DESIGNER’S CORNER

Mustafa Hassanali with Naomi Campbell Designer Mustafa Hassanali, a celebrated name in Tanzania pursues fashion as a religion. His personable and affable demeanour in parallel with his bohemian work of art has made him amidst the premier and popular designers in Tanzania.

No wonder then he sports an A-list clientele including the crème de la crème of the society. Considered a fashion guru, his designs reflect the deeply embedded cultural heritage of Tanzanian society along with the avant-garde, hip and contemporary styles.

Hassanali’s zest for fashion is not only limited at fostering his own collections and offering something new to his target audience, but he also believes in the enhancement of the Tanzanian Fashion Industry on the whole. He recently launched Swahili Fashion Week and as the holder of this event he has created a promising platform not only for established designers and models but for aspiring entrants of this avenue. Mustafa constantly strives at doing something new and beyond and the Swahili Fashion Week proved to be just that, creating a new standard and now perceived as the most sought after fashion event in the country.

Showcasing four collections each year, Mustafa’s shows are fashionably action packed and top the list of the awaited events in the country. Apart from designing for renowned shows in the country like Miss Tanzania, corporate and television based shows and events amongst others, Mustafa’s work has been highly appreciated at the International level. His showing at the Afric Collection in Douala, Cameroon, India International Fashion Week 2009, Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief 2009, Arise Africa Fashion Week 2009, Durban & Cape Town Fashion Weeks, Vukani Fashion Awards in Pretoria, Miss Ethopia Beauty Pageant, Mediterranean Fashion Festival in Sicily, Italy; M’Net Face of Africa, Mozambique, Uganda & Kenya Fashion Weeks brought him immense adulation.

What adds a unique dimension to Hassanali’s persona is his constant initiative in going out of the way, resulting in the two very prestigious charitable events “Breast Cancer Awareness” & “Violence against Women” which he hosts every year to generate funds for this noble cause in mainland Tanzania. In Zanzibar, he supports the Zanzibar Mental Hospital since 2008 by having an annual showcase in the majestical spice island. No wonder his medical background has resulted in the establishment of brand “Fashion 4 Health”.

Meet Mustafa Hassanali and you know what makes him special, he believes in the ‘never say die’ attitude and uses his talent and creativity in making a better today and tomorrow for the fashion fraternity along with the two social causes very close to his heart. Mustafa is truly a fashionista personified!