As the Nigerian creative scene has become one of the world’s most appreciated over the past decade, streetwear, in particular, has blossomed. At the forefront of that bloom are a number of streetwear companies you can catch on display at Street Souk every December. Standing out of the pack is Houston-based, Above Average founded by Ayodeji Adeleke, who we caught up with ahead of their 13-piece collection which went live on August 6th.
Ahead of the collection, Ayodeji let us in on his desire to grow Above Average into a lifestyle brand and grow beyond just clothes. Built on the notion of being the best version of oneself and finding one’s comfortable spot between imperfection and perfection, they go after catering to many different needs with the collection that goes over and beyond. The full collection features a number of items individuals seek to incorporate into their everyday lives including ashtrays, hoodies, hats, t-shirts, and rug and there could be more on the horizon.
On his inspirations and how he believes they manifest in this collection, Ayodeji emphasizes how important Kanye and community are to him and his creative journey. He said “My biggest inspirations are my mum, Kanye West, music, and my friends. I’m big on vibes and energy so I just soak it all up from my environment and all the material I consume consciously, and then dish it out from my own perspective.” The expansion of the collection to include unorthodox items like an ashtray and rug, as well as the signature Heroine Rhinestone Sweatpants, speak heavily to the desire to explore freely and embrace creativity in a very similar fashion to how Kanye has navigated the YZY brand.
Ayodeji’s gospel is that everyone should be encouraged to embrace creativity and assert themselves in life by striving to be the best version of themselves and Above Average and the new collection is the vessel for the message.
Shop the full collection now at ABVAVG.XYZ