by L'Exception, on May 31, 2022
Mattia, founder of the brand A.B.C.L. Garments is pleased to present his new collection, including new exclusive pieces and explain his vision of fashion. The focus is on the eco-responsible pieces in his collection with vegetable dyes, selvedge cotton linen chambray, hemp pieces.
Mattia: Yes, it's the beginning (A.B.C) with the letter L which is my wife's name and associated "LAVERDA". A.B.C.L. was a brand of their factory, they were the owners of Guy Rover. A.B.C.L was never marketed before and we brought it up to date in 2016.
Mattia: We were already in the fashion world but in different styles and worlds. We decided to bring to A.B.C.L our contemporary vision of dressing with rethought basic pieces while focusing on the quality and research of fabrics.
Mattia: Sought-after, basic, comfortable and interesting.
I focus on researching fabrics so they are easy to wear and customers are happy to wear them. This is added with the quality of "Made in Italy", my suppliers and the coordination that was born between us.
The result is the new collection, which I like to define as basics rethought with a modern twist. What I want to do is pieces that you can wear all the time and feel good in.
Mattia: My wife and I also handle the styling part and the purchasing function. The finance part is managed by Antonio and the product manager is Chiara.
Mattia: Chiara is my life partner and my closest associate for all areas. Antonio is able to be present at all levels of the business because of his expertise as a tailor.
Mattia: Everyday life but also the development of our society from all points of view.
The clothes have different styles and can be worn in different ways. For example, I brought a shirt exclusively for L'Exception and we can wear it over a t-shirt or as a classic shirt close to the body. For me, a good combination would be a beige floral shirt with blue shoes for example. It brings a new dynamic to the outfit and thus it makes you feel good with a model that can be declined and matched with many outfits.
Mattia: My focus is on natural fabrics and natural treatment of raw materials as with the fabric I developed with cotton as a base in particular. Another example could be the completely natural dyeing of clothes with cherry blossom or even fig.
The specificity of the material comes from the way it is assembled which is typically Japanese. All my fabrics come from Japan. Indeed, they have this way of producing the garment that makes the texture pleasant to touch and makes it unique. It is difficult to explain it with words, you have to wear it and feel it to understand. For example, chambray is a fabric that can be found everywhere. However, the Japanese chambray from A.B.C.L is different and we feel it when we wear it.
I try to transmit this technicality and delicacy in the fabric from Japan to my Italian suppliers. The objective in the future would be, with this transmission of know-how, to contribute to the resplendence of the Italian quality.
Mattia: To be honest, I have many favorite pieces. To keep it classic, I love the light blue cotton short sleeve shirt. For summer, it's a must-have piece with a lightweight, wearable fabric. I've developed it in two styles, the first model, in blue color, easy to wear with its casual look, and its twin sister a little more classic and formal with a less casual look. To be less classic, I really like the beige overshirt with flowers, as I really like its color and the ways to match it.
Mattia: Bringing the philosophy of A.B.C.L through a larger market and conveying my vision of fashion to a wider audience.
This reflects well my vision of seeing life, simple work, without "headaches", being in touch with consumers in order to properly convey our vision of fashion. For me, L'Exception is the future of fashion with a perfect mastery of online commerce and a good understanding of the digital world. I am sure that opting for a physical and online store is the perfect mix to offer the customer, a unique experience.
Mattia: I'm very happy to be at The Exception today. I spoke with you, Regis, about this event because I saw in this store and its concept, the real future for retailers. The location is incredible, the team is competent and super cool. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. I'm sure the customers appreciate it and feel it.
Discover the collection online.
This interview is also available on video here.
A.B.C.L. Garments, any particular meaning?
Mattia: Yes, it's the beginning (A.B.C) with the letter L which is my wife's name and associated "LAVERDA". A.B.C.L. was a brand of their factory, they were the owners of Guy Rover. A.B.C.L was never marketed before and we brought it up to date in 2016.
How did you come up with the idea to create a brand? And why together?
Mattia: We were already in the fashion world but in different styles and worlds. We decided to bring to A.B.C.L our contemporary vision of dressing with rethought basic pieces while focusing on the quality and research of fabrics.
How would you define your brand in three words:
Mattia: Sought-after, basic, comfortable and interesting.
I focus on researching fabrics so they are easy to wear and customers are happy to wear them. This is added with the quality of "Made in Italy", my suppliers and the coordination that was born between us.
The result is the new collection, which I like to define as basics rethought with a modern twist. What I want to do is pieces that you can wear all the time and feel good in.
How do you divide the tasks within your company?
Mattia: My wife and I also handle the styling part and the purchasing function. The finance part is managed by Antonio and the product manager is Chiara.
Tell us about the other associates in a few words.
Mattia: Chiara is my life partner and my closest associate for all areas. Antonio is able to be present at all levels of the business because of his expertise as a tailor.
What have been/are your inspirations?
Mattia: Everyday life but also the development of our society from all points of view.
The clothes have different styles and can be worn in different ways. For example, I brought a shirt exclusively for L'Exception and we can wear it over a t-shirt or as a classic shirt close to the body. For me, a good combination would be a beige floral shirt with blue shoes for example. It brings a new dynamic to the outfit and thus it makes you feel good with a model that can be declined and matched with many outfits.
What are the specifics of the materials used in your collections?
Mattia: My focus is on natural fabrics and natural treatment of raw materials as with the fabric I developed with cotton as a base in particular. Another example could be the completely natural dyeing of clothes with cherry blossom or even fig.
The specificity of the material comes from the way it is assembled which is typically Japanese. All my fabrics come from Japan. Indeed, they have this way of producing the garment that makes the texture pleasant to touch and makes it unique. It is difficult to explain it with words, you have to wear it and feel it to understand. For example, chambray is a fabric that can be found everywhere. However, the Japanese chambray from A.B.C.L is different and we feel it when we wear it.
I try to transmit this technicality and delicacy in the fabric from Japan to my Italian suppliers. The objective in the future would be, with this transmission of know-how, to contribute to the resplendence of the Italian quality.
Do you have a favorite piece that never leaves you?
Mattia: To be honest, I have many favorite pieces. To keep it classic, I love the light blue cotton short sleeve shirt. For summer, it's a must-have piece with a lightweight, wearable fabric. I've developed it in two styles, the first model, in blue color, easy to wear with its casual look, and its twin sister a little more classic and formal with a less casual look. To be less classic, I really like the beige overshirt with flowers, as I really like its color and the ways to match it.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Mattia: Bringing the philosophy of A.B.C.L through a larger market and conveying my vision of fashion to a wider audience.
This reflects well my vision of seeing life, simple work, without "headaches", being in touch with consumers in order to properly convey our vision of fashion. For me, L'Exception is the future of fashion with a perfect mastery of online commerce and a good understanding of the digital world. I am sure that opting for a physical and online store is the perfect mix to offer the customer, a unique experience.
A quick word on The Exception.
Mattia: I'm very happy to be at The Exception today. I spoke with you, Regis, about this event because I saw in this store and its concept, the real future for retailers. The location is incredible, the team is competent and super cool. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. I'm sure the customers appreciate it and feel it.
Discover the collection online.
This interview is also available on video here.
