Designer Spotlight: Loza Maléombho
New York-based designer Loza Maléombho’s line sets out to appeal to women who are both style conscious and socially conscious. In this interview, Loza discusses her inspirations, fair trade, and the trials of being an entrepreneur among other topics.
New York-based designer Loza Maléombho’s line sets out to appeal to women who are both style conscious and socially conscious. In this interview, Loza discusses her inspirations, fair trade, and the trials of being an entrepreneur among other topics.
What are some things that inspire you?
The top three things that inspire me are fabrics, colors, and shapes. But I secretly think that my subconscious established a relationship between my designs and the cultural influences in my life. In fact, I never notice the influence behind a piece until after it’s done.
Do you have a typical person in mind when you design?
Yes, the LM [Loza Maléombho] customer is a fashion forward young woman with tastes. She is not afraid to look different and to step outside the box. She is open and interested in different cultures and makes of the trends, her own.
Your company has a social mission to contribute to the development of West African countries. Why is that so important to you?
Yes, Loza Maléombho New York aspires to be a fair trade fashion brand to the benefit of West African developing countries and I insist on this goal to remain my primary target.
You go anywhere in West Africa coming from a developed country’s mindset and you see the micro economy’s potential on EVERY street corners. Then you start questioning your living abroad in the first place, when there is so much potential right under your nose. And when having lived half your life in the motherland territory, you begin to feel nationalist and to aspire big things for your original country. This is how I feel for Côte d’ivoire, the place where I grew up until I was 16.
What do you think needs to be done to better the quality of health and education in those countries?
Health and Education are crucial in the economic development of any country. With the many virgin markets and potential for businesses, you need adequate and healthy people to develop them; so more schools and hospital equipment are an obvious simple start towards a better situation.
Your pieces are named after places in Africa. What was the idea behind that concept?
Four words come to mind when I try and describe the concept behind the brand:
1) Ethics, 2) Fashion, 3) Culture, and 4) Education
• Ethics represent the fair trade aspirations of the label for West African countries,
• Fashion being the trendy collection for the international and fashion forward woman,
• Culture being the obvious multicultural inspiration behind the collection, and
• Education in all sense of the term. Not only encouraging education in West African countries, but also educating the consumer about African cultures on an international level, thus explaining the naming for the designs after different cities in Africa.
Who is your favorite designer?
Tough question … I don’t have a favorite color, I don’t have a favorite song, and I don’t have a favorite designer. There are so many talents out there I would feel disrespectful for choosing one. On the other hand, there are definitely some who have molded my artistic vision along the way. Amongst them is Nicholas Ghesquière.
Where is your favorite place to shop?
To be honest, I don’t really shop that much but when I do, it ought to be for a piece that is unique and stands on its own in my closet. I usually find rare treasures at thrift stores and then make the proper alterations to fit me.
When did you realize that fashion was going to be your career?
I think it was one of those situations when everyone around me knew but me. I was always sketching in class and very meticulous in the way I dressed, but I didn’t think to make a career out of it until I was done with college.
You founded your company Loza Maléombho LLC earlier this year. What is the hardest part of running your own company?
Being able to oversee all parts of it. There is so much involved that you tend to neglect certain things over others. I am such an artist, I much rather design, make photo shoots and handle everything art direction, but when it comes to budgets, I have to switch to serious mode and find the most cost-effective way to accomplish what is needed all the while remaining presentable. A good example of that would be the realization of the “+ ORIGINS STATEMENT video teaser” [on the Web site].
Any advice for others who are interested in pursuing a career in fashion design?
If you plan on having a clothing line, you must sit down and think of a concept and story line. Being talented is not enough anymore. It is important for sure! But the consistency and the story line behind the collection should hold as must weight. It gives you credibility. You must also have a marketing strategy. You could have the most incredible collection but if you have no ways to catch the public’s attention, NO ONE will notice.
Where can people find your creations?
Loza Maléombho is not available for the public as of yet, but the best way to stay updated is to subscribe to the blog: http://www.lozamaleombho.com
