When art, design and cycling come together, the results can be far more than performance apparel. They can become a celebration of identity, community and storytelling.
That is exactly the spirit behind the latest collaboration between Rapha and Yinka Ilori, who has created a limited-edition collection for the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC). The project draws on the artist’s British-Nigerian heritage, connecting the vibrant energy of Lagos with the streets and creative culture of London through colour, pattern and movement.
Known for transforming public spaces with joyful colour and optimistic design, Ilori’s work has become instantly recognisable. Across architecture, furniture, public art and installations, his practice is rooted in storytelling, often inspired by the Nigerian parables he grew up hearing as a child. This new collaboration brings that same visual language into the world of cycling. Yinka Ilori
“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.”
The collection reflects two cities that have shaped Ilori’s life. Lagos represents his family heritage, while London is where he grew up and built his creative practice. Rather than simply referencing place through graphics, the designs explore the feeling of belonging across cultures, celebrating the communities that cycling creates wherever you ride.
Cycling itself plays an important role in Ilori’s story. Speaking about his experiences riding with the Rapha Cycling Club, he describes how the bike became a great leveller, bringing together people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds through a shared love of riding. It is that sense of openness and equality that runs throughout the project.
For People of Print, collaborations like this highlight something we always enjoy seeing: design extending beyond the page or the gallery and becoming part of everyday life. Whether it’s a jersey, a mural or a beautifully printed publication, thoughtful graphic language has the power to tell stories, build communities and create moments of connection.
The partnership also reminds us that good design doesn’t need to shout. It can communicate heritage, identity and optimism through colour, pattern and material, inviting conversation while remaining functional.
As Ilori’s creative practice continues to span public art, architecture, interiors and product design, this latest collaboration demonstrates how those ideas can translate naturally into another creative discipline. It is a project rooted in movement, both physical and cultural, celebrating the journeys that shape us and the communities we build along the way.
