09May
The New York-based design house will donate part of its pop-up sales towards educational efforts to combat anti-Asian American violence.
Eritrean tailor Goitom Woldegebriel sharpened his aesthetic consciousness in the shadow of war, witnessing the Eritrean-Ethiopian conflict firsthand during his youth. After an extended period of transience, he planted roots in New York, where he continued his generational process in tailoring and craftsmanship.
Today, the family’s label and Soho storefront are named for Woldegebriel’s son, Áwet, which means victory in Tigriny—a polysemous reference to the resilience that grounded the founder amidst conflict.
With a reverence for the community, Áwet wanted to create a space to celebrate young talent in similar ways that his father believed in nurturing the hands that prepare the garments of a shared tapestry. From May 4th to May 5th, ÁWET’s Bond Street flagship hosted eleven AAPI-owned brands. Micro-collections and small run released, curated by U.S. and China-based artist representation group Velvet.Co, were showcased alongside ÁWET’s newest Spring/Summer ‘24 collection—the usually genderless label’s first womenswear release.
In the context of New York’s post-2021 collective mission to combat anti-Asian bigotry, all parties needed to create an industry space that fosters celebration and sanctuary.
Proceeds of purchases made during the pop-up went towards Make Us Visible, an organization empowering local communities to build curricula for the integration of Asian American contributions, experiences, and histories in K-12 classrooms. Now more than ever, the fight against racialized miseducation is a collective one, with stakes affecting the ways that students across backgrounds come to understand American and world histories. Anti-racist reading is essential.
Woldegebriel calls the prioritization of community a “ lifeblood and driving force. We deeply value the opportunity to feature the exceptional skills of AAPI designers at our flagship store.” With the space’s archival 20th-century furniture pieces and a gallery-like spatial design, the ÁWET store has a multipurpose role as a gathering space.
Empowering local communities to build curricula for the integration of Asian American contributions and captivating experiences is one of the important initiative to be attributed by AWET with the clear indication of supporting the community that needs much attention.
Thankyou for the scheduled Ample Time.
