Bloomingdale’s Fall Art Takeover with Yinka Ilori

This fall, Bloomingdale’s is transforming its iconic 59th Street flagship into a cultural destination. Here, fashion and art collide through an initiative with the British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori, whose joyful, color-saturated practice draws on his heritage and a commitment to storytelling. 

Known for reimagining everyday spaces into immersive worlds of play, Ilori has created a dedicated installation and pop-up space at The Carousel, titled “Cherish Your Magic,” alongside a collection of limited-edition products and collaborations, including a playful partnership with PlayStation. Running through October, the experience reflects Ilori’s fascination with resilience, spontaneity, and wonder—concepts that bloom in his immersive wildflower garden designed for Bloomingdale’s.

Ilori shared with Whitewall how he approached this dreamlike project, the inspirations behind his installation, and why he sees fashion and art as inseparable forms of storytelling.

Yinka Ilori Mirrors Creative Synergy

WHITEWALL: Bloomingdale’s is positioning itself this season as “a new type of museum” where fashion and art collide. How did that vision guide your creative process for this collaboration?

YINKA ILORI: When I heard Bloomingdale’s was leaning into this idea of being “a museum,” it really resonated. For me, it’s always about adapting to the space and context you’re working in, while still trusting your gut and staying true to your story. That’s how I approached this project…

New York and Bloomingdale’s are such iconic places, it’s like being handed the ultimate creative playground. It takes belief in your vision, and luckily, Bloomingdale’s got that from the start. I hope visitors enjoy the playful, immersive, and colorful garden of joy that I created.

“It’s always about adapting to the space and context you’re working in,”

-Yinka Ilori

WW: Tell us a bit about your creative process and aesthetic, and how that fit into this project.

YI: My creative process is rooted in joy, playfulness, and storytelling, drawing from my heritage and the world around me. For this project, I was inspired by the resilience and spontaneity of wildflowers, which reflect the energy and creativity of New York City. I used vibrant colour, bold shapes, and immersive design to transform Bloomingdale’s into a living, breathing wildflower garden, one that invites people to slow down, be present, and connect with their own magic…

Narratives in Color

WW: The Carousel at Bloomingdale’s is known for being a space of discovery. What are you hoping visitors will experience when stepping into the pop-up you’ve designed?

YI: I really hope that when people step into the space, which we called ‘Cherish Your Magic,’ they feel like they’ve entered a bit of a dream, something vibrant, joyful, and full of energy. It’s designed to lift your spirits and spark that sense of wonder and possibility we sometimes forget in the day-to-day.

I wanted to create a space that reminds people to believe in themselves, trust their instincts, and honour what makes them unique. Whether it’s a personal decision or a professional move, this project was about empowering people to take that next step, whatever that looks like for them. If someone leaves feeling even a little more confident or inspired, then we’ve done what we set out to do…

WW: Your practice is rooted in color, pattern, and storytelling, inspired by your British-Nigerian heritage. How are those elements reflected in this installation and collection? What aspects are visually seen? Which aren’t?

YI: Everything I do is rooted in joy, play, and storytelling and this installation and collection is no different. It’s a celebration of colour, culture, and the power of transformation, inspired by my heritage and the energy of New York City. I had the opportunity to completely reimagine the space, turning it – inside and out – into a vibrant wildflower garden…

Visually, you’ll see bold patterns, joyful colour palettes, and layered references that nod to both my heritage and the pulse of the city. But there’s also a deeper narrative woven in….

Wildflowers are central to the concept. They thrive in unexpected places, adapting and blooming with spontaneity. That resilience, that beauty in the everyday, mirrors how creativity works in a city like New York. It’s about trusting your own process, embracing the present moment, and letting your unique magic unfold. Some of that message you can see straight away, but some of it, I hope, is something people feel…

WW: This partnership also introduces limited-edition products. Tell us more about the merchandise. How does it connect back to your larger artistic practice?

YI: The product range honestly makes me smile. Every item is rooted in joy, play, and self–expression, which are all central to my practice. What I love most is how collaborative the process was. Every brand was so open and creative, and the end result was this beautiful mix of limited-edition pieces that feel personal but also really fun…

I am especially excited about the PlayStation® collab, I remember my first PlayStation and now to see my name alongside it is a total dream come true! I’ve reimagined their iconic shapes through the lens of vibrant colour and florals. It’s playful, nostalgic and a celebration of creativity, which is exactly what this whole project is about.

“Every item is rooted in joy, play, and self–expression,”

-Yinka Ilori

WW: Fashion and art continue to intersect in new ways. How do you see collaborations like this shaping how audiences experience both industries moving forward? Is fashion art? 

YI: Fashion and art have always felt linked to me, they’re both forms of storytelling and self-expression, shaping how we present ourselves and connect with the world around us. Growing up, fashion was a big deal in our home. My parents always reminded me and my brother that how we dressed was a reflection of who we are, it was our way of showing up…

Every piece of clothing I wear carries a story, just like my artwork. That’s why collaborations like this are so exciting, they blur the lines between fashion and art in a way that invites more people in. They make creativity feel more accessible, more wearable, and more personal.

So yes, I absolutely see fashion as a form of art. And when the two come together, they create these powerful shared experiences that stay with people long after they leave the space.

Uniting Through Art

WW: Much of your work transforms everyday spaces into moments of joy and surprise. How did you translate that approach within the iconic setting of Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship?

YI: Bloomingdale’s is such an iconic part of New York, it feels like a landmark of creativity. To me, it’s always had the energy of a giant indoor playground, filled with imagination and discovery.

The idea of the playground has been central to my work. As a kid, it was a place of freedom and expression, a space where I could just be myself and explore who I was becoming. That spirit has stayed with me, and it felt so natural to bring it into this project.

I wanted to create that same sense of joy, wonder, and possibility, turning a space people know into something unexpected and uplifting. It’s about inviting people to pause, play, and connect. 

WW: What are you working on now/this fall?

YI: I’ve got a lot of exciting projects in the works this fall. One in particular that I’m especially excited about is a new philanthropic initiative I’ve been quietly developing for a while now..

It’s a natural evolution of what I’ve always tried to do through my work, bring people together through art and storytelling, but this time with an even deeper focus on giving back to the communities. I can’t say too much just yet, but it’s coming soon, and I’m really proud of it…