Ahmad Barber and Donte Maurice are the creative forces behind AB+DM Studio, an NYC-based fashion and portrait photography studio. Since its founding in 2018, the two have struck a creative synergy. But even though they share a throughline of artistic passion, the duo is strengthened by their differences. Alongside UGG, the two teamed up for a day of shopping at the NYC flagship store to pick out the perfect holiday gifts for each other.Ahmad and Donte are a dream team, but their workflows and perspectives don’t always need to function in tandem. Though they share the same creative spark, they approach their work and their general outlooks on life in different ways. Ahmad is the more buttoned-up, refined partner, while Donte is a bit more adventurous — both in his personal work and his fashion choices. The two dove into their approaches to their projects, highlighting their differences. “I’m more logistics-based, and I’m involved in pre-production, where Donte is a little bit more creative in his approach,” Ahmad explained. “We work really symbiotically, so we also learn a lot from each other — sometimes we’ll even be out shopping and we’ll realize we bought the same thing, but we’ll wear them very differently,” Donte added. These contrasting qualities give AB+DM Studio its edge, as the two balance each other out, yielding artistic harmony. This same sense of balance can be observed throughout each of their wardrobe choices. While Ahmad usually reaches for a polished matching set, Donte tries out more textured and tactile looks. This is the approach the creatives took when shopping for each other, making sure to secure the ideal aesthetic choice for their counterpart.“What I think makes a good gift is when somebody actually pays attention. We [both] talk so much and take mental notes from each other, so that when birthdays and holidays come around, we have ideas,” Donte expressed. Ahmad echoed these sentiments. “You can tell when there’s depth of thinking behind a gift. I like to figure out, ‘Is this something that’s going to add to your life?’ No matter how big or small, I think it’s about the intention.”When shopping with UGG, the creatives made sure to consider their contrasting styles. “I’m a simple, but structured person. My wardrobe has become about how I can redefine a matching set. I’m mostly in monochromatic looks as well. Donte is more expressive, while I stay within my lane,” Ahmad said. Donte expanded upon his own wardrobe go-tos, saying, “I really love texture, color and mixing these elements together. I love to play with silhouettes as well.”After looking through some key styles, like the Classic Ultra Mini Wrap Tech and the Classic Ultra Mini Hybrids, the two revealed their gifts to each other. Ahmad picked out the Tasman II for Donte — a comfortable option with a bit of texture, matching up with his vibe. Donte gifted Ahmad the Men’s Classic Mini, an adaptable staple that can fit within his functional wardrobe. Each of their distinct aesthetics shone through in their UGG gifts, and the two shared that they’ll be wearing them on set and all holiday season long — along with the Heritage Utility Mini they both coincidentally picked up for themselves. “We’re on our feet a lot, so a brand like UGG is really impactful in making sure that no matter the style, we have something that’s comfortable,” Barber added.Check out the full Autumn/Winter Men’s UGG range at ugg.com.
