Fiati – Classic European elegance, with the vibrancy of West African Culture

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“I don’t want validation; it’s about appreciation.”

There is something about a man in a suit. As a woman, I can tell you that I love going to weddings or special events, and seeing a man with a suit that fits him so well, it looks like it was tailored on him. There is power in a well-tailored suit. It says, “I am making something happen. I am successful. I am putting in the work.”

The fit of the suit is arguably the most important aspect. It also happens to be the aspect with the most impact on how your suit looks and feels on you. It is all about the perfect fit, and this is why when I saw a FIATI suit on a man, I had to find out who the creative genius was behind it. How had he done it? How had he made a suit so well, that it clung to the person’s body like a second skin

FIATI is the brainchild of Fiati Adabedoh (aka, Bryan George). Engineer turned designer, Bryan was born in Ghana, and immigrated to Canada. He began his work in engineering when he was much younger, and was gifted with such intellect that a company hired him despite his age, and obvious inexperience. Although he enjoyed his work, overtime, his true calling began to surface.

It all began when he watched the movie Dolemite. The movie was a showcase of leisure suits, patterned shirts, vests and short jackets with matching pants. Bryan was instantly inspired. He also liked to watch the show Martin. There was something about 90s fashion that he truly enjoyed, and when the pandemic hit, Bryan saw it as an opportunity to follow up on his passion for fashion.

On November 15^th, 2020, Bryan made it official when he left his job to pursue the business full time. He decided that he wanted to design suits that combined classic European elegance, with the vibrancy of West African Culture. To Bryan, suits were more than making a statement. He wanted when a man put on a suit crafted by him, that the suit told a story, not just any story, but the story of the man wearing it.

“I consider myself an artist, not a designer. I don’t just make clothes to put on; I make stuff to reflect people’s personality.”

Before I spoke with Bryan, I took time to scroll through his Instagram page. I was amazed by what I saw. You could tell that there was something different about his work. He did not seem to compromise on materials. From fine satin, velvet lapels to soft Italian wool, he seemed thorough with his methods. It looked like he aimed to make sure that his customers were fitted in fabrics that would make people’s heads turn. He seems to instinctively know that suits symbolize sophistication and offer a chance to showcase one’s personal style.

I wanted to learn more about his keen designer insight, so I gave him a call, and for an hour, Bryan and I talked about suits.

“The suits that I create are not just about making a statement. The suits I make become the person I am making them for,” Bryan begins to tell me. “I have over 4,000 fabrics sourced from the world’s best brands: Vitale Barberis Conanico, Nobility, through to E. Thomas to Cerruti, I thrive on seeing someone wearing a suit that fits them perfectly. It is all about quality and class for me.

Whenever I put on a suit, I feel powerful, and I make sure that there are still pieces of me in my work. I love to see how people react to what I do. It is important. I choose to design made to measure suits that reflect a person’s personality, ambition, and level of success. I truly believe that being trained as an engineer has made me detail oriented, and this is displayed in my work.”

What I learned during our interview is that Bryan is extremely observant. There are aspects of people that he sees that allow him to design his clothing in a very specific way.

“I have been collecting images over the last few years. I would take pictures of what I see, and I have found ways to incorporate it into my designs. People are afraid of judgment, and because of that, they sometimes hide who they are. I take people’s personalities and include it in their clothing. This way, there are always pieces of them wherever they go. I make sure that the inside of the clothing speaks for you.”

A few weeks ago, Bryan had a photo shoot that displayed his latest pieces. I had an opportunity to see some of the designs, and I noticed that he chose very unique looking models to showcase his looks.

“I don’t just put anyone in my clothing. I look for certain features. I love using eccentric looking black women. I notice aspects of a woman that others may not: eyes, personality, energy, hair texture, and I like more natural looking women.”

“There was one time when I was at an event, when I saw one of my current models. He had such an uncommon look, I couldn’t help but take him in.” He started to chuckle, “I am sure he thought I was creeping. He was just very unique looking. I asked him if he had ever considered modelling, and he told me he hadn’t. I wanted to get him in one of my suits, so I started moulding him.  What I liked about him was his commitment. I don’t work with male models that are players. I prefer committed men. They take things seriously.

I like models that are honest with themselves. I pay attention to everything. I want people to appreciate the person in the clothes. I educate my clients. I learn my models first, and then I make the clothing. The one thing that I want is our community to start understanding different versions of fashion.”

I hope that after reading this feature, you have learned the finer details of what makes a great designer, and what makes a good quality suit. The hope is that the next time you are shopping for a new suit, you will go to someone who will deliver quality and a fair price. FIATI is happy to share his expertise with you and assist you in designing a suit that fits your body type, lifestyle and wallet.

BOOK YOUR FITTING with FIATI today at https://fiati.ca/about-us, and start enjoying the luxury of wearing a custom-made suit.