OW Patric Okumi (1997-04) has launched African fine accessories brand, ADINKRA London alongside his role as Head of EMEA Sales at ICAP.
Graduating from Durham University in 2007 with a Bsc in Business and Finance, Patric’s career began on a graduate training programme and now spans Investment Banking, Trading, Investment Management and Business Development.
His most recent venture as the Co-Owner of a luxury accessories brand of African heritage. ADINKRA are Ghanaian symbols used to express the connection between verbal and visual. Patric’s inspiration for creating the brand came from the lack of diversity in his ‘working wardrobe’.
“Most of my formal workwear and accessories mostly originated from Europe and America,” Patric explains.
“As a Ghanaian Brit, I’ve enjoyed the best of both cultures but was becoming acutely aware at the dearth of formal and luxury African fashion houses operating internationally. Driven by this I was inspired to launch ADINKRA London to normalise African culture in the international market whilst creating products celebrating each of the continent’s 54 countries and working to dispel the misconception that African culture is monolithic.”
Patric doesn’t describe himself as a ‘luxury fashionista, “my sense of style is definitely better now than it was when I was a 15-year-old at Whitgift”. Attracted to the passion that goes into creating lux products, the brand has started with silk ties and plans to introduce pocket squares and socks before branching into ladies’ scarves, luxury gifts and small leather goods.
Through elegant and refined fashion, ADINKRA aims to showcase the best of African culture.
