L’Atelier Raif

The Pearl of West Africa, known as Lome, Togo birthed a human jewel within its port city of palm and coconut trees, cultural tradition and craft. His name is Raif, founder of the beloved and successful Raif Atelier, now L’Atelier Raif. He is the composite of three identities; Togo, his born country, Nigeria, the land of his parents and Paris, France where he apprenticed with some of the worlds best designers.
After nearly two decades Raif set his bold eye to express African culture and identity through an American context. As such, he became a clothing brand in demand by clientele across a breadth of industries: music art and fashion itself.
His clientele has included India Arie, Jill Scott, Angie Stone, Maxi Priest, the late Isaac Hayes, the legendary King Sunny ADE of Nigeria, Luciano, Gayle King, Iyanla Vanzant, Sanaa Lathan, Stephanie Mills, Naughty by Nature’s Treach, and other personalities.
Today, Raif continues to work as an off-continent designer with a voice hinged on the multi- diasporas of Europe and Africa – with layers of skill and technique applied to his studio practice.