Born in Abidjan, Marie-Paule Tano grew up between Paris and Switzerland, before moving to London as a teenager. She studied Politics and Sociology, and worked in Finance, Fashion, and for an international luxury brand that allowed her to travel and discover parts of West Africa. There, she would roam markets and art galleries in remote areas in her spare time on the lookout for local treasures, which fuelled her passion for design.

Marie-Paule founded Rokus - London in 2013. she draws her inspiration from African cultures, mixing contemporary and ancient art, a combination of tribal and Western designs to create her signature style. Refined, textured and fashion forward pieces are what makes ROKUS’ unique design style, offering original wearable sculptures with a unique story, an edge, and a feel of vintage luxury.