ABAGA VELLI Hits LFW, Presents Coup 001 Of 100

Fashion Week returned to London from 11-13 June, with an array of designer shows, presentations and events. The much-anticipated weekend saw new and promising brands hit the scene, including cult design label ABAGA VELLI.

Co-founded in 2019 by Creative Director Adémidé Udoma and Diallo Nehmiah-Hasmat, ABAGA VELLI is conceptualised by its name, which stands for ‘Art Brings Access, Grants Ascendance’. Creating utilitarian clothing with an “artisanal” touch, the brand aligns closely with Udoma’s previous experience in tailoring and as an art director. It continues his ongoing exploration of community, culture, heritage and displacement.

LFW was treated to the debut showcase of the brand’s COUP 001: All Roads Lead To The Horn (ARLTTH) – the first installation of the brand’s 100-part voyage. Udoma’s insight into youth culture and traditional craft are exhibited throughout COUP 001, his fascination with diaspora demonstrated through the use of quality fabrics sourced internationally. COUP 001 is ultimately an alternative take on traditionally formal clothing constructs.

The pieces perfectly capture what the brand defines as ‘Street Elegance’. From pleated trousers and shoulder tailored jackets, created with elements of tactile fabrication and modular layering, the collection introduces a story that will be continued throughout the life of the brand – a story of a voyage back to the beginning. One that seeks to find the truth, not only in the past, but also in the present and the future.

ABAGA VELLI’S COUP 001 will launch in selected retailers internationally in January 2023.