Le soleil est
mon amour

This collaboration between
Armando Cabral and Nataal channels the sensual energy of Kizomba

Direction
DANIEL OBASI

Words
HELEN JENNINGS

Styling
DANIEL OBASI and UCHE UBA

Nataal has teamed up with Armando Cabral for this extra special SS23 story shot by Daniel Obasi in Abidjan. The season sees his namesake men’s footwear brand expand into unisex sizing as well as new categories including shirts. To celebrate, our narrative highlights Armando Cabral’s natural connections to Africa and our shared network of talent across the continent. “I’m excited for this season’s collection. We’re launching new designs and we’re expanding the size ranges for many of our styles,” Cabral says. “I didn’t just want to create a marketing campaign, I wanted to create something organic and artistic. So, a collaboration with Nataal was the right way to bring this story to life.” 

Le soleil est mon amour, 2025

The short film and photographic series, entitled ‘Le Soleil Est Mon Amour’, uses the sensual language of Kizomba to express the collection’s elegant embrace of androgynous style. “My fatherland is Guinea-Bissau, where Armando comes from, so when this opportunity arose to do a story together, it made sense that we connect our shared heritage through Kizomba,” says Nataal’s creative director Marie Gomis-Trezise of the concept.

Buffalo wears stylist’s own shorts, in front of Armando Cabral short sleeve shirts.

The film follows a cast of young lovers as they journey through the city from day to night, from beachfront to nightclub. All wearing looks from Nigerian and Ivorian designers, their rhythmic movement channels the region’s creative spirit. Naturally, their fancy footwork is elevated by Armando Cabral’s graceful SS23 styles including the Balanta espadrille, the Lisboa handwoven lace-up, the Bolama loafer and Monsoa sandal. “The new designs are all ones that I wear myself. Easy to enjoy and craftsmanship you will only see in the finest artisanal footwear,” Cabral says.

  • Al-Siddiq Atiq wears Kente Gentlemen with Armando Cabral Shoes Yacine Reine N’deye wears Torlowei

  • Hamed Adeyi wears Kente Gentlemen skirt With Armando Cabral shoes

  • Aliou Badra Faye wears Torlowei With Armando Cabral shoes

  • Frank Livan wears Laurence Airline with Armando Cabral shoes

  • Frank Livan wears Laurence Airline
    with Armando Cabral shoes

  • Marc Angathe wears Orange culture

The launch of this story also marks the one-year anniversary of The Armando Cabral Mercado in Rockefeller Center. This luxurious concept store invites you to discover their signature styles alongside Cabral’s curation of other Africa-focussed designers and artists. It’s become a space that continually inspires the brand’s evolution. “When we opened our doors last May, women would come in, pull a style off the display and request it in their size. It wasn’t a good feeling to tell them that we don’t carry the piece they wanted. Now we are delighted to be a brand they can shop.”

Marietou Yira wears Kadiju and Marc Angathe wears Orange culture

Cabral’s own journey is equally inspiring. His family moved from Guinea-Bissau to Portugal when he was three and he began modelling in 2001. He relocated to London to study business administration and further pursue modelling before moving to New York upon graduation. Here he became and remains one of the most successful Black male models in the business – he’s paved the way for the new generation of faces, among them his brother Fernando. It was this life in fashion, and his own love of shoes, that led him to launch the brand in 2009. The concept was simple, drawing on his identity to offer timeless footwear that is hand-made in Italy.

Marietou Yira wears Kadiju and Marc Angathe wears Orange culture

The past two years has seen exciting growth and an even stronger aesthetic connection to his roots. For example, the way he has cleverly incorporated the hand-woven Pano di Pinti textile from Guinea-Bissau into his sophisticated designs. And now, with ‘Le Soleil Est Mon Amour’, Armando Cabral light foots it onto the continent in yet another effortlessly wonderful way. Get ready to dance.

Visit Armando Cabral

Photography, film direction Daniel Obasi
Styling Daniel Obasi, Uche Uba
DOP Joe Penney
 Casting direction Stéphane Gaboué
Hair Bagaté Tatiana
Make-up Doueu Kiéla Michèle Annie
Styling assistance Cédric Akanza, Gam Concepts, Maono Ya Nafsi
Make-up assistance Tanly Rachidatou Fatim
Camera assistance Wal Le Prince
Film and lighting equipment Tom Saater, Youssouf Ouattara
Music supervisor Kalaf Epalanga
Music ‘Intro - Onda de Som’ by Sara Tavares, produced by Loony Johnson from the album ‘Fitxadu’ (Sony Music Entertainment)
Executive production Armando Cabral, Amy Belledin
Creative direction Marie Gomis-Trezise 

Editorial direction and words Helen Jennings
Production Nataal
Post Production Studio Private
Movement direction and dancing Jarrel, Rima Shelton, Akrame, Azia Gogui

Models Buffalo, Francky, George, Lionel, Marc Aganthe at Television Models
Aliou Badra Faye, Franck Livan, Hamed Adeyi, Marietou Yira, Mathieu Bibasso, Stéphane Avenié, Yadi at L'Agence Model Management Abdoul Rahim Dao, Al Siddiq Atiq Fofana, Mohamed Nda, Steve Touré at Special Model Agency Famas, Ibrahim Liade, Reine N'deye, Yann Seba
Footwear and shirts Armando Cabral
 
Featured designers
Abiola Olusola, Kadiju, Kente Gentlemen, Lagos Space Programme, Laurenceairline , Lisa Folawiyo, Loza Maléombho, Nyosi, Olooh, Orange Culture, Oriré, Torlowei

Thanks to Patrick Edouard, the town councils of Port-Bouët, Cocody and Plateau,
the village of Blockhaus
 
Special thanks to The Genesis Group

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