Armando Cabral was working as a model when the inspiration to launch his eponymous luxury brand struck. Walking for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Balmain and Dries Van Noten, it was during a Michael Kors show that Guinea-Bissau-born Cabral looked down at the sneakers paired with his designer suit and realised he could do better. The Armando Cabral luxury footwear label was founded in 2008, and the business quickly evolved into a lifestyle brand that has earned widespread acclaim for its timeless aesthetic, blending Cabral’s West African heritage with high-quality European craftsmanship. Now, the model-cum-entrepreneur has turned his discerning eye to a new collaboration with Swiss modular furniture stalwart USM.
The exclusive collection is a fresh interpretation of USM’s signature Haller system that reimagines home living through the lens of Armando’s African heritage and contemporary design. Entitled Nkyinkyim (Twisting) after an Adinkra symbol created by the Akan people of Ghana, it represents intertwining paths of progress and challenges, illustrating the dynamic journey of collective and individual growth.
The concept plays out within the collection, perhaps most evidently in the freestanding bookshelf. Here, Cabral has used USM’s iconic metal rod, ball and panel composition to conceal a serpentine-like shape between the shelves. It’s a “celebration of the art of living”, the designer says of the collaboration. “Blending culture, creativity, and community. This partnership with USM allows us to tell that story in a fresh and inspiring way, uniting tradition with modern functionality.”
Alongside the bookshelf, the collection includes a set of semi-upholstered lounge chairs, a side table, a valet wardrobe stand and a commanding asymmetrical bed. This almighty all-in-one is a functional feature piece that incorporates a raised bed frame, headboard, storage and side tables. Produced in a bold orange that harnesses the warmth and vibrancy of African culture, the punchy hue brings dynamism to the broader palette of green and black.
After its unveiling at New York Fashion Week, the Nkyinkyim exhibition was expected to close at the beginning of May, but unprecedented interest has pushed that back to July. Its success will likely create scope for future collaborations with equally inspiring designers — but only time will tell who or what that will entail. With the prescribed material palette and specifications of USM’s iconic design, it’s an arguably challenging and restrictive brief, but as Armando Cabral has shown us, it’s one that can be met with striking results.
USM x Armando Cabral
Collection available exclusively at ECC
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