MUSTAFA HASSAN

What inspired your collection?

My collection was inspired by Endometritis, the abnormal growth of the endometrium cells. There has been a whole campaign which has been done by one of Tanzania’s number one model Mullen Magese, she has suffered from endometriosis and the struggle she has gone through, I have felt her struggle. I have been part of it. So I thought this is a perfect way to create awareness of endometriosis. And a lot of people do not speak about it because it’s a taboo or they are shy of it. So this is a way to say it is okay to speak about it so we can have interventions. It’s all about creating awareness. Hence the colour “Yellow” What do you think was the highlight of the show?

I think the highlight of the fashion week is what Arise does well, they bring the best of the best from each part of Africa together under one roof. Since the first time Arise started in Lagos 2011, “I was there” and 2012 “I was there” and 2009 in South Africa when they first did a show, “I was there” and it was the first Arise Fashion week in South Africa where I got to work with Naomi Campbell. So if it hadn’t been for Arise doing that show in Johannesburg and inviting me to showcase, I would never work with Naomi and we wouldn’t have known each other. Describe the Arise Fashion week in three words Vibrant, Vivacious, Exquisite. What are your expectations for the future shows?

I think Arise has a foothold in Nigeria and I personally believe that Nigeria is truly Africa. Africa is a wide continent but the africanism is in Nigeria and I would believe and appreciate if Arise will continue this platform every year. I know there are always challenges, it’s not easy bringing people from all parts of Africa. But I think Africa, Lagos should be the next destination for global press. New York, Paris, Milan, London and Lagos should be the next destination.