Ismaila "Ish" Traoré
Work Portfolio
January 2024
About
Ismaila “Ish” Traoré is an award-winning visionary who has worked with revolutionary brands, artists, and influencers while shifting culture globally to drive awareness and impact brand perception with various audiences & new consumer market segments. He’s the co-founder of Coral Studios, a multidimensional collective and creative agency. Through his work, he has curated impactful partnerships and campaigns for Umbro, Nike, P&G, Kanye West’s documentary jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, and more. His work has been seen and worn by change-makers and innovators, such as LeBron James and Odell Beckham. Featured in Vogue, Muse by Clio, The Hollywood Reporter, Complex, Hypebeast, etc.
Within the past year, he’s worked on notable campaigns for Google, Nike, Delta, and more. In partnership with Jay Z’s Roc Nation company & W+K, Traoré curated a media course to teach students about the world of advertising & the opportunities within it.
Ish has received mentorship & worked with creative titans, such as Denim Tears founder & Supreme’s new creative director Tremaine Emory, the late great Virgil Abloh, ad industry vets Susan Hoffman and Jimmy Smith, Wieden+Kennedy’s COO Neal Arthur and CCO Karl Lieberman. In the wise words of Susan Hoffman, Ish is an “alien amongst creatives.” He’s a bodacious anomaly and elevates any brief he’s approached with.
One of the unique collaborations of 2021 was with Nike to create a special release Coral Studios x Nike Air Max 95 sneaker for the community. Generating streams of revenue, which was donated to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to help protect and preserve coral reefs, and overall the environment.
In partnership with Creative Control to celebrate their 2022 Netflix film for Kanye West (jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy), Ish & his team created an official limited edition merch for the documentary.
Traoré and MR PORTER raised funds to provide resources & services to support mental and physical health initiatives for men nationwide. Not only is Ish a multidisciplinary creative and founder, he’s a passionate podcast host. In 2022, he received a massive deal with Spotify and Complex to create a new podcast hosted by him called "Style ISH"
Nike Coral Studios Air Max 95
Objective
With Nike, we were tasked with creating a colorway for an iconic Nike sneaker model of our choice. We wanted to create something that not only represented us as a brand and company, but which would educate the public, create a story, spark a discussion, and give back to the world.
Result
The Great Barrier Reef alone houses more than 3,000 species of aquatic life and only a small percentage of it remains intact today due to climate change. It was important to us to educate the community about its beauty and magnitude, while also promoting a charitable initiative to support The Great Barrier Reef Foundation based in Brisbane, Australia.
The limited release colorway received immense support beginning with Lapstone & Hammer hosting a pop-up charity event, to Lebron James wearing the shoes onto the court. The Coral Studios Air Max 95 became more than just a style statement - they symbolize how creativity can be utilized to impact the world in a bigger and more positive way than to simply generate follows and likes.
The shoe generated over $10,000 for The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and nearly 1 year later is currently going for over $500, 170% of its original price, on sneaker resell platforms such as StockX and Grailed.
Umbro X Coral Studios
Objective | Result
We partnered with English sportswear brand Umbro on an eco-friendly soccer kit benefitting The Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The idea behind the collection was creating a kit that allowed versatility in style, without the need of overconsumption. The collection featured reversible jackets, reversible shorts, and team jerseys and jackets which used recycled fishing nets.
To debut the exclusive collaboration, we brought the concept to life with a two-day pop-up at Miami Art Basel with a rooftop soccer field in Wynwood featuring live soccer matches.
https://hypebeast.com/2019/12/coral-studios-umbro-football-kit-collaboration-art-basel-miami-2019
Coral Studios X Ember Niche
Objective
Coral Studios collaborated with the eyewear brand Ember Niche to create a coral variation of their “IZZY” frame. The frames were made in Japan with a Coral Acetate. Coral Studios released an Instagram AR Face Filter for fans to try on the frames themselves and create organic awareness of the collaboration.
Nordstrom Concepts 012
Black_Space
Objective
Nordstrom's concepts 012 presented a platform for designers, creatives and thought leaders across varied perspectives and experiences representing Black fashion. Curated by five Black creatives from around the world, Coral Studios was invited to participate in Black_Space alongside Off-White, Grace Wales Bonner, and more, as an evolution of Nordstrom’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity.
Coral Studios created a 14 piece collection centered around education on a dual perspective of sustainability - one focused on sustaining one’s identity and relationship within society and survival in the world, and our relationship to the environment as a whole.
The product was sold in over 30 Nordstrom locations.
Nordstrom X Coral Studios
2021
Nordstrom X Coral Studios
2021
Nordstrom X Coral Studios
2021
Nordstrom X Coral Studios
2021
Nike Coral Studios Air Max 95 2.0
Objective | Result
Coral Studios and Nike are collaborating again to release the Nike x Coral Studios Air Max 95 V2. This modified version of the original silhouette is an evolution of the Coral Studios V1 released in July 2018, this time featuring a black leather upper and a sharpened colorway capturing an underwater vibe. Co-founder of Coral Studios, Ismaila Traore, says, “This is our love letter to our supporters who were unable to purchase the first version.”
With the V2 release, the sneaker’s message of sustainability resonates throughout the design and the packaging. The Coral Studios V2’s shoebox is custom designed to be easily recycled. The box collapses into a flat shape for recycling, and can be re-assembled for collecting. Fans can also give back by scanning the QR code link on the shoebox to donate to The Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
https://hypebeast.com/2021/2/coral-studios-nike-air-max-95-release-info
Coral Studios x Mr. Porter
Objective | Result
Coral Studios launched an exclusive summer capsule collection in collaboration with Mr. Porter and their Health in Mind fund. The Health in Mind initiative is dedicated to helping men lead happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
The capsule collection showcased the continuous journey to find peace of mind among the mental tolls that create war within our minds.
Wieden + Kennedy: Nike: Virgil Abloh "CODES"
Wieden + Kennedy: Delta x Issa Rae
Wieden + Kennedy: Nike: Virgil Abloh "CODES"
https://www.complex.com/sneakers/a/riley-jones/coral-studios-nike-air-max-95-v2-interview
https://hypebeast.com/2021/7/ismaila-ish-traore-coral-studios-nike-air-force-1-sole-mates-interview
https://www.nicekicks.com/coral-studios-ismaila-traore-interview/
https://coveteur.com/2019/05/16/ismaila-traore-talks-co-founding-creative-agency-coral-studios/
https://musebycl.io/2-minutes/2-minutes-ish-traore-creative-wiedenkennedy-ny
https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/next-20-2022/
https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/community-future-fashion/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=SML3NRsONOY
https://hiphopsince1987.com/2022/events/wiedenkennedy-the-first-ad-agency-to-sponsor-culturecon/
Press
Grey: Gilette x Animal Crossing
Objective | Result
Client: Nike
Virgil Abloh wasn’t just a fashion designer, an architect, or a revolutionary creative collaborator. He was a dreamer from the outside of Chicago that showed us what can be possible. He empowered kids, championed women, and bridged worlds in sport and fashion that were once thought galaxies apart. He showed us we can do it too, he was pure magic. Being all those things and more, Virgil purposefully lived an open-source life — sharing his life learnings which he titled as “CODES” to positively impact our culture. As we continue to unpack his legacy, we’ve invited some of Virgil’s closest collaborators and friends, to share the “CODES” they’ve learned from him in a six-part series. Celebrating his legacy with Nike and sharing the impact of Virgil’s “CODES” that made the work, world, and culture a better place for all.
View the work: https://www.wk.com/work/nike-virgil-abloh-codes/
Objective | Result
At Grey, we shifted the brand image of Venus from one that portrays unrealistic beauty standards to one that is more inclusive and diverse, representing and appealing to all women. This was achieved through the 2018 “My Skin, My Way” campaign, which featured models with a wider range of skin tones and body types, as well as through partnerships with gaming platforms like Animal Crossing, which allowed Venus to reach a younger generation and showcase even more diverse avatars.
View the work: https://www.glossy.co/beauty/animal-crossing-and-arm-hair-gillettes-venus-adapts-to-a-new-era-of-digital-feminism/
Grey: Armand de Brignac (Ace of Spades) Champagne
Objective | Result
I formed a long-term agency relationship with Roc Nation and JAY-Z's brands portfolio during my tenure at Grey, and one exciting campaign we led was the creative revamp of Champagne Armand de Brignac's, colloquially known as "Ace of Spades", Instagram presence. The cleaned-up, modernized, digital visual identity of the brand was successfully executed just prior to the brand's acquisition by LVMH.
Objective | Result
This Delta campaign celebrates and empowers small fashion businesses while simultaneously reaching a wider audience through a high-profile event - LA Fashion Week. This collaboration leverages the star power of Issa Rae and Delta's extensive network to shine a spotlight on 6 up-and-coming designers, offering them a platform to showcase their talent and reach new customers. By specifically targeting stylish and comfortable clothing for travelers, the collection caters to Delta's core demographic while also appealing to Issa Rae's fashion-forward fanbase. The livestreamed fashion show further amplified the reach and impact of the collaboration, potentially inspiring future partnerships and opportunities for the featured designers.
View the work: https://www.wk.com/work/delta-runway-runway/
New York Sunshine
Objective
New York Sunshine is a multifaceted group of artists with a very specific and recognizable industrial aesthetic. Over the past 2 years, Coral Studios collaborated with New York Sunshine to create spaces for their work and ours at Miami Art Basel which retained individuality for both brands and benefitted both parties involved.
Result
In 2017, Coral Studios held a podcasting space within the venue where New York Sunshine was showcasing their art.
In 2018, we created a celebratory installation for the success of the Nike Coral Studios Air Max 95 and Coral Studios merchandise. The shoe was bolted against the wall inside an acrylic shoebox to emphasize the idea that they are more than just shoes - they are wearable pieces of art.
The space hosted several live podcasting events, and New York Sunshine hosted their art within the venue and drew in the youth and art industry visiting for Miami Art Basel.
"jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy" Merchandise
Objective | Result
Coral Studios led the creative direction and designs for the jeen-yuhs Netflix documentary series on Kanye West. The merch release was met with high anticipation from the fanbase.
https://www.manifesto.asia/post/1957/NETFLIX’S-MERCH-MADNESS-HOPES-FOR-A-YE-BOOST-Jeen-Yuhs-Merch