Agbobly Takes Us Home with Bienvenue À Bord

Feb 15

In Jacques Agbobly’s rich colors, refined fabrics, and intricate knitwear, you can see and feel a strong sense of Togo, Africa.

Jacques Agbobly of Agbobly may be one of the only designers whose story I can distinguish through their designs before they speak on it. This season, Agbobly debuted Bienvenue À Bord, their first New York Fashion Week collection paying homage to their homeland, Togo, Africa.

Vibrant, warm colors of reds, yellows, and oranges blended with cool greens, blues, and purples remind us of a familiar history our ancestors passed down to this generation. You can see and feel the different elements of Western Africa in each of Agbobly’s pieces, reminiscent of the rich minerals, resources, and traditions the region of the continent holds.

Bienvenue À Bord acknowledges Agbobly’s conflict between maintaining their African identity and assimilating to Western culture and identity. When Agbobly was nine, they immigrated to Chicago with their family. “In this narrative, the juxtaposition of romanticized Western ideals and the gritty reality of lived experience emerges,” Agbobly says. “Yet within this dichotomy lies the beauty of authenticity and the raw essence of self-discovery.”

Agbobly refers to each collection piece as a tapestry, paying respect to immigrants through intricate knitwear and bright hues in ready-to-wear and evening-wear threads. Notes of ornate hand embroidery and silhouettes portray Agbobly’s vulnerability, tapping into the traditional West African craftsmanship, displaying the evolution of Togolese dress practices, and how Agbobly contributes to that evolution.

“In a heartfelt homage to my departed brother, Bienvenue À Bord extends an
open invitation to all souls, urging them to embrace and celebrate the fluidity of their journey through life, traversing continents and cultures with grace and resilience.”