MMUSO MAXWELL AJABENG ONALAJA ZIVA LAGOS TJWHO

( Third Place, $50,000)

Maxwell

We were elated because we wanted to showcase at ARISE Fashion Week anyway, even before the launch of the 30 under 30 competition and didn’t think it would be possible this year due to Covid-19.

How long did it take you to put your collection together and what message was behind your collection?

Due to the lockdown, it actually took longer than normal. The message this season, we wanted to challenge the narrative of a women’s place in society especially in African cultures.

We dove into the world of culturally influenced women living in a modern space, the woman who encompasses domestic features and in spite of our nation’s deep rooted patriarchal notions, can still hold primary positions in business, politics and society.

Looking at other designers collection, aside from yourself, whose collections were you most impressed with and why?

Maxwell - We were absolutely shocked because of the immense talent that our fellow designers displayed. Our favorite collection for both Mmuso and I was Ajabeng. It was such a clean and fully realized collection throughout. We were also blown away by TjWho’s technical skills and the structured silhouettes!!

How did you react when your name was announced as one of the top eight?

Maxwell- At that point, we already felt a sense of gratitude to have made it to top eight, so anything else was just a cherry on top!!

Placing third must have been so thrilling for you! What do you plan to do with your $50,000 price?

Mmuso- Certainly invest it back into our business. Get a studio, buy proper machinery and hire a machinists in order to help us grow our business and hopefully create more job opportunities in the near future.

Are you aware of the buzz this is going to create for your brand and if so, how do you intend to maximize this mileage for your brand?

Maxwell- We’ve already felt it through the media attention we are receiving. We are so lucky because we also got a chance to dress the Queen, Naomi Campbell in the process. The plan for us is to utilize all this attention to garner more sales for our brand. It also adds credibility to our brand because the selection panel was made up of renowned continental and international fashion giants.