Bobby Abley’s designs are a surreal mix of goth, punk, sportswear, and animated iconography. For the past several seasons, the London-based designer has infused his collections with iconic Disney characters that were sure to induce a flash from the past. For Spring/Summer 2015, he presented several looks emblazoned with faces and silhouettes of The Little Mermaid. For Fall/Winter 2015, he decided to tap The Jungle Book as a source of inspiration, using not only the faces of characters like Baloo and Bagheera, but also incorporating leaf, banana, and animal-print motifs.
According to the New York Times, Abley visits Euro Disney about nine times a year; he also went as far as getting the bluebird from Song of the South tattooed on his neck—proving his hardcore commitment and love for the entertainment conglomerate. So it only makes sense that Abley would continue his salute to Disney for Spring/Summer 2016 by referencing one of its biggest movie releases of the year: Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens.
Shown at London Collections: Men this week, the new range features a line of gear that nods to the franchise’s most popular characters. There’s a crewneck sweatshirt with a Storm Trooper helmet on the front, a brown fury vest with Chewbacca’s face, an all-black tank with Darth Vader’s mean mug, as well as several items with slogans such as “Super Duper Storm Trooper” and “Princess Slayer.”
It’s a pretty loud collection that utilizes bright colorways, such as yellow, red, and metallic, among a diverse selection of materials, like neoprene, nylon, and mohair.
When asked if Disney had any say in his collections, Abley insisted the company was pretty trusting.
“They’re quite happy to let me do what I want creatively,” he told the NY Times. “Their people sometimes have suggestions and marketing ideas, but they trust me.”
Check out pieces from the Spring/Summer 2015, Fall/Winter 2015, and Spring/Summer 2016 collections below. To learn more about Abley’s lines and to purchase his current offerings, head to his website.
