Ugandan fashion designer wins medal in Niger
JUST as the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting festivities were raging in Kampala, a local fashion designer was having the time of his life miles away in Niger.
By Titus Serunjogi
JUST as the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting festivities were raging in Kampala, a local fashion designer was having the time of his life miles away in Niger.
Last Friday, Latif Madoi Kasumba won the bronze award in the Niger capital Niamey, bagging $2,000 (sh3.4m) on the spot as well as a one month modeling contract in France.
Kasumba, who is best known for designing hip urban outfits as well as for local artistes back at home, is the first local designer to go this far. The festival ran from November 19-23.
Latif showcased lots of hip urban wear including leather jackets, cat suits, tracksuits, denim caps, leather boots and sneakers as well as polo t-shirts and vests.
He had to showcase a series of 10 outfits to be declared winner of the bronze award. Latif came third after Sandra Cardosso Muendane of Mozambique and Mohamed Osman of Ethiopia.
The first prize is a three-month residency in a Parisian couture house and helping to design a collection to the value of 5,000 Euros (sh10m). The second prize is a month residency and helping to design a collection to the value of 3,000 Euros (sh6m).
The show was attended by 10 other participants from Ghana, Morocco, Niger and Cameroon.
“I feel privileged to be the first East African designer ever to win this prize and I will use it to develop my label up to world standards,†Latif said during an interview upon his return. He will leave for Paris, France early next year.
Meanwhile, he is also ready to launch his own label, Unmistalabo.
Once sacked from Nabumali High School for designing patched jeans for his schoolmates, Latif now seems hell-bent on achieving his hip street fashions dream.
“Yes, I always want to wear what I have designed myself. But also when I see a prominent person looking good, I wish I had dressed him and I work towards that.†Thus, Latif has designed stage clothes for all the local musicians and even for the late Lucky Dube.
He designed the animal skin outfit Ronald Mayinja wore at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards gala the night he was crowned artiste of the year.
He graduated from the Tiner International School of Beauty with a diploma in fashion and design in 2001, but the principal could not afford to lose him.
Instead she recruited him as a lecturer at the school. The FIMA Award is a testimony to his prowess.
JUST as the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting festivities were raging in Kampala, a local fashion designer was having the time of his life miles away in Niger.
Last Friday, Latif Madoi Kasumba won the bronze award in the Niger capital Niamey, bagging $2,000 (sh3.4m) on the spot as well as a one month modeling contract in France.
Kasumba, who is best known for designing hip urban outfits as well as for local artistes back at home, is the first local designer to go this far. The festival ran from November 19-23.
Latif showcased lots of hip urban wear including leather jackets, cat suits, tracksuits, denim caps, leather boots and sneakers as well as polo t-shirts and vests.
He had to showcase a series of 10 outfits to be declared winner of the bronze award. Latif came third after Sandra Cardosso Muendane of Mozambique and Mohamed Osman of Ethiopia.
The first prize is a three-month residency in a Parisian couture house and helping to design a collection to the value of 5,000 Euros (sh10m). The second prize is a month residency and helping to design a collection to the value of 3,000 Euros (sh6m).
The show was attended by 10 other participants from Ghana, Morocco, Niger and Cameroon.
“I feel privileged to be the first East African designer ever to win this prize and I will use it to develop my label up to world standards,†Latif said during an interview upon his return. He will leave for Paris, France early next year.
Meanwhile, he is also ready to launch his own label, Unmistalabo.
Once sacked from Nabumali High School for designing patched jeans for his schoolmates, Latif now seems hell-bent on achieving his hip street fashions dream.
“Yes, I always want to wear what I have designed myself. But also when I see a prominent person looking good, I wish I had dressed him and I work towards that.†Thus, Latif has designed stage clothes for all the local musicians and even for the late Lucky Dube.
He designed the animal skin outfit Ronald Mayinja wore at the Pearl of Africa Music Awards gala the night he was crowned artiste of the year.
He graduated from the Tiner International School of Beauty with a diploma in fashion and design in 2001, but the principal could not afford to lose him.
Instead she recruited him as a lecturer at the school. The FIMA Award is a testimony to his prowess.