LE SOLEIL EST MON AMOUR
Photography, film direction DANIEL OBASI, Styling DANIEL OBASI, UCHE UBA, Words HELEN JENNINGS
This Armando Cabral and Nataal collaboration channels the sensual energy of Kizomba
Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress.
Nataal has teamed up with Armando Cabral for this extra special SS23 story shot by Daniel Obasi in Abidjan. The season sees his namesake men’s footwear brand expand into unisex sizing as well as new categories including shirts and fragrance. To celebrate, our narrative highlights Armando Cabral’s natural connections to Africa and our shared network of talent across the continent. “I’m excited for this season’s collection. We’re launching new designs and we’re expanding the size ranges for many of our styles,” Cabral says. “I didn’t just want to create a marketing campaign, I wanted to create something organic and artistic. So, a collaboration with Nataal was the right way to bring this story to life.”
Watch our film from Abidjan
The short film and photographic series, entitled ‘Le Soleil Est Mon Amour’, uses the sensual language of Kizomba to express the collection’s elegant embrace of androgynous style. “My fatherland is Guinea-Bissau, where Armando comes from, so when this opportunity arose to do a story together, it made sense that we connect our shared heritage through Kizomba,” says Nataal’s creative director Marie Gomis-Trezise of the concept.
Aliou wears TORLOWEI dressing gown and lingerie, stylist’s own shirt and socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles.
Hamed wears KENTE GENTLEMAN skirt, stylist’s own socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups.
[Left] Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress. [Centre] Mathieu wears OLOOH suit, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers. Azia wears ABIOLA OLUSOLA dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups. [Floor] Francky, Yann, George, Franck and Buffalo wear stylist’s own trousers.
The film follows a cast of young lovers as they journey through the city from day to night, from beachfront to nightclub. All wearing looks from Nigerian and Ivorian designers, their rhythmic movement channels the region’s creative spirit. Naturally, their fancy footwork is elevated by Armando Cabral’s graceful SS23 styles including the Balanta espadrille, the Lisboa handwoven lace-up, the Bolama loafer and Monsoa sandal. “The new designs are all ones that I wear myself. Easy to enjoy and craftsmanship you will only see in the finest artisanal footwear,” Cabral says.
Akrame wears LAURENCEAIRLINE shirt and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers. Rima wears NYOSI top and skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers.
Al-Siddiq wears KENTE GENTLEMEN suit, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama Pano di Pinti loafers. Rein wears TORLOWEI bra and slip.
Franck wears LAURENCEAIRLINE shirt and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles.
The launch of this story also marks the one-year anniversary of The Armando Cabral Mercado in Rockefeller Center. This luxurious concept store invites you to discover their signature styles alongside Cabral’s curation of other Africa-focussed designers and artists. It’s become a space that continually inspires the brand’s evolution. “When we opened our doors last May, women would come in, pull a style off the display and request it in their size. It wasn’t a good feeling to tell them that we don’t carry the piece they wanted. Now we are delighted to be a brand they can shop.”
Buffalo wears stylist’s own shorts, in front of ARMANDO CABRAL short sleeve shirts.
Jarrel wears ORANGE CULTURE suit, Armando Cabral LISBOA lace-ups. Stève wears KADIJU dress, Armando Cabral QUEBO zip-pouch slippers.
Marietou wears KADIJU dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Gabu lace-up derbys. Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups.
Cabral’s own journey is equally inspiring. His family moved from Guinea-Bissau to Portugal when he was three and he began modelling in 2001. He relocated to London to study business administration and further pursue modelling before moving to New York upon graduation. Here he became and remains one of the most successful Black male models in the business – he’s paved the way for the new generation of faces, among them his brother Fernando. It was this life in fashion, and his own love of shoes, that led him to launch the brand in 2009. The concept was simple, drawing on his identity to offer timeless footwear that is hand-made in Italy.
[Left to right] Mathieu wears OLOOH suit. Stève wears LOZA MALÉOMBHO dress. Al-Siddiq wears LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME dress, stylist’s own socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers. Ibrahim wears KADIJU dress, stylist’s own hat and socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama croc loafers. Akrame wears KADIJU top and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Quebo zip-pouch slippers. Rima wears OLOOH top, Kadiju skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama croc loafers. Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups. Stéphane wears KADIJU shirt, LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Gabu lace-up derbys. Aliou wears KADIJU top and trousers, stylist’s own hat, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles. Yacine wears ABIOLA OLUSOLA top and skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups. Franck wears LAURENCEAIRLINE shirt and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles. Marietou wears KADIJU dress. Lionel wears LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME skirt.
The past two years has seen exciting growth and an even stronger aesthetic connection to his roots. For example, the way he has cleverly incorporated the hand-woven Pano di Pinti textile from Guinea-Bissau into his sophisticated designs. And now, with ‘Le Soleil Est Mon Amour’, Armando Cabral light foots it onto the continent in yet another effortlessly wonderful way. Get ready to dance.
> Visit ARMANDO CABRAL
Marietou wears KADIJU dress. Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress.
CREDITS
Photography, film direction DANIEL OBASI, Styling DANIEL OBASI, UCHE UBA, DOP JOE PENNEY, Casting direction STÉPHANE GABOUÉ, Hair BAGATÉ TATIANA, Make-up DOUEU KIÉLA MICHÈLE ANNIE, Styling assistance CÉDRIC AKANZA, GAM CONCEPTS, MAONO YA NAFSI, Make-up assistance TANLY RACHIDATOU FATIM, Camera assistance WAL LE PRINCE, Film and lighting equipment TOM SAATER, YOUSSOUF OUATTARA, Music supervisor KALAF EPALANGA, Music ‘Intro - Onda de Som’ by SARA TAVARES, produced by LOONY JOHNSON from the album ‘Fitxadu’ (Sony Music Entertainment), Executive production ARMANDO CABRAL, AMY BELLEDIN, Creative direction MARIE GOMIS-TREZISE, Editorial direction and words HELEN JENNINGS, Post Production STUDIO PRIVATE, Editing LOUISIANE TROTOBAS at Studio Private, Colour grading NATHANIEL J COOKE at Studio Private, Movement direction and dancing JARREL, RIMA SHELTON, AKRAME, AZIA GOGUI, Models BUFFALO, MARC AGANTHE, LIONEL, FRANCKY AND GEORGE at Television Models, MATHIEU BIBASSO, MARIETOU YIRA, HAMAD ADEYI, FRANCK LIVAN, STÉPHANE AVENIÉ, YADI AND ALIOU BADRA FAYE at L'Agence Model Management, STÈVE TOURÉ, MOHAMED NDA, AL SIDDIQ ATIQ FOFANA AND ABDOUL-RAHIM DAO at Special Model Agency, REINE N'DEYE, FAMAS, YANN SEBA, IBRAHIM LIADE, Featured designers ABIOLA OLUSOLA, KADIJU, KENTE GENTLEMEN, LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME, LAURENCEAIRLINE, LISA FOLAWIYO, LOZA MALÉOMBHO, NYOSI, OLOOH, ORANGE CULTURE, ORIRÉ, TORLOWEI
LE SOLEIL EST MON AMOUR
Photography, film direction DANIEL OBASI, Styling DANIEL OBASI, UCHE UBA, Words HELEN JENNINGS
This collaboration between Armando Cabral and Nataal channels the sensual energy of Kizomba
Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress.
Nataal has teamed up with Armando Cabral for this extra special SS23 story shot by Daniel Obasi in Abidjan. The season sees his namesake men’s footwear brand expand into unisex sizing as well as new categories including shirts and fragrance. To celebrate, our narrative highlights Armando Cabral’s natural connections to Africa and our shared network of talent across the continent. “I’m excited for this season’s collection. We’re launching new designs and we’re expanding the size ranges for many of our styles,” Cabral says. “I didn’t just want to create a marketing campaign, I wanted to create something organic and artistic. So, a collaboration with Nataal was the right way to bring this story to life.”
Watch our film from Abidjan
The short film and photographic series, entitled ‘Le Soleil Est Mon Amour’, uses the sensual language of Kizomba to express the collection’s elegant embrace of androgynous style. “My fatherland is Guinea-Bissau, where Armando comes from, so when this opportunity arose to do a story together, it made sense that we connect our shared heritage through Kizomba,” says Nataal’s creative director Marie Gomis-Trezise of the concept.
Aliou wears TORLOWEI dressing gown and lingerie, stylist’s own shirt and socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles.
Hamed wears KENTE GENTLEMAN skirt, stylist’s own socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups.
[Left] Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress. [Centre] Mathieu wears OLOOH suit, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers. Azia wears ABIOLA OLUSOLA dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups. [Floor] Francky, Yann, George, Franck and Buffalo wear stylist’s own trousers.
The film follows a cast of young lovers as they journey through the city from day to night, from beachfront to nightclub. All wearing looks from Nigerian and Ivorian designers, their rhythmic movement channels the region’s creative spirit. Naturally, their fancy footwork is elevated by Armando Cabral’s graceful SS23 styles including the Balanta espadrille, the Lisboa handwoven lace-up, the Bolama loafer and Monsoa sandal. “The new designs are all ones that I wear myself. Easy to enjoy and craftsmanship you will only see in the finest artisanal footwear,” Cabral says.
Akrame wears LAURENCEAIRLINE shirt and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers. Rima wears NYOSI top and skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers.
Al-Siddiq wears KENTE GENTLEMEN suit, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama Pano di Pinti loafers. Rein wears TORLOWEI bra and slip.
Franck wears LAURENCEAIRLINE shirt and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles.
The launch of this story also marks the one-year anniversary of The Armando Cabral Mercado in Rockefeller Center. This luxurious concept store invites you to discover their signature styles alongside Cabral’s curation of other Africa-focussed designers and artists. It’s become a space that continually inspires the brand’s evolution. “When we opened our doors last May, women would come in, pull a style off the display and request it in their size. It wasn’t a good feeling to tell them that we don’t carry the piece they wanted. Now we are delighted to be a brand they can shop.”
Buffalo wears stylist’s own shorts, in front of ARMANDO CABRAL short sleeve shirts.
Jarrel wears ORANGE CULTURE suit, Armando Cabral LISBOA lace-ups. Stève wears KADIJU dress, Armando Cabral QUEBO zip-pouch slippers.
Marietou wears KADIJU dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Gabu lace-up derbys. Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups.
Cabral’s own journey is equally inspiring. His family moved from Guinea-Bissau to Portugal when he was three and he began modelling in 2001. He relocated to London to study business administration and further pursue modelling before moving to New York upon graduation. Here he became and remains one of the most successful Black male models in the business – he’s paved the way for the new generation of faces, among them his brother Fernando. It was this life in fashion, and his own love of shoes, that led him to launch the brand in 2009. The concept was simple, drawing on his identity to offer timeless footwear that is hand-made in Italy.
[Left to right] Mathieu wears OLOOH suit. Stève wears LOZA MALÉOMBHO dress. Al-Siddiq wears LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME dress, stylist’s own socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama loafers. Ibrahim wears KADIJU dress, stylist’s own hat and socks, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama croc loafers. Akrame wears KADIJU top and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Quebo zip-pouch slippers. Rima wears OLOOH top, Kadiju skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Bolama croc loafers. Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups. Stéphane wears KADIJU shirt, LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Gabu lace-up derbys. Aliou wears KADIJU top and trousers, stylist’s own hat, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles. Yacine wears ABIOLA OLUSOLA top and skirt, ARMANDO CABRAL Lisboa lace-ups. Franck wears LAURENCEAIRLINE shirt and trousers, ARMANDO CABRAL Balanta espadrilles. Marietou wears KADIJU dress. Lionel wears LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME skirt.
The past two years has seen exciting growth and an even stronger aesthetic connection to his roots. For example, the way he has cleverly incorporated the hand-woven Pano di Pinti textile from Guinea-Bissau into his sophisticated designs. And now, with ‘Le Soleil Est Mon Amour’, Armando Cabral light foots it onto the continent in yet another effortlessly wonderful way. Get ready to dance.
> Visit ARMANDO CABRAL
Marietou wears KADIJU dress. Marc wears ORANGE CULTURE dress.
CREDITS
Photography, film direction DANIEL OBASI, Styling DANIEL OBASI, UCHE UBA, DOP JOE PENNEY, Casting direction STÉPHANE GABOUÉ, Hair BAGATÉ TATIANA, Make-up DOUEU KIÉLA MICHÈLE ANNIE, Styling assistance CÉDRIC AKANZA, GAM CONCEPTS, MAONO YA NAFSI, Make-up assistance TANLY RACHIDATOU FATIM, Camera assistance WAL LE PRINCE, Film and lighting equipment TOM SAATER, YOUSSOUF OUATTARA, Music supervisor KALAF EPALANGA, Music ‘Intro - Onda de Som’ by SARA TAVARES, produced by LOONY JOHNSON from the album ‘Fitxadu’ (Sony Music Entertainment), Executive production ARMANDO CABRAL, AMY BELLEDIN, Creative direction MARIE GOMIS-TREZISE, Editorial direction and words HELEN JENNINGS, Post Production STUDIO PRIVATE, Editing LOUISIANE TROTOBAS at Studio Private, Colour grading NATHANIEL J COOKE at Studio Private, Movement direction and dancing JARREL, RIMA SHELTON, AKRAME, AZIA GOGUI, Models BUFFALO, MARC AGANTHE, LIONEL, FRANCKY AND GEORGE at Television Models, MATHIEU BIBASSO, MARIETOU YIRA, HAMAD ADEYI, FRANCK LIVAN, STÉPHANE AVENIÉ, YADI AND ALIOU BADRA FAYE at L'Agence Model Management, STÈVE TOURÉ, MOHAMED NDA, AL SIDDIQ ATIQ FOFANA AND ABDOUL-RAHIM DAO at Special Model Agency, REINE N'DEYE, FAMAS, YANN SEBA, IBRAHIM LIADE, Featured designers ABIOLA OLUSOLA, KADIJU, KENTE GENTLEMEN, LAGOS SPACE PROGRAMME, LAURENCEAIRLINE, LISA FOLAWIYO, LOZA MALÉOMBHO, NYOSI, OLOOH, ORANGE CULTURE, ORIRÉ, TORLOWEI
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