Adecoal – Provocative fashion

The Holy Trinity. Development. Or the hand gesture made famous by rapper Jay-Z. The triangle has long been a part of our collective imagination. And this geometric figure is also the image of Adecoal Wear. Not just one, but three triangles inserted one inside the other, like matrioskas, the famous Russian dolls. They symbolize growth and perhaps also the three parts that make up the brand name. After all, Adecoal derives from the initials of Alberto Correia Adelino, the creator’s name in reverse. But, in an indigenous language of Nigeria, the name has an even greater meaning: “the one who will dominate”. And it is this ambition that we discover in him, after some time of conversation. “My career project is to be at the level of Nike,” he said.

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Working with materials such as linen, leather, capulana and cotton, his activist collections merge the technique of his training in Design with his aspiration in Fine Arts. “I didn’t want to reduce myself to those who regard fashion just as tailoring”. More than sewing skills, he always considered the entire process of each collection. And that’s what we saw in “Marandza Collection” (2019), “Savage Collection” (2020) or “Xizame” (2022). And, more recently, in collections that seem to emerge from the mud of the earth’s sin.

A path that already took him to Deira City, Dubai, to participate in Fashion With Purpose. An opportunity to present his own vision of fashion to the world. Previously, he presented it on national catwalks – three editions of Mozambique Fashion Week, a participation in the “Africanicidade” fashion show organized by ABSA Bank and collaborations with art activist Énia Lipanga and fashion designer Nivaldo Thierry.

How can a garment make us think about situations like war and the marginalization of hundreds of workers in the informal sector? Or make us (re)think about religious references? This is what led us to think of “Combatentes dos Desenrascados.” And this is what “Black Jesus” is about, a provocation to direct our gaze beyond the consensus. “I am not necessarily inducing people to believe in a black Jesus. I am only suggesting new views or perspectives.” It is fashion-art to be questioned, if not to get answers, at least to make us think about taboos.

▶ HIGHLIGHTS

 “My career project is to be at the level of Nike,” Alberto Correia Adelino

Art fashion to make us think about taboos.

Edição 78 Março/Abril| Download.