From Courtroom to Catwalk: UH Law Alum Ugonna Abakwue Debuts UGONNA®
– A little over a year after graduating from the University of Houston Law Center, attorney and fashion designer Ugonna Abakwue (J.D. ’25) is preparing for his first runway presentation “UGONNA: Somewhere You’ve Never Been,” on Saturday, Sept. 19.
The show marks a significant milestone for the Houston native, who practices civil litigation at Daw & Ray LLP while continuing to build his fashion brand. Abakwue has balanced his dual passion for law and design for a long while.
While in law school, he interned with the Honorable Judge Donna Roth of the 295th Civil District Court, received the Andrew Thigpen Scholarship, was a 2023 John Black Moot Court finalist, and qualified for the 2024 Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition at the national level.
At the same time, Abakwue continued building his fashion repertoire. He designed and styled clothing for Grammy-winning artists such as Lucky Daye and the legendary band Earth, Wind & Fire. He also collaborated with GQ Magazine on their Jeremy Pope holiday feature before launching his label, UGONNA®.
After graduation, Abakwue released his first product, The RED HAT.
“The RED HAT immediately received attention from people in the city and artists around the country,” Abakwue said. “I was advised to connect with the Houston Arts Alliance, where they reviewed my project proposal for my debut runway show, and they supported it through funding they received directly from the city.”
In addition to support from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, the presentation has drawn support from across Houston’s legal, business, and hospitality sectors. The Spagnoletti Law Firm hosted the collection’s fitting at its office in The District at Hogg Palace, a historic 1921 downtown Houston landmark, and select runway looks will feature footwear from Concetto Limone, the luxury brand founded by attorney Marcus Spagnoletti. Significant support has also come from the Green, Klein, Wood & Jones law firm. Additional partners include ChopnBlok, Topo Chico, Coca-Cola, Minute Maid, and Nando’s, with 713 Magazine serving as the official publishing partner and Fancy’s River Oaks hosting the post-show event.
The debut show, limited to 120 guests, is designed to showcase Houston's ambition, multiplicity and increasingly prominent role in conversations about art, innovation, luxury and identity.
“UGONNA's audience lives at the intersection of fashion, technology, business, music, art, law and entrepreneurship,” Abakwue said. “The room is being intentionally curated for people who shape conversations online, in business and across Houston's creative economy.”
He describes UGONNA® as a cultural platform connecting creativity, entrepreneurship and modern professional identity, which is fluid and varied.
As he continues to build both his legal and fashion careers, Abakwue hopes his journey will encourage others to reject traditional molds.
"I want young people to realize they don't have to fit a certain stereotype to succeed," he said in a previous interview. "You can create your own lane."
