Swahili
Fashion Week was undeniably a stylish way to end the 2014 African
fashion calendar . This seven -year -old event is one of the top Central
and East African Fashion showcases. Swahili Fashion Week founder,
Mustafa Hasanali shared his experiences and views on African fashion
with us.
Swahili Fashion Week founder, Mustafa Hasanali shared his experiences and views on African fashion with us. Formerly a medical doctor by profession Mustafa Hasanali was featured on Forbes Africa and showcased his designs in more than 20 countries. His love for fashion has truly grown into one of the continent’s leading fashion players.
Swahili Fashion Week founder, Mustafa Hasanali shared his experiences and views on African fashion with us. Formerly a medical doctor by profession Mustafa Hasanali was featured on Forbes Africa and showcased his designs in more than 20 countries. His love for fashion has truly grown into one of the continent’s leading fashion players.
Ameera Mimi sat down with one of Africa’s legendary designers to hear what he had to say about fashion and East Africa:
A. I was showcasing at Mozambique Fashion Week where I was challenged by Jan Malan to start up a fashion week in Tanzania. If Mozambique could have one, why couldn’t Tanzania have one?!
Q. What are the main aims and goals of Swahili Fashion Week?
A. To provide a platform for designers from Swahili speaking countries and beyond to showcase at an annual industry event. It also aims at building regional fashion brands.
Q. What challenges have you faced over the years?
A. I have and will always face challenges which come in various faces and forms. The most important thing I have learnt is how to work with it and turn it into an opportunity.
Q. How have you overcome them?
A. Overcoming challenges is very simple. I have come to learn that God isn’t going to give you a challenge that you can’t handle. You just need to be patient and face the challenge headstrong.
Q. What challenges remain?
A. The biggest challenge that we face is the lack of support in every way by the government.
Q. Would you ever have SFW outside Tanzania and in the neighbouring countries?
A. Yes! We have had a Nairobi showcase in Kenya.
Q. Has East Africa gone through a fashion evolution over the past 7-10 years?
A. Yes very much so. In this digital era fashion is now at our finger tips and access to trends is just a second away. We have become a more consumerist and capitalist society who always want to be trendy and stylish.
Q. Who do you view as East African leading designers?
A. Genet Kebede from Ethiopia, Kiko Romeo from Kenya, Santa Anzo from Uganda, Mille collines from Rwanda
Q. What were your highlights of Swahili Fashion Week this year?
A. We had designers from 7 countries showcasing and international Tanzanian model, Herieth Paul modelling on the last day of the fashion week. The creativity and East African trends for the New Year stood out.
Q. Where do you see Swahili Fashion Week going?
A. SFW will grow bigger , better and bolder as years come.
Q. What are your opinions on the African Fashion industry?
A. Fashion in Africa is flamboyantly fresh . It is an industry which is growing at a rapid pace.
Q. Who are your favourite African designers?
A. Alphadi, Adama Paris, Taibo Bacar, Folake Folarin (Tiffany amber).
Q. Who would you love to dress in Africa?
A. Folorunsho Alakija, Liya Kebede, Iman Abdulmajid, Isabella Dos Santos.
Q. Which fabrics do you enjoy working with?
A. Chiffon, sequence and beaded Lycra, cotton (khanga & kitenge).
Q. What advice do you have for aspiring young African fashion designers?
A. “If I can, why can’t you?” and charity begins at home, your mother and sisters’ should be your first pay up clients and thereafter they would be your Evangelist
Q. What do you think of African identity in African fashion?
A. The flamboyancy of colour, cut and texture summarises our identity
Q. Finally what is your total number of countries and cities you have showcased at NOW?
A. 29 cities in 20 countries globally
A. The biggest challenge that we face is the lack of support in every way by the government.
Q. Would you ever have SFW outside Tanzania and in the neighbouring countries?
A. Yes! We have had a Nairobi showcase in Kenya.
Q. Has East Africa gone through a fashion evolution over the past 7-10 years?
A. Yes very much so. In this digital era fashion is now at our finger tips and access to trends is just a second away. We have become a more consumerist and capitalist society who always want to be trendy and stylish.
Q. Who do you view as East African leading designers?
A. Genet Kebede from Ethiopia, Kiko Romeo from Kenya, Santa Anzo from Uganda, Mille collines from Rwanda
Q. What were your highlights of Swahili Fashion Week this year?
A. We had designers from 7 countries showcasing and international Tanzanian model, Herieth Paul modelling on the last day of the fashion week. The creativity and East African trends for the New Year stood out.
Q. Where do you see Swahili Fashion Week going?
A. SFW will grow bigger , better and bolder as years come.
Q. What are your opinions on the African Fashion industry?
A. Fashion in Africa is flamboyantly fresh . It is an industry which is growing at a rapid pace.
Q. Who are your favourite African designers?
A. Alphadi, Adama Paris, Taibo Bacar, Folake Folarin (Tiffany amber).
Q. Who would you love to dress in Africa?
A. Folorunsho Alakija, Liya Kebede, Iman Abdulmajid, Isabella Dos Santos.
Q. Which fabrics do you enjoy working with?
A. Chiffon, sequence and beaded Lycra, cotton (khanga & kitenge).
Q. What advice do you have for aspiring young African fashion designers?
A. “If I can, why can’t you?” and charity begins at home, your mother and sisters’ should be your first pay up clients and thereafter they would be your Evangelist
Q. What do you think of African identity in African fashion?
A. The flamboyancy of colour, cut and texture summarises our identity
Q. Finally what is your total number of countries and cities you have showcased at NOW?
A. 29 cities in 20 countries globally
No comments :
Post a Comment