RCC + Yinka Ilori
A joy ride from Lagos to London.
21 June 2026
From architecture to sculpture, furniture to interior, artist Yinka Ilori’s unrivalled ability to nurture the positive through design has earned him the well-suited title of “Architect of Joy”. His work has brightened spaces across London, New York, Stockholm and many in between. This RCC exclusive collection is a tale of two cities. Lagos - a home by heritage - loud, restless and charged by the sun. The other - London - a playground, where Yinka builds a world of texture, wonder and joy.
Growing up on Essex Road in Islington, North London, visual artist Yinka was raised by a village of many — parents, uncles, aunties and neighbours alike. It was here that he first uncovered the road of independence that would lead him to a life full of colour.
JOY IS HOMEGROWN
Long before the pursuit, the must-have gear and the personal bests, there was the corner shop stop on the way home, the same route, even in the rain. The quick detour to a neighbour’s down the road. Or, back in the day, perched on the back pegs of a best friend, arms loose, eyes closed, nowhere else to be. For Yinka, joy was not handed; it was chosen and nurtured, ride after ride.
This collection blooms with the energy of London, with roots deeply entrenched in the history and cultures of Lagos, Nigeria.
THE HIBISCUS
The dried hibiscus leaf is the soul of Zobo, Nigeria's beloved drink. More than an ingredient, it is a symbol of togetherness; its red hues weave around Africa, through Ghana, Senegal, and across the islands of the Caribbean.
Home Roads
Yinka’s collection is an ode to the roads we return to. The capsule is crafted with childhood memory, cultural motifs and personal icons of connection.
“I would ride with people from all over the world; it was the thing that made everyone feel like we were the same.”
-Yinka Ilori
UNITY, FAITH, PEACE
West African fabrics hold multitudes of stories, whether to celebrate monuments of a life well lived or significant moments within wider culture. Inspired by this, the collection pays tribute to the history of Nigeria with the Yellow Trumpet, the country’s national flower.
“At some point, I'd love to do something different. Maybe in the next 30 years, I’ll shut my studio down and go into garden design. I've found that the things that bring me joy are the things that take me back to my youth and my estate. I spent my summers running around chasing butterflies and daffodils, and I felt like anything was possible.”
-Yinka Ilori
FAMILIAR COLOURS
Yinka crafts a love letter through colour — a palette passed down from his grandmother and tinted by moments of community. Hues of blue, lilac, pink, orange, and yellow intertwined in conversation.
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