maxwell Agbede Founder of Maxim CIC. Image Ella Mackie.
“Winning this award means exposure. I get to tell my story, explore my Nigerian heritage, and my design aesthetic. It’s about what I want to share with the world, and what I want to change and share about fashion as well.
“I get to tell my story, explore my Nigerian heritage, and my design aesthetic.”
This collection is a celebration of Nigerian cultural heritage, art and expression by fusing the vibrant culture and material language of my Nigerian heritage with the tailoring codes of British menswear. I’m creating a contemporary dialogue around Black dandyism referencing the work of Ben Enwonwu and the Zaria Art Society. I am also Inspired by Nigerian folk tales that guide, comfort, and frighten. The collection translates oral storytelling traditions into relaxed British ‘Henley Regatta’ suiting. I am honouring heritage while redefining the codes of British Tailoring.
“I see my work as a contemporary dialogue about Black dandyism.”
One of the things I have learned during this project is that I’m a massive history nerd. I research clothing and artifacts for enjoyment and I love going to historical houses. I’ve also learned that I stress too much about the tiny details. We have a menswear archive located at our university and I’m there once every 2 days measuring how many buttons go on vent sleeve or how wide is a trench collar.
“Beautiful clothes are part of my upbringing. I was raised in a Pentecostal church.”
Beautiful clothes are part of my upbringing. I was raised in a Pentecostal church so every Sunday, I was surrounded by aunties and uncles dressed in their finest garments; elegant suits, colourful dresses, and carefully chosen accessories. There was a real sense of pride and self-expression in the way people presented themselves. Getting dressed for church was treated as a special occasion rather than just a routine. I began to understand that fashion was more than clothing; it was a way of expressing identity, culture, respect, and individuality. They shaped my appreciation for personal style and inspired my interest in how clothing can tell a story and make people feel empowered.
“Fashion is a way of expressing identity, culture, respect, and individuality.”
Empowerment is important for us all and I’d like to see more people of colour for a broader and more diverse understanding of cultures when it comes to university judging panels. And more scholarships/funding towards projects. We are not all equal in our studies.
The biggest thing I have learned is to pause and think before I spend my money. I was spending so much money on buttons and trims, and none were the right sizes! I should have checked. Pattern cutting for tailoring especially deserves patience, taking time to get this speciality right. It’s a long process that demands care.
The six week hat making course offered by Maxwell Agbede Founder of Maxim CIC is a great opportunity. I do need a break too, so once I’m rested I’ll be ready to get out there, I would love to be a menswear assistant designer. That’s where I want to start from, or a research assistant, because history is my passion. If I wasn’t doing fashion, I’d be a conservator, fusing two topics together.”
The judges statement:
We, the judges of the FACE Excellence Award, are pleased to confirm Rachael Adegoke as the recipient of this year's award in recognition of her exceptional body of work, which truly embodied the ethos and values of FACE.
Rachel demonstrated an outstanding depth of research into her Nigerian heritage, thoughtfully exploring the intersection of British colonial narratives and contemporary cultural identity. Through rigorous investigation and creative interpretation, she successfully translated complex historical themes into a compelling and highly relevant fashion collection.
Her work seamlessly connected cultural heritage with modern design, resulting in garments that were both meaningful and wearable for today's audience. The collection showcased a sophisticated understanding of storytelling, craftsmanship, and innovation, while celebrating heritage in a way that resonated with contemporary perspectives.
Through meticulous research, originality, and excellence in execution, Rachel produced a body of work that exemplified creativity, cultural understanding, and design excellence. For these reasons, we unanimously agreed that she is a most deserving recipient of the FACE Excellence Award.’
See our judging panel here