USM together with celebrated designer Armando Cabral, founder of his namesake luxury lifestyle brand Armando Cabral, introduce an exciting collaboration around his new cultural project centered around the home, Armando Cabral a Casa. Together, they unveil a visionary collection titled NKYINKYIM, reimagining home living through the lens of Armando’s African heritage and contemporary design.
Debuting at the USM showroom during New York Fashion Week, the shop-in-shop installation showcases a custom-designed collection of modular furniture pieces from USM, designed in partnership with Armando Cabral along with curated key pieces from Armando Cabral's a Casa home collection. The exhibition brings the world of Armando Cabral to life through storytelling and complementary designs, creating a holistic luxury experience. At the heart of the exhibit is an exclusive collection of USM custom designs featuring a Nkyinkyim bookshelf, an asymmetrical platform bed, a lounge chair set, a side table, and a valet wardrobe stand. These pieces celebrate a shared commitment to elevating everyday living and fostering a commitment to creativity and innovation.
Nkyinyim bookshelf
The exhibition is named after the Adrinkra symbol NKYINKYIM, created by the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the early 1800s. The symbol represents the intertwining paths of progress and challenges, illustrating the dynamic journey of collective and individual growth. “To me, the modular nature of USM’s designs symbolizes that—the way each component forms a cohesive, functional structure,” muses Cabral.
Cabral was born in Guinea-Bissau on the West coast of Africa before moving to Portugal as a child. Subsequently, he studied business at London Metropolitan University and signed up with a modelling agency at age 21, going on to work for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Balmain, Dries Van Noten and becoming the face of J. Crew Menswear. More recently he started his own brand ARMANDO CABRAL, which is best known for men’s footwear, but has branched out into shirts and a fragrance too. He opened his first retail store at New York’s Rockefeller Centre in 2022, and has recently shifted his attention to the home with the sub-brand Armando Cabral a Casa.
Exhibit partners include Rruka, Fefo Studio, Amalia Home Collection, Nordic Knots, Alkemis Paints and Savior Beds– all thoughtfully curated and arranged to embody Armando Cabral's a Casa ethos of connection, style, and purpose.
Mansa asymetrical platform bed
Manjak lounge chair
Arkad Side Table
Okinka Valet Stand
The USM x Armando Cabral collection is available to order exclusively through the USM NY showroom with the Nkyinkyim exhibit on display from February 12 to May 1, 2025.
Photography: @marco_galloway
Discover more: armando-cabral.com
