Sun 6th January
‘CTFO’ was the title of Bobby Abley’s AW19 offering. A quick google search and visit to Urban Dictionary explained it’s an acronym for ‘chill the fuck out’. Although there was definitely Abley’s signature wearability to all of the sportswear inspired pieces the show itself was far from chilled. Set to a soundtrack with a bass that got your blood pumping and the front row fidgeting in their seats, starting with Teyana Taylor’s ‘WTP’ (Work That Pussy) and ended with an afrobeats finale c/o Leo Justi. The collection was the product of an amalgamation of inspiration taken from Pokémon, X-tina (Stripped and Bionic eras) and Scarborough, Bobby’s hometown in North Yorkshire; where he designed and worked on the collection. Truly three worlds colliding and quintessentially very Bobby Abley.
All of your childhood favourite Pokémons made an appearance, of course. Much to the audience’s delight, a larger than life Pickachu did a lap of the catwalk for the finale. Graphic comic book-esque flame prints crept up the two looks that flanked a hoody and trousers co-ord look printed with a flame throwing Charmander put in repeat and Mewtwo was plastered across a peppering of lilac pieces. Whilst Squirtle popped up on a pair of matching royal blue silk pjs, styled with a patchwork quilt comforter that a model reluctantly trailed behind him, which looked like it could have been knitted by someone’s gran. In fact, as the show notes explained, all the knitwear pieces including fluro-coloured cable knit cardio and a selection of chunky scarves and balaclavas were all hand knitted by Abley’s own mother and other relatives. The whole collection and especially the Poké Ball printed waterproof poncho was truly perfect ensembles for an intense game of Pokémon Go or a warehouse rave. Take your pick!
Photographs by Jason Lloyd-Evans
