Doctor-turned
-international-designer Mustafa Hassan Ali tells Shruti IL how fashion has facilitated a close tie between India and Africa…
Tell us about the Swahili Fashion Week (SFW) that you pioneered….
It took me a while to make it big in the fashion world, but I wanted to reduce the struggle period for other aspiring designers. As fashion weeks, for me, came as the much-needed platform to showcase my creativity, I wanted to make available the same facility to new comers and thus came about the SFW. When we started in 2008, we struggled to establish the concept in Tanzania. But today it is among the most celebrated events in the whole of East and Central Africa. SFW also links itself to fashion events across the continent, Mozambique Fashion Week being an example. Its ultimate aim is to expose Tanzanian and other regional designers to the international market.
What did you think of the recently concluded Bangalore Fashion Week?
Bangalore is the second Indian city I have visited. Going by the city’s interest in fashion trends, events such as these are much needed. More and more regional designers should make use of the platform for it is first necessary for your own city to wear your label. As for me, it was an enriching experience when it came to sets and designs. Back home, we go in for outdoor ramps and are heavily reliant on nature. But here it’s more about indoor ramps. I am looking at incorporating a few elements.
How familiar are you with Indian fashion and designers?
I am an admirer of Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Ritu Kumar’s clothes. They speak volumes about Indian culture and heritage. When it comes to designs, I’m particularly fond of the ones with zardozi work on them. Indian clothes come with a lot of detailing and craftsmanship. This apart, I find a similarity between our sense of fashion and that of the Indians. Just like you guys, we have no seasons when it comes to colours. We can actually wear a crazy mix of colours and get away with it! But beyond all these things, what draws me to India is the fact that the cotton for our traditional garment kanga comes from here. I even make saris out of kangas. These kangas are used as a medium of communication too. Whenever people want to say something to each other they write a message on them and give it to the concerned person.
From being approached to design Tanzania’s national dress to having the likes of Naomi Campbell walk the ramp for you….you have come a long way. But how did scissors replace the stethoscope, given that you are a trained doctor?
Even as a medical school student I used to design clothes for my friends as a hobby. This is how a Miss Tanzania crown aspirant heard about me and asked me to design a dress for her. She went on to win the title and came back to me for more dresses. This way I started not only to earn money, which I was in great need of, but also became serious about fashion. I can’t believe I have now completed six years in the business.
The doctor in you is alive through your initiative Fashion 4 Health…
I believe you should always remember where you came from. Proceeds from my Fashion 4 Health brand goes towards supporting health programmes such as breast cancer awareness, mental health, safe motherhood and eye care. My other initiative Twende looks at educating and empowering women in Tanzania. The main aim is to create gender equality more so in the business community.
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