Orly introduces a new nail collection available March 15, 2022, developed in partnership with Chef Kwame Onwuachi. Known for expressing himself through food, the James Beard award-winning chef takes his creativity beyond the kitchen with this limited-edition trio. Using color to tell the chef's story, the collection features a tightly curated palette (left to right):

• Eggplant, a deep purple shade of eggplant with a slight masculine touch and a shimmer that mirrors the versatility of the vegetable itself

• Chef’s Kiss, Onwuachi's signature color of creamy black, a versatile shade that was Onwuachi's first manicure and now serves as a nod to his roots

• Saute, a metallic silver that's a cool callback to the fast-pace kitchen as home and temple

“I got into doing nails four years ago when my nieces asked me to go with them for a manicure, and I’ve been getting them done ever since,” says Kwame, author of the soon-to-be-published cookbook My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef. “Just as I express myself through food in the kitchen, style is how I express myself everywhere else, and a well-groomed nail with a sleek color is a part of that.”

Known for his critically acclaimed taste and demand for quality, Kwame sought to partner with Orly and was especially interested in the technology of the Breathable formula, a one-step nail color that requires no base coat or topcoat and is oxygen- and moisture-permeable. 

“It was important to me to find a partner that, like me, thought out of the box and had exacting standards,” Kwame explains. “For someone constantly washing their hands, the Breathable formula, which prevents water-logging and is resistant to chipping, peeling, and cracking, matched everything I was looking for. The high quality meets my demanding expectations and, most important, the versatile colors celebrate style in and out of the kitchen.”

Tal Pink, Vice President of Business Development of Orly, says he and his team was thrilled to collaborate with the chef.

"We have been superfans of Kwame’s talent, motivation, and creativity for some time, and we're delighted to be his first fashion and beauty partnership,” Pink says “We are the color authority that provides tools for everyone to express themselves, which aligns so much with Kwame’s vision.”

As a philanthropist, Kwame has close ties with Big & Littles NYC, a non-profit group that provides one-on-one mentorship to children to help them succeed. Proceeds from the collection will benefit the nonprofit, with Orly matching the donation.