[STYLE] ARTIST TURNED ENTREPRENEUR SLAWN INVESTS IN KICK GAME
“I’m not an artist but I make art.
I’m not a businessman but I own businesses,”
“With Kick Game, Beau is the brains of the operation. Now he can talk, I just do what I’m told”
One of the most exciting and innovative artists and designers of his generation, Olaolu Slawn has become an inescapable cultural icon of his time. Now, the London-based, Nigerian-born designer has become a new investor in Kick Game, signifying a new chapter for the luxury streetwear retailer.
At just 23 years of age, Slawn has demonstrated a titanic influence across multiple aspects of art and wider culture. From becoming the youngest artist to design the Brit Award in 2023, to his work with musical icons including SZA, Beyonce, and A$AP Rocky amongst others, there is no doubting the artist as a touchstone for aesthetics and design since his arrival into the art space.
On top of this, the artist has also found his feet in the world of apparel, setting up Lagos-based streetwear brand Motherlan, as well as working alongside UK Rap icon Skepta to produce a piece for Sothebys. An early admirer of Slawn’s was also the late great Virgil Abloh, showcasing why he is so highly thought of in the world of design and fashion.
Slawn’s arrival at Kick Game has been teased by the artist tagging the doors of their flagship Covent Garden store, as well as a film that shows him and his son Beau moving into the Kick Game office below the store entrance. Beau has always played a huge part in Slawn’s creative process, becoming the inspiration behind BeauBeaus cafe and art club in East London, as well as walking for Mowalola at London Fashion Week and appearing in the music video and on stage at Glastonbury for Dave and Central Cee’s seminal track, Sprinter. Slawn has ambitions for Beau to become one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom and his investment in Kick Game helps give his son that opportunity.
For Kick Game, this arrival of investment signals a new era for a company that has been the backbone for British streetwear, fashion, and music culture across the 2020’s and beyond. Through in-house content creation, the brand has managed to become synonymous with youth culture, showcasing sport, art, and design whilst keeping streetwear and footwear in particular at the heart of their business.
Slawn’s investment promises a fresh, exciting chapter for the company thanks to the entrepreneur’s extensive experience across the worlds of art and design, demonstrating Kick Game has its fingers on the pulse of the cultures in their respective field. The arrival of Slawn also brings with it the opportunity for other ambassadors to partner with the brand across the world of art, music, fashion/design, sport, and content creation.
