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Ayo

@ayoallison11

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ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ

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@nufc 🤍🖤 taken in Newcastle upon Tyne by @ayoallison11

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2 years ago

Me and Ayo met in 7th grade in New Jersey and grew up playing soccer together. Over the years, we realized we had a lot in common, but back then, we didn’t know how it would all unfold.

Our shared love for soccer and clothes shaped our friendship. We played on our high school team, and as time went on, we each leaned deeper into our passions Ayo with soccer, me with fashion. He told me he wanted to play in college. Coming from junior varsity, it wasn’t the typical route for someone chasing a professional path, but his conviction made it clear he’d find a way.

While Ayo was realizing soccer was his path, I was starting to find mine. I began looking into art schools and learning how to alter clothes, Ayo was the first person whose pants I worked on. In a town where fashion wasn’t really a thing, he was one of the few people I could relate to about it.

By senior year, I was set on fashion school, and Ayo was focused on playing at the next level. I got into Parsons Paris, and when I told Ayo, he shared that he’d received an offer from a university in Newcastle with an affiliated football academy. We both ended up leaving the U.S. to chase what began as childhood interests.

Now, Ayo plays semi-pro in the UK and has stepped into modeling, while I’m in Paris working as a stylist and creative director.

When Ayo planned a visit to Paris, we knew we had to shoot. It felt like a full-circle moment for EKOSYSTEM bringing together our journeys, creative visions, and everything we’ve been building toward since we were kids.

This shoot was a surreal experience. It captured who he is, what he’s passionate about, and how our paths have intertwined merging our stories into one moment.

Creative Director/Stylist: @noah.polfliet
Model: @Ayoallison11
Photpgrapher: @ledockernoir
Photography Assistant: @lulwalsalem
Creative Direction Assistant: @lulwalsem
Assistant Stylist: @mitch_myb
Jewlery: @Marchenoirlomeparis
White Hooded shirt: @dhirbaxi @veepramishra
Shorts: @dhirbaxi
Yohji Yammato Vest: @pariscuration
Fur Lined Coat: @hotinalbertchan
Bag: @hotinalbertchan
Hat: @byfallilou by @ayoallison11

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2 years ago

🆗 by @ayoallison11

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a year ago

by @ayoallison11

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3 months ago

@nufc x @neweracap

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ taken in Newcastle upon Tyne by @ayoallison11

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2 years ago

live yours by @ayoallison11

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10 months ago

taken in New York City by @ayoallison11

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9 months ago

We first introduced Ayo’s story through our debut editorial, documenting a journey shaped by football, culture, and heritage.

Born in the U.S. to Nigerian parents, Ayo spent part of his childhood in Lagos before returning to America and eventually moving to the UK, where he played semi professional football while pursuing a career in modeling.

Now, Ayo is back in Paris. Fresh off his flight, he stepped straight onto the pitch at EKO League, where we caught up with him during and after the match.

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Nous avons d’abord découvert l’histoire d’Ayo à travers notre premier éditorial, retraçant un parcours façonné par le football, la culture et ses origines.

Né aux États-Unis de parents nigérians, Ayo a passé une partie de son enfance à Lagos avant de retourner aux États-Unis, puis de s’installer au Royaume-Uni, où il a évolué en semi-professionnel tout en poursuivant une carrière de mannequin.

Aujourd’hui, Ayo est de retour à Paris. À peine descendu de l’avion, il a directement rejoint les terrains de l’EKO League, où nous l’avons retrouvé pendant la rencontre, puis après le coup de sifflet final.

- EKO

Editorial photography: @ledockernoir
Editorial stylist: @noa.eko
Editorial creative director: @noa.eko
Match photography: @rino15onir
Model: @ayoallison11 by @ayoallison11

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3 months ago

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ taken in Newcastle upon Tyne by @ayoallison11

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2 years ago

+33 taken in Paris, France by @ayoallison11

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a year ago

🦦 taken in New York City by @ayoallison11

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5 months ago

taken in Princeton, New Jersey by @ayoallison11

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a month ago