In the course of his journey to self and purpose rediscovery, Gabriel went down memory lane where he was reminded of the dream, which was to build a timeless brand which creates functional and forward-looking pieces. In finding artistic stimulation, Gabriel channelled his inner zen and took new hobbies which helped him dedicate more time to self-care and as a result, he felt inspired to create a collection aimed at encouraging young creatives who are faced with such pressures.

Titled “AFLOAT 20-20” an acronym for “African Force Lifting Off And Thriving”, the 20-piece collection is more than just an aesthetically-pleasing assemblage – “This is a body of work that I hope will inspire and encourage young creatives like myself. With this collection, I’m sending out a message that says it’s okay to feel burnt out, to feel the pressure. The most important thing is that you don’t sink into the pressure, that you take time to discover or rediscover yourself and purpose.”

Beyond inspiration drawn from mental health challenges faced as a creative, the earth played a huge role in his latest assemblage as is core to the brand – previous collections such as Skin, You-Th & Code of Conduct are a testament to this. With each collection, consciousness to the role that fashion plays in building a sustainable environment is heightened, which is why Gabriel continues to opt for a sustainable approach to Russell Solomon’s mode of production.

“Sustainability is more than just a wave – it means being conscious and intentional as it relates to the earth and people in it. It is our responsibility to take positive steps in maintaining the earth and this includes our being conscious of our production process.”

Gabriel’s play on earthy tones such as greens, beige, and brown, can be interpreted quite literally with his choice of fabrics being organic cotton sourced from Ethiopia, linen, adire and denim, a reference to his stance on building Russell Solomon into a sustainable brand.

Credits

Photography: Rukie Jumah

Photography assistant: Eddy Chris

Models: Ayo Fredrick, Ailrang Smart 

Creative Direction/Styling: Gabriel Ugochukwu Solomon

Set Assistant: Kojo Gyekye