The BASIC Show

UGO MOZIE: From Met Gala to Redefining African Luxury | EPISODE 14

• Viktorija Pashuta • Season 3 • Episode 14

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In this  episode of The BASIC Show, celebrity stylist and designer Ugo Mozie joins host Viktorija Pashuta to share his journey from Nigeria to Hollywood’s biggest red carpets. From styling legends like Diana Ross and creating Khaby Lame’s viral Met Gala clock look with BOSS, to dressing Blue Ivy for the Cowboy Carter tour, Ugo reveals how fashion can be both storytelling and cultural legacy.

With his pre-launch fashion brand Eleven Sixteen, Ugo is reshaping the narrative of African luxury while giving back to artisans in Lagos, Nigeria. Beyond fashion, he opens up about gratitude, faith, and why AI is a creative assistant—not a threat.

You’ll learn:
 ✨ How Ugo’s upbringing in Houston ignited his drive and creativity
 🧵 Why storytelling through fashion is about psychology, confidence, and culture
 ⏰ Behind-the-scenes of his most iconic Met Gala looks
 🌍 How his brand 11.16 is empowering Nigerian artisans and weaving heritage into modern design
💡 Why diversification is essential for creative entrepreneurs
🎥 His next chapter: filmmaking to document untold African stories

This episode blends fashion wisdom, cultural storytelling, and empowering lessons on resilience, legacy, and self-belief.

🎙️ The BASIC Show is hosted by Viktorija Pashuta — Editor-in-Chief of BASIC Magazine.
📍 Recorded at The Maybourne Beverly Hills
🔗 Follow Ugo on Instagram: @ugomozie

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SPEAKER_01:

I always say that your true level of gratitude is tested during the hard times. That's what gratitude is. I always say that. The day you know everything, you better start counting. Exactly. Time to go. Our advantage is the ability to take risks. You cannot put all your eggs in a human's basket. It's crazy. People are people. When I first wake up, the first thing that I put my mind to is what owns my day. I think that when it comes to discovery, it's an energy. You have to be a magnet. I feel like you have to be delusional about your belief in yourself. You have to believe in yourself so much that when you speak about your vision to people, feel silly for doubting you

SPEAKER_00:

they say luxury is a lifestyle i say it's a mindset and this one comes with room service here at the mayborn where european charm meets california flair i don't just check in i reset because real power isn't loud it's knowing when to ghost the noise and draft something far more lasting behind the scenes. The Mayborn Beverly Hills. Welcome to The Basic Show. Today's season is... Secret Garden, and I have very special guests that I've been waiting forever to interview. Hugo Mousier is our very special guest. Hi, Hugo.

SPEAKER_01:

Hello, hello, Victoria.

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to The Basic Show.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00:

Yes, thank you for coming. We were just talking earlier how things have been working off with the Mercury retrograde. Oh, this

SPEAKER_01:

retrograde has not been a joke.

SPEAKER_00:

That's for sure. Well, I'm always thinking positively. We You are here, we're finally speaking with you, and I'm very, very excited to get to know you a little bit more.

SPEAKER_01:

Likewise,

SPEAKER_00:

likewise. Thank you for having me. Of course, of course. You know, the first thing I did when I was researching your story, I went to Instagram, and I realized you have like 6,000 posts. And it took me, I kid you not, maybe 10 minutes to scroll and scroll and scroll. I wanted to see the first picture. Wow. The first post you posted.

SPEAKER_01:

No, you didn't.

SPEAKER_00:

Do you remember what was your first post, first picture?

SPEAKER_01:

My first picture, I think I do remember. It's a picture of me in my house. It was, I think, a month or two after moving to L.A. And it was just like a picture of me in my bedroom, I think.

SPEAKER_00:

You're very close. No, that was your second to last. The first one was a portrait of Kellis.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow. And you said, I love her. Wow. It

SPEAKER_00:

was a beautiful portrait, and I love her. I'm like, oh my God, I really scrolled to the very bottom to see what was your very, very first post. And you're right, the first images were of you, I guess, the first time in LA. So tell me about that. You've had such an incredible career from Nigeria to Los Angeles to Texas to New York. Tell us what place really made an impact on your life, career-wise and personally. I

SPEAKER_01:

would say of all the places that I've lived, different countries and states all around America. The place that had the biggest impact in my life. Whoa, that's such a hard question. Damn, the biggest impact in my life. I would say maybe Texas, living in Houston. That was like the adolescent part of my childhood, you know, like middle school and high school. And it was when I started making like my real friends and discovering who I was and what I really wanted to do. And going through that phase in Houston and Texas in a place where I felt kind of like stifled where I felt like I couldn't be as creative as possible, I think that ignited something in me. Like it gave me a stronger drive. You know, it's like when you put, you know, when you're in a box, but you can see outside of the box and you're just like, it gives you the, you know, that urge to come out. And I think that, you know, being in Texas and for my adolescent years really played a large role, you know, going through just like my trials and starting designing for the first time, you know, for my friends and, you know, just using my friends as my muses. That's the best way. It's the best way and it's still what I do. You know, it's still what I do. I still, if you're my friend and we're going out together and you're around, most likely you might end up leaving in a different outfit than you came to my house with.

SPEAKER_00:

Lucky friends. Lucky friends. What does it What does it take to be in the circle of UGA?

SPEAKER_01:

It takes a lot.

SPEAKER_00:

Give us one, two, three cheat codes.

SPEAKER_01:

To be in the circle of friends, I mean, it takes individuality. It takes confidence. It takes self-assurance. And it takes knowledge. And I appreciate people that have, and not... I don't care about fashion knowledge or just entertainment knowledge, but just know something. Know something. Be studied in gemology or archaeology or be a doctor, but know something and be good at your craft and be able to teach me. I think I'm very attracted to people that can teach me. So whether you're an intern or an assistant or an executive, you better have... like something to add to the conversation, you know, that's what I think it takes.

SPEAKER_00:

I love that because I feel like we always have to be in that learning stage. As if, if you know everything, you feel like you know everything means like your life is over, right? There's nothing else left for you to discover, right?

SPEAKER_01:

I always say that. Like the day you know everything, you better start counting. Exactly, time to go. Because you're done. Right? I just don't think, I mean, the world is just so vast there's so much beauty in culture and traveling and in tribes that you can never know too much and you know I actually feel bad for people that you know when you encounter people that just like feel blocked like you just like you can't tell them nothing like they just have like they just feel like they know everything you know like for me that mentality is it's the worst

SPEAKER_00:

you pretend to know everything

SPEAKER_01:

it's the worst

SPEAKER_00:

there's no possibly you you can know everything. It's discovering yourself probably the hardest. I

SPEAKER_01:

mean, exactly. It's like, how can you even fully know your own self when, you know, each chapter, each era, I feel like we should reinvent, you know, we should change as evident. Right now, like with the AI coming into the world, if you're not changing and reinventing yourself with the new technology, then you're already being left behind. So

SPEAKER_00:

speaking of AI, that actually was my like question number 10, but since you mentioned it how do you feel is AI a threat to creatives and do you actually use it for yourself in any of your creative projects at all or how do you feel about that

SPEAKER_01:

I don't think AI is a threat to creatives to answer the first question I believe that AI is an amazing assistant guide like help for creatives I believe that, you know, it's a great tool to use to get to your vision faster. You know, no matter what it is, whether you're in the research phase or the creation phase, you can get there so much faster. You know, I use AI every single day, I would say. That chat chief is here and I are besties.

SPEAKER_00:

I know, especially for emails. For

SPEAKER_01:

emails, for conversations, replying hard messages. Right. Like I'll literally take a screenshot of the text message.

SPEAKER_00:

Reply, you hate them, but be nice.

SPEAKER_01:

Like reply to this. This is an old friend of mine. We're not in the best terms right now, but I want to reply heartfelt, but stern. Reply to this message.

SPEAKER_00:

But isn't it crazy? Because now it feels like we don't even know how to express ourselves anymore, right? Relying on the machine.

SPEAKER_01:

No, because like... because it's still expressing your feelings. It's not going to make up an idea for you. It's just articulating it better. You know, imagine it like, you know, it's like a therapist, you know, or a best friend.

SPEAKER_00:

A lot of people use ChatGPT as their therapist.

SPEAKER_01:

I can understand.

SPEAKER_00:

You know, replying to ex-boyfriends. I

SPEAKER_01:

can understand because it's a system that, you know, like the knowledge that it holds is so vast and diverse, you know, when talking to a therapist, right? It's a human being. A therapist can only respond based on their perspective, what they've been through, what they know. And that's limited, you know, through their background, their experiences. But when you ask Chachi PT, it's just telling you the answer based off of like the world.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, so then AI is not a threat for creators, but AI is a threat for therapists, lawyers, right? pretty much kind of this profession is my

SPEAKER_01:

you could you could consider it a threat again or you can consider it an asset it's your choice it's your choice right like as a lawyer if I was a lawyer I would have for sure been using AI but at the end of the day like what makes a creative a creative what they are is the ability to tap in you know like as a creative we're tapping into a source you know i call it god some call it the universe you can call it energy but you're tapping into a source that's feeding you this information these ideas this vision right and that to me is the magic of artistry is that message that you're translating that you're receiving right i don't believe that ai necessarily has the ability to receive those same messages, right? So like AI can only give you advice or visions based on what already exists, what's already out there, what already exists. And a lot of times when you're tapping in to ideas or things, it may not already, it may not exist. It may be unrealistic. It may be farfetched. But how many times have you had an idea or a goal that you thought was unrealistic, but you achieved it.

SPEAKER_00:

Every single day.

SPEAKER_01:

Exactly. So I think that that's something that humans will always have as an advantage. I mean, who knows where it goes, but at least for today, that's our advantage. Our advantage is the ability to take risks, right? And to do things that are not expected or are not logical or don't make sense. Because sometimes that's what really creates like the magic. You're like, yo, I would have never expected those two things to come together and make that beauty. But that's like what the ability that we have and we have to understand and own, right? As soon as you stop believing in your ability to create magic, now that's when AI comes and takes over. I

SPEAKER_00:

love that. The way you put, especially with the smile on your face, you're very positive because I do know a lot of people feel feel threatened by it, but they don't understand what you just explained, right? You cannot never replace the humanity, right? Our soul, our feelings tapping into the source. And speaking of the source, how do you personally connect to that source? What does it take for you to really get that inspiration? Where is it coming from?

SPEAKER_01:

The inspiration, my inspiration comes from all sorts of places. But when it comes to tapping in to the source and connecting with higher power. Like this is like, it's part of my daily routine, you know, before my day even starts. I have this conscious ideology that, you know, when I first wake up, the first thing that I put my mind to is what owns my day. That's what is dictating the course of my day. So when I wake up, it took me a while. And I still slip sometimes, but when I wake up, I try to be conscious about not touching my phone at all. First thing I do is I say my gratitude meditations. You know, I speak about being grateful for waking up today. Like how amazing is it? I get to see another day and I just speak to God and it's a gratitude release. And I just take time just... articulating what I'm grateful for while my parents are still alive and happy, my siblings are healthy, I'm healthy. And then after, and it's usually between three to five minutes, sometimes it's one minute, you know, but I put that effort of gratitude first. And then I touch my phone and I roll over and I step into the world. And I think that alone, like that first step allows me to to remember what dictates my day. So throughout my day, I'm just tapping into that gratitude. You know,

SPEAKER_00:

it's such an incredible thing you said because I was just thinking about gratitude today in the morning and I thought every day we wake up and the more we succeed, we always will want more. More success, more fame, bigger projects, you know, bigger collaborations, bigger things that we want for our life. But we forget what's the most important to be grateful for today. You already achieved You already came to this place right now. You wake up, you're healthy, you have all these things. And if you look back at yourself five, 10 years ago, you probably couldn't even imagine yourself having what you have right now.

SPEAKER_02:

And

SPEAKER_00:

the way I thought about gratitude, I mean, honestly, I woke up and I had tears in my eyes just thinking about, okay, I'm actually grateful for my health, for my family, for my friends. And we don't do that enough. And the way I mentioned it was my exact thought today in the morning when I woke up.

SPEAKER_01:

See, like now imagine making that a daily habit. It's

SPEAKER_00:

incredible. No, see, I just had this random thought. I don't know if it's synchronicity, but a lot of people forget to thank universe, God, for what you have right now, because tomorrow may never come, right?

SPEAKER_01:

It's so true.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

It's so true. It's such a special thing. And, you know, I'm just so grateful to be here. You know, I was born in Nigeria, in Enugu, in a very small city, like rural to the urban areas and for me to be able to come from there you know to be where I am today where I was 10 years ago like I feel like every day is a miracle you know I feel like every day is a I'm a lottery winner you know and that's why it's it's just so important for me to tap into that gratitude because it reminds me of what's really important especially when you're in this industry like in entertainment you know that's in fashion especially that's ruled by material and ruled by someone else's opinion on beauty and their own standards. It's very important to have a sense of grounding and have different routines and things that keep me centered on what's really important because it's so easy to forget and be like, damn, everyone else has people who are doing this Look what's happening here. They're going here. But it's like, does it really matter at the end of the day?

SPEAKER_00:

I love you're so positive. And I wonder, some people may ask, it's easy to say or be grateful when you reach a certain point of success. But I remember in one of the interviews, you said that before this iconic Met Gala that you were part of, you said you had zero clients before that. So did you feel the same gratitude at those hard times that you had?

SPEAKER_01:

I always say that your true level of gratitude is tested during the hard times. That's what gratitude is. It's not about, oh, being grateful because you got that Range Rover or you finally got the Lamborghini or the G-Wagon or that whatever. Now I'm finally grateful. That's easy to be grateful then, but it's being grateful when you don't have. Being grateful after you lost the job, being grateful after you lost the client, being grateful after things didn't go the way you expected it to go because you trust, because you trust your ability, because you trust God, because you trust that what you've put in this universe is going to come out to you. Like that's when gratitude is really tested. You know, it's when it's not as obvious.

SPEAKER_00:

And maybe it's all about the perspective because if you think it's a failure, maybe you're clearing the space for bigger things, for better things for you. You think maybe this is the best thing that's supposed to happen to you, but at the end of the day, it's not. Your best thing is still out there. You just have to be patient, be grateful, and to wait for that moment, but have the right alignment in your mindset.

SPEAKER_01:

It's so true. I mean, it's like to circle back to the Met Gala.

SPEAKER_00:

Like

SPEAKER_01:

you mentioned, about six weeks before the Met Gala, I had just lost a client that I was betting so much on. I thought it was going to be like this big thing in my mind. I already clocked the whole moment, how epic it was going to be. So when that happened, I was just like, immediately I knew, I was like, yo, this has to be a test because there's no way. There's a bigger plan. There's got to be a bigger plan because there's no way God would let me put all this effort and passion and love into something that just disappears just vanishes so when that happened I was just like you know what God this is not what I expected this is not you know this is definitely not what I thought was going to happen today but I trust you and I'm so grateful for this that happened I'm so grateful this happened because I know that there's something on its way like there's something coming and literally just sure enough it didn't take up to one week wow for it to show it so i'm like okay there it is

SPEAKER_00:

well let's talk about that i know um the most iconic moment of course was diana ross but my favorite moment was with kabylami the vintage clock look for boss right can we talk about that storytelling what was the idea behind it that was personally my favorite look out of all

SPEAKER_01:

thank you but honestly That was a look that was, it was a collaboration with Boss, the incredible designer, Marco. He's one of my favorite designers in the entire world. Honestly, he's such a understated designer. Like he's not trying to be in the forefront, but when he creates, he creates magic. And so, yeah, him and I worked together for this Met Gala to put these together. But for Kabi, it was super. It's super fun because Kalbi is a talent, an artist that's just like, as you see, he's down for anything. His storytelling abilities are incredible. He can tell a full movie in five seconds with no words, with no words. So for Marco, it's like, how do we translate this incredible artist and capture what he is, who he is, on this carpet and just the idea of like he's the king of TikTok

SPEAKER_00:

oh maybe that's why TikTok he's the king of

SPEAKER_01:

TikTok you know yeah and we were like what is what is TikTok you know the clocks and at first it was gonna be like one time piece a strong one but Marco was like you know what like let's take it there so then let's just go all for it and we decided to you know more is more is the Met Gala if you're gonna go all out and create a statement and a moment like that's the night so yeah Kabi was the perfect muse to pull off this like timeless timeless literally I love that time full timeless piece yes

SPEAKER_00:

it proves that fashion is storytelling right you're using technically objects but those objects have meaning and they have story and also it's connected to the character to the talent you're working with right it's telling his story as

SPEAKER_01:

well absolutely I think that's that's the beauty of what I do is, you know, being able, you know, it's a lot of, it's psychology, it's therapy, it's like mind reading, but it takes someone who has the ability to read between the lines and also be able to understand and translate people's stories, like through fashion. You know, for me, it's like when I have a client, right? is to bring out their higher selves. I always say, I want to make your wildest dreams. When you were a little girl and you used to dream of yourself when you were an adult or a princess, what does that look? What does your ultimate dream look like? And that's what I want to bring to life. But that's the storytelling. You have to understand the person, understand what they're insecurities are and like what they love and like what they what they're confident about. And to tell that through clothing and through fashion, that's what I love and keeps me in there.

SPEAKER_00:

So you are a magician, pretty much. Magician slash therapist.

SPEAKER_01:

You could call it that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, because you do create magic. I mean, fashion in a way, in my sense, is an illusion, right? We create this fantasy world that makes us feel better, gets us excited, you know, motivates us. And especially you know you've been doing mad gala looks what for 10 years i didn't even know right am i right for so many years and i'm sure you've done so many incredible looks do you have any favorite look that you've i know it's hard to say because i mean so so many you know amazing mind-blowing looks but is it something that stands out in your mind

SPEAKER_01:

honestly i'm just i'm so blessed that the answer to this is always the same when i'm asked who my favorite client or favorite look is like I feel like I know my favorite Met Gala look is the most present like Diana Ross for the Met Gala to me is something that like as a child you know as a kid to think of that moment would have been mind blowing back then you know it's just something it's a lifelong achievement that I think is just like something that I will always be proud of forever. And the look itself, every time I see it, when it comes around, it was in the New York Times front cover. Every time I see it, it's always like reliving the moment over again. And yeah, it's so special. Even when I'm asked who my favorite clients are, it's always like my current client. My current projects always keep me so... I live in in the present, you know, and I'm blessed to have incredible projects in the forefront. Like right now I'm making outfits for Blue Ivy, for the Cowboy Carter tour. And you know, it's my first time working with an artist in that age. Like I've done, I think I've done like young guys around 13, 14, but a young girl at that age, such a delicate, and just to be able to work in that and bring it to life is so special and it's so fun and I'm enjoying it. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I'm really happy for you. Congratulations on all of these amazing projects. Do you think sometimes that you set your bar so high and once you had this moment that everybody's talking about, do you think the next time has to like outdo your previous iconic moment? You're like, okay, what's next? How bigger and more dramatic and more creative you have to be next time to upkeep to your previous achievements?

SPEAKER_01:

No, I feel like the best is yet to come. I

SPEAKER_00:

love that. I

SPEAKER_01:

feel like I'm just getting started. You know, every moment I'm so grateful for. But like I said earlier, I always feel like the ultimate student. I feel like I'm still learning. I still have so much to do, so much to achieve. But at the same time, I'm grateful for what I've done so far, but there's so much more to do.

SPEAKER_00:

And because of your mentality, that's why you're not limiting yourself to one specific thing. So you're a stylist and you're also a designer. You have your own line, right? Yes. Can you talk a little bit more? What does it even mean? How did it come along and where does it stand right now? Yes,

SPEAKER_01:

absolutely. Let's talk about, yeah. 11.16 is my fashion line. It's my brand, my baby. It's my life's work. It took about 15 years of my career as a costume designer, creative director, fashion, celebrity stylist to come and launch and put this out. And it's funny because we're still pre-launch. It's not officially

SPEAKER_00:

out. Wait, what? It's not even official out? I don't

SPEAKER_01:

believe you. It's not officially We had a soft launch about a year ago and we're building a brand out, but it's been, this is all marketing, it's all strategic partnerships, but we're planning to officially launch at the top of next year. And for me, it's again, back to the storytelling, it's about, I wanted to create something that allows me to tell my story the story of where I came from, beautifully, artistically, to give people the opportunity to see Nigeria and Africa the way I see it. As an immigrant growing up in America, coming from Africa, I had to always constantly fight the kids about, no, Africa is not just this dirty place with flies and living in huts and just all these stereotypes and ideas that they see from national of geographics and whatnot growing up. And I, as a kid, it was just so frustrating and like, you know, just saddening. But as I, as I grew up and started working more into the marketing and storytelling world, I realized that this is what my purpose is, you know, through whether it's fashion or filmmaking or just whatever artistic expression I choose to express with. I am passionate about telling the African story, you know, the way I live it, the way I

SPEAKER_00:

see it. Do you think it's a lot of responsibility in your head to be almost, I don't know, the spokesperson, right, for your culture, for the place that you were born? Do you feel pressure?

SPEAKER_01:

The pressure comes sometimes, but thankfully, you know, I do feel like it's a movement and there are a good amount of other artists, you know, whether they're to from fashion to entertainment to sports that have this same mission in their hearts to reimagine, to showcase the world our way or our perspective of what Africa is. For over 100 years, the media's perspective has been told from non-Africans. Every motion picture and high, big-budget production that had to do with Africa was told from a perspective of somebody who's not African or non-black. And I think with that, you know, you get a lot of the genocide, a lot of the sympathy, a lot of the, you know, the sadness, the orphans and this and that. But it's like, there's such a, there's a whole layer, you know, of Africa that's almost untold that, you know, through social media today and the internet, the world is getting a chance to see glimpses of it, you know. But for me, when I started 1160, it was really inspired by, you know, being able to create a brand that can be a bridge for culture and fashion. You know, we're going to have our, our fashion studio and fashion house, our Maison in Nigeria, but we're going to be, you know, as we already are, we're servicing and making clothes that are going to the world. You know, a lot of the stuff that we're making for the cowboy Carter tour, or even like, you know, for Diana Ross or our, Other clients are made right there in Nigeria, in Lagos.

SPEAKER_00:

That's incredible. You kind of also in a way giving back, right? Back to your origins, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it's so important. Like we're giving back and we're also empowering the artists. You know, there's the weavers and the seamstresses and the tailors, like the whole, the entire supply chain down to people that are growing the cotton. Wow. that are making the thread out of the cottons. It's such a beautiful, incredible process that if this was Hermes or Giorgio Armani or Zegna, these people would be millionaires. The seamstresses that are in the Dior atelier in Paris are very successful. They're very notable. They've been there for decades and decades and decades because they're happy. And that's the kind of structure that I emulate to create on the ground is where I can create a system where I'm really, you know, just appreciating and working along with my entire team in that way.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, you're definitely an engine, a fashion engine and propeller who is almost like communicating. I really love that about you. Didn't you also mention you plan to open the first atelier in Nigeria for your brand?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, yes. I plan on opening the atelier in Lagos, our fashion house. Everything will be kind of, you know, the flagship we'll be there and we'll spread across the world from our Lego satellites.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, no, that's incredible. I mean, we definitely need more voices like yourself to educate us, to teach, to expand our minds, because sometimes it is very narrow-minded. We just only think about things we see on social media and, you know, things are being hyped up artificially,

SPEAKER_02:

right?

SPEAKER_00:

But true authenticity comes from being authentic and you have your roots, right? You were born there. You have connection. I know you've done so much so many projects from back home. And then you also, I would say cosmopolitan, right? There's nothing that stops you, right? You travel throughout the world and you working on this amazing project. So speaking further on that, do you have any favorite or maybe dream collaboration, either with a person or a brand that's on your wishlist?

SPEAKER_01:

Dream collaborations.

SPEAKER_00:

The one I liked while you're thinking, and I want to ask you, I keep looking at your slippers. I don't want to like be sound ignorant, but I saw one of your collaborations, which I liked. It was a car ride protection chain on the Barbie dolls, right? For Coco and Breezy. And that was so unique and different. Like, wow, this is so cool. And you brought elements of your culture, something that has specific meaning to the modern culture and to that collaboration. I don't know if you want to expand on that. But to me, that was something I haven't ever seen before. And I keep looking at slippers. I mean, are those shells or those cowrite? Yeah, you're

SPEAKER_01:

my gold cowrie shows.

SPEAKER_00:

What are those? These

SPEAKER_01:

are actually made by my cousin, MJ Gemini. This is his brand. But yeah, I'm obsessed with cowrie shows. I'm obsessed with just anything that can give me a little touch of culture. Yeah, speaking of the cowrie shows, it was such a beautiful surprise My best friends, Coco and Breezy, whose birthday was a couple days ago. Shout out to Coco and Breezy. They actually, they're DJs and they're incredible. They're designers as well. They make the most amazing eyewear. And I dress them, I style them, especially for their big shows like Coachella and Met Gala. We'll collaborate on dope looks. So the Calorie chain is something that we have in 1116. It's part of our collection. It's actually the only thing available to buy right now. It's the only thing available to buy is that cowrie chain before the clothes drop. I got you. But yeah, they wear theirs like, I would say maybe like four or five times a week. They're wearing it all the time. And so when Mattel decided to do their Barbie, they included, you know, our 1116 pieces in the actual Barbie look. So, you We're already

SPEAKER_00:

commemorized in a Barbie. I don't know if it's hyped it up, right? She tested it there and she launched it to a huge success. So I feel like you're doing something very similar than Coco Chanel, right? You know, I

SPEAKER_01:

never knew that story.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

But that's so interesting. I have to do more research. I love that. I resonate. Give me the Coco Chanel energy. Yeah,

SPEAKER_00:

you totally have it. I mean, thinking about different designers, even right now, the most famous brand, which is Schiaparelli, I was thinking about that brand before it got big. And do you know the actual story? No, tell me. So the actual story of Schiaparelli was by the designer named Elsa Schiaparelli. She was really into surrealism and she did a lot of collaborations with Salvador Dalí and other artists. Her famous outfits didn't even have a good reception because it was like a lobster claw or like a lobster phone. And she was very avant-garde for the times. And her brand wasn't really like successful back in the day. So she created shocking pink moment that became a perfume initiative of the torso and then her brand kind of died out in 1954 and only 1954 after in 2013 the I forgot which I don't know if it's currying group I forgot which big brand group bought the brand and then Daniel Rosberry brought it kind of back to life and gave it like new life but not many people know where actually where the brand is so

SPEAKER_01:

for over 50 years

SPEAKER_00:

yes the brand was dead and now it's like number one everybody wants to wear Scaparelli but nobody talks about But Elsa, the Elsa, the lady, the little lady, she actually was a rival for Coco Chanel. They were two rivals. They were a little like- Yeah, I've heard that

SPEAKER_01:

story. Shout out to Elsa.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, they were like two little rival ladies. Yeah, and now it's this beautiful brand that has this, you know, artistic vision to it. So I love reading stories about that.

SPEAKER_01:

And it still feels so authentic. You know, even like not knowing, if you didn't know the entire story of Elsa, like you can tell that the brand is inspired by artists. So when you hear about Salvatore Dali, you can still see it. It makes so much sense.

SPEAKER_00:

No, absolutely. And that's what when you told me about your brand, I'm like, okay, sounds very familiar. You're on the right path, which also a marketing, I mean, from the business perspective, it's a great technique before you invest, before you put all your heart in, you kind of, I don't know, pre-tease your brand, right? Get the word going, you know, work with certain people that align with the vision of your brand. And once you launch it, I mean, to me, it already felt like It's been out for years.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you. That means a lot because that's what I want it to feel like. I want it to feel nostalgic and just comfortable and just to blend right in and both stand out at the same time.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, you're really doing it. My next question is how many products or what type of products? Because my favorite ones were the bags. I don't know what I call the duffel bags. I love those. They're so unique and creative. and just I was like okay I really want to have one day one of those bags so what are the products or you know statement pieces that you plan to launch already you know available yes

SPEAKER_01:

we plan on launching launching in in parts or in series if you will we're gonna have 1116 essentials and casual it's gonna consist of you know your track suits like your bomber jackets and normal trousers, more everyday. And then we're gonna go into suiting. We'll have our tailored suits, our from double breasted, so just all types of suiting made out of our fabrics. So we're producing our own textile in Nigeria, also in Morocco and in Kenya and South Africa. So we're exploring just different types of textile making threads um so the idea is to you know we're using our locally sourced and made fabrics but we're making like modern silhouettes and making looks that you know transcend and have more just commercial value my

SPEAKER_00:

favorite one was the yellow black checkered suit

SPEAKER_01:

okay

SPEAKER_00:

with the vest and the tie i'm like wow this is freaking so amazing that was my favorite one it definitely stands out and i was thinking in the back of my head about the textiles, about the fabrics. So it's very, very fascinating that you actually going from the grounds up, like from the textures, from the fabric, from, you know, involving local, you know, craftsmen to help you elevate your brand, but you're also giving back to the community.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, we got to keep the art alive. Keep the art alive. I was inspired by the artisans. Well, I took a trip to this place called Kogi State in outside of Lagos about three years ago. And there was this city, this area that had like all these women and men and like young girls weaving fabrics, like in these like old vintage systems, like wooden machines with the threads in between. And they were sitting there weaving it all day, making like looms and looms of fabric. And I just fell in love. I was like, this is like, this is couture. This is art. Like this is what people spend a lot of money for. And then for them, it was like almost like unappreciated by even by the town. Like these women were not getting the love they deserve. So I was like, yo, I have to like do something. I want to use these fabrics. I want to empower them. I want to bring them more opportunities, more jobs and make them know that what they create is valuable. You know, when they see those pieces on those stages, it's like for them, it's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, it's It's not maybe they're not appreciated because they don't have enough visibility that you can help with. Because obviously you're such a renowned spokesperson. People admire you, look up to you, right? So you are the connector of the two worlds. I don't wanna speak that highly, but maybe that is your purpose, right?

SPEAKER_01:

I think so. Yeah. I think so.

SPEAKER_00:

And so you saying that you want to learn and you're always learning something new. I think from the business perspective or from the financial perspective, if you look at the percentage What do you think is the biggest financial gain for you in styling, in your own brand, collaborating with brands? If you have to give us a ballpark, what's your bet in terms of financial gain in all of the activations that you're a part of?

SPEAKER_01:

I'm blessed to have income and revenue from different streams. I don't have to depend on just my styling clients. I am a brand ambassador and I've done major campaigns myself from brands from Audemars to Montblanc to Calvin Klein and Boss and the list goes on. So I, as myself, I'm able to generate income by using my perspective and giving my opinion. And then as a designer, I'm able to also create revenue by selling designs and creating pieces, from custom couture to my ready-to-wear pieces already made. But I do feel like my biggest business is gonna be from my fashion brand and my designs, because there's nothing like making products. There's nothing like having a product that can be consumed in different homes that you're not in. When you're selling a service and you have to physically be there and be involved for every time or for every job, it's a lot harder. You might make more money. You might make larger amounts of money, but it requires so much time. There's no income like passive income. So to me, I'm looking forward to building my brand in a place where it's just running and sustaining itself, where I don't have to be in every room

SPEAKER_00:

that it's selling in. So diversification is key, right?

SPEAKER_01:

Very much key.

SPEAKER_00:

So it's kind of you have to be and explore different avenues to truly, you know, be successful. Yes,

SPEAKER_01:

especially in fashion, especially when it comes to like a service job. If you're a makeup artist or a, you know, creative director or a choreographer or a hairstylist, you know, or a costume designer, like these fields, like it's so important for you to and not get caught up or locked in to a client thinking that it's forever. Like you can not put all your eggs in a human's basket. It's crazy. Like people are people. You know, at any moment things can change and God forbid that like, you know, your bills or, you know, your kids or your family is depending on one job or one person, you know, you have to be responsible, you know, for your own life. sustainability, because at the end of the day, if one door closes, what happens next? So I think it's important for anybody that's an artist. There comes a point in your artistry where you become Denzel Washington, or you become a Kehinde Wiley as a painter, where you don't have to take on all these jobs, but I do think that it's important for artists on their journey to their space to be open to doing other things, other jobs that can benefit them in their field. It's important to also not take just any job. It's important that whatever field or whatever you're working on is able to add value to the bigger goal.

SPEAKER_00:

Right, because especially in the fashion industry, it's not a secure industry to be in. Today, you're on top. Tomorrow, everybody forgets about you. And tomorrow, you may have nothing. So what you're saying is to have probably plan A, B, and C to have always a backup. Don't put all eggs, like you said, in one basket, right? Yes. So if you have to give one business advice for stylists who are really creative, already maybe have some small client base, but they're not really there financially, what one business tip you can give them to kind of get to that next level?

SPEAKER_01:

For stylists that are... on the way up, but are not yet sustaining themselves financially with styling and fashion, I'll recommend that they get a stable job somewhere else in fashion, whether it's PR or marketing or assisting a creative director or a stylist. There's no better way to learn than to be working on ground, right? Like there's really no school or, you know, education program that's going to teach you how to get clients or teach you how to like network. Like there's nothing like hands-on training when it comes to fashion. So I would say just put yourself out there to be in situations and places that will constantly allow you to be in rooms where you can network and grow. You know, you're only as big as You're only as big as who you're working with. You can be the most talented person with all these ideas. You can memorize every single season of every single fashion show. But if you don't have any clients to dress and work with, you're just a storyteller, just telling stories, having a good time. But it's like, you have to put yourself out there. I think that one of the worst, things you can do is convince yourself that you're waiting for the right time like that's the worst thing you can do there's never going to be a right time

SPEAKER_00:

the right time is now

SPEAKER_01:

the right time is now

SPEAKER_00:

I like to say if not now then when if not you then who

SPEAKER_01:

exactly

SPEAKER_00:

no I love it so you are very handsome and you walk the runway shows you've been in campaigns you are pretty much like a walking billboard right for your brands and for your services So do you believe it's an ego or it's a good way to be a spokesperson for your own ideas, for your own concepts, for your own brand? How do you use your IP?

SPEAKER_01:

I feel like you have to be delusional about your belief in yourself. Like you have to believe in yourself so much that when you speak about your vision to people, like they feel silly for doubting you. Like that That's the level of belief that you have in yourself. And I think that's what it takes to make it in any field, in any career, is that confidence. You know, if you don't believe in yourself, nobody else will.

SPEAKER_00:

That's so powerful because in my experience, the most humble people, the most talented, but they're so shy and they don't really want to get themselves out there to use themselves as their own voice because they feel too shy or they feel too humble. And the loudest people... usually get what they need to get might not be the most talented people right but they have ability to speak for themselves

SPEAKER_02:

yes

SPEAKER_00:

so what you said is very very relevant and guys make notes right believe in yourself gain that confidence put yourself out there step by step and at least by showcasing yourself right you might get the door open somebody else might notice you you might think like okay nobody cares right nobody watches your stories nobody follows you but you never know where that person will see you It's

SPEAKER_01:

so true. It's so true. I believe in that so much. And, you know, I think that when it comes to discovery, you know, it's an energy. You have to be a magnet. Like these days, like I think always you attract what you put out. You attract what you really, really want. If you're approaching situations with high anxiety and high doubt, that's repelling. you're repelling the situation. Nobody is going to invest their time and their money and their passion into somebody who's not even sure. That's a big risk.

SPEAKER_00:

No, wow. It's words of wisdom because things like that need to be heard and needs to be voiced. As many people, there's so many talented people, but that's one skill that they're lacking or they may not be aware of. But you just said well, it's incredible so we'll go and having so many achievements, right? Including now you've been on the advisory board for the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize 2025. You've won awards. You've been on the covers of the magazines. What's next for you? What's besides your brand, right? Is there any project that you had in the back of your mind or any collaboration, anything that been sitting there and waiting for its release? Is there something that's out there that you're planning to execute in the near future? What's next? What's

SPEAKER_01:

next? I would say, I don't know when it's going to be executed. I'm not sure. I can't tell you a timeline, but I would say to definitely look out for Chief Ugo Amosie, the filmmaker. Because that's going to be the home run.

SPEAKER_00:

You know, interesting you mentioned that because when you were talking about Nigeria, I was thinking you need to make a documentary. you need to put it on camera you need to give the voice to those people right to the community it's coming wow we're aligning on that yes indeed well I'm wishing you nothing but the best and knowing you from the you know from the outside perspective and feeling you right now I feel nothing is impossible for you and I know you're a go-getter I know you're gonna achieve it all and just one more remark I wanted to point out before we finish I know your father is here with us and it's what's up pops I think he's sleeping.

SPEAKER_02:

This

SPEAKER_00:

conversation is so sweet. You got him here. And I know how important it is when your family supports you and you're there for you. And it's so sweet that he's here. And I appreciate you bringing your father here. Thank you for having us. I don't take it for

SPEAKER_01:

granted any day. It's part of our morning gratitude, being grateful for our parents and everything that we have. So, yeah, I appreciate it too.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. Well, on this beautiful note... like to wrap up our conversation thank you for being on the basic show thank

SPEAKER_02:

you

SPEAKER_00:

victoria it was so great to be here thank

SPEAKER_02:

you