The square vest by Ujoh
An iconic garment built by subtraction — where what’s missing defines the shape
Some pieces don’t reveal themselves until you’re wearing them — the square vest is one of them. What drew us in wasn’t an added detail but a removed one: no armholes, no side seams, the fabric left free to fall across the shoulders on its own terms. Ujoh takes a tailored shape and turns it into something you’d instinctively reach for.
Subtraction has long been a way of making a point. Consider Lucio Fontana’s Concetto spaziale, where a single slash through the canvas doesn’t ruin the surface but redefines it, turning the void into the subject. Or the Japanese idea of ma (間) — the meaningful interval, the space that gives form to what surrounds it. This vest belongs to that way of thinking: a deliberate omission of what a garment is expected to have, and that absence is exactly where its avant-garde character lives.
The piece
What sets the square vest apart is its construction: the lapel and button closure carry the memory of a tailored blazer, while the missing armholes and side seams let the wool drape in one uninterrupted gesture. Removable side belts introduce a bold, adjustable note — cinch them for definition or let them hang loose. Its generous, square silhouette allows freedom of movement without losing its architectural character. Then the fabric: a fine tropical wool that keeps a crisp line while staying light against the body. Its distinctive cut makes it an effortless layering piece, adding structure without competing with what’s underneath. A signature Ujoh design that works across the year, worn alone or layered.
Charcoal — a deep and understated shade that keeps everything anchored.
Made in Japan.
Worn your way
For the office — Over a plain cotton shirt, the buttons left open, paired with tailored trousers and loafers. Let the square silhouette lead; keep everything else quiet.
For the city — Layered over a fine-knit jumper, with straight-leg denim and chunky boots. An easy combination that lets the vest’s unusual construction do the talking.
Dinner out — Worn on bare skin with high-waisted, clean-cut trousers. Nothing more is needed: the cut alone gives the look its presence.
A special occasion — Layered over a lace blouse and a fluid skirt. The contrast between the vest’s clean geometry and the blouse’s intricate texture creates an unexpected harmony.
For the modern humans who curate, not consume — whose wardrobe is a library of dog-eared favourites, each piece a chapter in their story.
The square vest by Ujoh
Thoughtfully selected. Chosen to be worn, lived in and kept.
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