Sam Abi
‘Urbbana Porch Thoughts’
Founder, Director and Designer of URBBANA menswear brand Sam Abi is a man to keep your eyes on. He is at the top of his fashion game, turning heads and going places in eloquent style. Whether he is personally styling customers, showcasing his fashion on catwalks or enjoying a morning coffee and muffin along Chapel Street, Sam’s dressed to impress from head to toe in the URBBANA clothing label that he created himself; describing his collection as being an ‘expression of luxury.’
The creation of the URBBANA label wasn’t a designer career choice made by Sam, he simply became frustrated searching for shirts, blazers, trousers and shoes that lacked the sophistication, quality and designs he desired for comfort, appeal and confidence.
In 2009, Sam quickly became a self-thought designer utilising prestigious fabrics that he personally sourced overseas along with the finest raw materials. Keeping true to his vision, he adopted traditional tailoring techniques into all of his creations that perfectly blended with innovative skill and advanced technology.
Influenced by Australian flair and Mediterranean breeze, URBBANA has developed as a symbol of elegance and sophistication on the Australian fashion scene and has acquired a loyal and growing customer base in Australia and overseas since opening its first store in Brisbane in 2010.
URBBANA and Sam Abi are fast becoming brand names within their own rights, having sparked worldwide fashion industry and media attention following the success of showcasing seasonal collections at major fashion shows in Sydney and Brisbane (Mercedes Benz Fashion Week).
Having opened Melbourne’s first URBBANA Men’s Style Studio in Chapel Street in November last year with business partner Lawrence Darwish, it was time to officially celebrate with family, friends and URBBANA’S VIP loyal customers with the prestige synonymous with the URBBANA name.
Close to 90 guests (many flamboyantly styled by URBBANA) enjoyed a touch of jazz and DJ mixed music before Sam personally unveiled some of the sophisticated W/F13 UBBANA Collection modelled on the red carpet catwalk.
Sam commented on the microphone, “URBBANA has favoured the brave this year with a range of bold trends for the warmer months, floral and toile prints garments, plus, coloured and classic leather shoes to compliment the overall collection.”
Many of the popular winter colours like navy, charcoal, burnt brown and burgundy will continue to expand in summer and diversify into a wider array of shades like royal blue, silver, tangy, red, green and pink. Of course neutral light colours like beige and khaki have a strong presence this season and they sure to compliment the above colours combination.”
“We will be showing 14 men’s outfits at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival in Brisbane this year. Like last year, expect to see the most luxurious fabric throughout the collection in fabulous mix of colours and striking patterns. We will also be showing URBBANA’s own crafted shoe collection, which covers the classic and the flamboyant taste. We are honoured URBBANA has been invited to be part of it and even more thrilled to launch the exclusive range in the heart of Australia’s fashion capital and URBBANA’s new vibrant home, Melbourne.”