MIA London is set to make its Africa Fashion Week London debut in August 2018, showcasing a collection to buyers, stylists and fashion journalists from around the world designed by founder and creative director, Aji Ayorinde.
Africa Fashion Week London is one of the biggest events for Africa focused brands in the world. It is a great opportunity to showcase the collection from this exciting luxury African brand which is set to take over the world.
MIA London is a luxury fashion brand which connects the world to African creative. The brand provides a platform for formalwear pieces handmade by skilled tailors from across the African continent.
The MIA story begins in Africa, a continent that holds infinite beauty and is home to a generation of inspired individuals who are breaking conservative moulds. MIA London’s founder’s own African cultural genesis led him back to the continent, where he was re-invigorated by the people and experiences that he encountered. When he found himself in need of a suit he designed the first pair of MIA trousers; taking cognisance of contemporary trends, and incorporating the high-waisted fit of a bygone era. His design provided a solution to the trade-off between waist fit and leg room that many men experience and was the perfect fit for any man. The creation of the initial pair of trousers was entrusted to a local tailor of a South African brand. After experiencing the pure luxury and comfort of the trousers created, Aji Ayorinde returned to London, England to launch the brand.
MIA London both provides a bespoke tailoring offering and collaborates with a number of highly-skilledAfrican tailors with a focus on its flagship products, high-waisted formal trousers and tailored sweatpants, customised per collection by the tailors. The focus of the brand is on the fit of the product, the fit of the future for the modern day gentleman or woman. All of their clothing is handmade in different countries in Africa including Zambia and South Africa.
In a media release made available to African Voice, Founder/Creative Director Aji Ayorinde said, “We take a collaborative approach as our aim is not to ‘colonise’ the creative talent of our chosen tailors but to showcase their skills”
Hollywood Actor, Broderick Hunter was the Face of The MIA Ready to Wear A/W 17 collection.
For the launch of MIA’s Ready to Wear Collection, California based model/actor Broderick Hunter has been made the face of the campaign. Broderick has been featured in People ‘s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue; snapped in ads for Nike, Ralph Lauren, Philipp Plein, and Simons.
Photo shoot by Photographer Elishama Udorok in New York, the pictures illustrate the cultured tailoring that is MIA. Styled in six different looks and shot in several locations around Manhattan and Brooklyn.
MIA London will be entering the Nigerian market next to build on their current collaborations with tailors based in South Africa and Zambia. They will be undertaking an overseas visit to Nigeria in the final quarter of 2018 to shoot with a number of local models and to shoot for an editorial.
MIA London is also working on building a tech element over the course of the next year, through which they will be bolstering their e-commerce offering and building a platform aimed at connecting brands and businesses with their network of creatives based across the African continent.
Aji Ayorinde is a social entrepreneur with several years of experience dealing directly with multi-national clients. A qualified lawyer specialising in finance law, Aji has also carved out a niche advising on business development with a specific focus on Africa, advising on diversity issues, assisting with creative events and supporting start-ups and founders.
Aji is also the founder and creative director of an ethical family business and fashion tech company named MIA London, a franchise which both collaborates with tailors based across Africa to make formalwear and streetwear and connects brands and businesses with a network of African-based creatives.
Aji is also the co-chair of a social enterprise named The Law Collective which has been responsible for helping hundreds of Black students secure jobs within the legal profession by connecting them with their network of young Black lawyers, a committee member of the British Nigeria Law Forum and co-head of their junior lawyers’ division, a board member of London-based start-up community organisation ‘YSYS’, a member of the RemitFund Technical Working Group, and a key member of the Black British City Group.
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