Ambus
/Show Day
DAY1, OCT 15
/Social Media
Arlette Ngung is a multidisciplinary textile artist, educator, and acclaimed pattern maker trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, FORMAMOD in Paris, and OCAD University in Toronto. Her debut capsule, Wit in Every Thread, reimagines clothing & accessory as art—merging soft, sustainable techniques with bold, sculptural forms to explore the dialogue between body and cloth.
Drawing on the textile heritage of Eastern and Central Africa, she has collaborated as a pattern maker with luxury brands including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Victoria’s Secret, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, David Yurman, Swarovski, and Holt Renfrew...
Founder of African vegan textile art, Arlette has partnered with institutions such as the Textile Museum of Canada, the Aga Khan Museum, the University of Toronto, and Millersville University USA—bringing eco-conscious, culturally rooted textile workshops and installations into museums, schools, and community spaces. Featured in Selvedge Magazine (UK) and on CBC Radio Canada, she champions sustainable, artisan-crafted fashion that bridges heritage and contemporary design.
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What inspired you to become a fashion designer?
My interest in fashion grew from my background in textiles and pattern making, as well as my connection to African textile traditions. I became interested in exploring how textiles could tell stories through fashion and art.
How would you describe your design style?
My style combines cultural heritage with contemporary design, using sculptural forms, thoughtful tailoring, and sustainable textile techniques.
What can people expect from your collection?
You can expect sculptural forms, sustainable techniques, and textile-based designs that explore the relationship between the body and cloth while connecting African heritage with contemporary design.
How do African textile traditions influence your work?
African textile traditions are central to my creative practice. I draw on the cultural heritage of Eastern and Central Africa while reinterpreting traditional textiles and natural dyeing techniques through contemporary design.
Why is sustainability important to AMBUS?
Sustainability is an important part of my approach to textiles and fashion. I work with natural dyeing techniques and sustainable, artisan-crafted methods to connect traditional practices with contemporary design.