About

Antonio Vattev started his brand av vattev in 2020, after graduating from Central Saint Martins and following internships for Lanvin and Wales Bonner as well as a position as a designer at Yves Saint Laurent.

Having been born in Bulgaria and then studying in London in his twenties - a decade of self-discovery - Antonio's cultural background and London's youth scene have been key to the development of his creative discourse. These elements have come to intertwine with his desire for community, and deep interest in how artistic expressions such as music, performance, and arts interact.

The core of av vattev is based on 1970s glamour and freedom, coming from the music and performances of artists such as Mick Jagger - "He has a unique style and it's masculine but sensitive too" says Antonio. This dichotomy is translated through the silhouettes and the mood of the collections.

At the same time looking at the details you can always find technical aspects of the garment's construction, usually inspired by artists such as Christo or Georgia O'Keeffe.

Antonio's goal is to deconstruct the codes of good taste and notions of traditional beauty in an abstract way but always in dialogue with today. av vattev's fashion is traditional with just a hint of rebellion. With a more back-to-reality approach to fashion, the clothes are beautiful, strong and have ideas, but with real-life driving them.

"My ambition for my brand is for it to be modern and yet timeless,," says Antonio.

'The world that Antonio proposes is exemplified in the mantra "Generation in Rehearsal".

"Generation in Rehearsal is observations and reconstructions of the past, expressed through the lens of a generation living in an era of constant change. Generation in Rehearsal is a restart and new beginning and a vision of our generation for the future," says Antonio

Sustainability is an integral part of the brand. Antonio uses more than 70% deadstock, the rest of the fabrics are mostly up-cycled or organic. Antonio also works with Bulgarian companies that help us with sourcing the "Halishte – the traditional Bulgarian textile - hand woven and dyed in the late 60s - that we upcycle and reconstruct into different garments each season."

"I want people to experience and feel through my brand rather than just appreciate a clothing piece"