“There we have it,” the smiling woman said as she adjusted her computer. Even over Zoom, London radiated the energy–the enthusiasm–of a city teetering on the edge of one of its most important events of the year. On September 17th, 2023 Mazinyi presented for the first time at London Fashion Week, showcasing its SS24 collection entitled ‘The First Supper’. “Do you pronounce it ‘Mazinyi’?” I asked. She nodded. “Yes–Mazinyi. I always say it’s a bit like a Lamborghini.” She smiled at me through the screen–a smile that dissipated the 3,500 miles between us and radiated a sense of calm that few find before one of the biggest moments of their career.
For those who are unfamiliar with Mazinyi, describe who you are and your vision for stability as a sports brand.
I graduated from London College of Fashion with an active sportswear degree. A huge part of my course was learning to make garments in a sustainable manner. I think it’s important for designers to explore [sustainability] because it’s not only great for the your body, but it’s also great for your business. Creating collections consumes a lot, and implementing sustainability can save hundreds and thousands of pounds. Knowing how much you’re consuming, you’re using, what you’re producing, and what you’re not can help you cut out those costs. I think a lot of designers are not aware about these tips and tricks that can save tons of money.
What do you focus on specifically in regards to sustainability?
It is important to me that we are ethically sustainable. I’m really into my people and my team. When I talk about being sustainable in my brand, I’m wanting it to be sustainable for the long haul. There are so many communities that we can impact, help, and encourage. I just want to encourage as many people as possible. Because I’m from Zambia, it’s important that I work with communities and charities like the African education program and try to go through big corporations to make sustainable business models that can afford different opportunities.
Mazinyi’s mission is to restore the people to the Earth and to Eden. What do you mean by that?
I’m also heavily inspired by my faith. I’m a Christian and I love it. I love Jesus. He’s the core of everything for me. When I reference Eden, I literally mean the environment–the creativity, the creation–and how it’s originally meant to be. I’m keeping things as original as they can be. Yes, things grow, they evolve the they fuse together, plants are pollinated, and things are created. Same with humans, but for me as a brand, it’s important that we stick to our roots and our grass roots. Our children’s wear is children’s wear, girl’s wear is girl’s wear, menswear is menswear, and womenswear is womenswear. We’re embracing how we’ve originally been created.
Mazinyi works hard to provide a wide variety of options, from 2XS to 3XL, as well as clothing for men, women, and children. This is not easy to do. Why did you make this a priority?
I want people to feel as included as possible. My personal story was quite challenging. I didn’t always feel included in communities. I thought that it’d be really nice to create something where people feel like it is a community. You can come into the store with your children, your husband, your wife, or your girlfriend and there is something in our community for everybody.
How does it feel to be showing at London Fashion Week for the first time?
It’s my first time on the schedule. I have previously been involved in their showrooms, but this is the first full blown presentation with press, celebrities, and influencers. I have a PR team that are attentive and looking after my creative and artistic direction. They’re fantastic.
What goals did you have for LFW?
I want to introduce myself. It’s like an introduction to the entire industry to let people know that I’m here. I am going to be here for the long haul. I also want to meet new people and understand the new way the industry is running. I intend to steer it myself and not just be steered by a huge machine that’s going in its own direction.
What sort of challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
There’ve been a lot of challenges. The most personal one I’ve faced has been because I am a Christian. I know that in my industry, it’s not cool to be a designer. It’s not cool to be talking to everybody about the love of your life. “My Jesus…” they don’t want to hear it. My prayer is that my work gets received in the way that God wants. I don’t want to get canceled before I begin, but at the same time, it is what it is. He will have his way. I’m just here to do the good work.
What does your schedule look like on a normal day?
On a business day, I’m awake about six o’clock in the morning. I am out of my house at seven and I am in the studio at eight o’clock. My team roll in at 10 o’clock. I think is good for your team to be rested to do their own morning routine and not feel so stressed out. Before they come I’m sending emails and prepping the studio. I invite the Holy Spirit to do his thing because there is no work without him. I make sure to set the ground for the team and myself. When I leave that door in the morning I know it’s a fight. I’m gonna feel some sort of pressure or under attack. It happens every day, so I make sure that I’m prepared to lead everyone the best way possible.
As a sports brand, do you have a favorite sport?
I have a few, but I’m a sprinter.
Is there music that you like to listen to while you’re working or while you’re sprinting?
While I’m working, Lo Fi Christian. While I’m sprinting I’m hardcore. Just wind. I don’t listen to music. I love the wind in my ears.
When did you come to know Christ?
It was about 10 years ago. My father passed away when I was really young so I grew up an only child in a single parent home. I just came from Zambia to the UK with my mom. Growing up in the UK with a mix of cultures and traditions, I didn’t really have an identity of my own. I just fell into a lot of different pockets of society that I knew I wasn’t supposed to be in. I had this feeling that I wasn’t supposed to be running my own life. I decided to walk into my church, Kensington temple, in Notting Hill. I sat in the back, completely lost and confused–not knowing where I was going–wondering why my life was this bad. One of the pastors asked if anyone wanted prayer, and when she prayed for me, I felt a large weight lifted off my shoulder. My life changed as soon as I walked out of those doors.
Now that you’re a Christian, what does that change? What does it mean to be a Christian designer?
I allow God to do what he needs to do through me. It can range from a multitude of things. It could be nurturing my team, ministering to them, pouring into them, and making sure that they are equipped internally to carry out the jobs we need to do. Humility is number one thing in my studios. We all love each other the same. We all get coffees for each other. We all take out the rubbish if we have to. It’s behaving how Jesus would want us to behave–even the smallest parts of my business. It’s also pouring into the world with this same humility. It’s showing the same adoration for everyone to remind them that they have been created by a higher power and it’s very unique.
Is there a Bible verse that speaks to you? One that you hold onto?
Joshua 9, “Be strong and courageous.” I love that.
People can look for inspiration anywhere. How do you stay inspired?
I can’t really turn it off. If I’m, if I’m honest. I live outside of London, so it’s very inspiring in my environment. There’s a lot of green, a lot of animals, a lot of water, and a lot of beautiful and incredible things to see and inspire my visuals. I draw from everyday life, events, and the people I meet. They’re also very inspiring. The stories they share are extremely heartwarming and motivate me to push myself technically.
Are there any designers that you specifically look up to or you find their work inspiring?
There are a few. But I think that because the industry is quite challenged. People are not really themselves. One designer who really, really did inspire me was Virgil Abloh. (I think when people hear this, they’ll say, “Oh, I knew she was gonna say that.”) But to be fair, if I had a personal experience I did with him. He was definitely himself at all times. It didn’t matter what platform he was on. He was in it for the new people. Anyone he tried to bring up, he did that. We met because he was on a panel with like five or six other guys. He had opened the floor to questions, and when I asked one, he was so blown away that he invited me to sit on the panel at that moment and pulled up a chair for me.
Tell me a little about your experience and how those experiences prepared you for where you are now.
Internships are paramount. They are so important. It’s so important to have a working studio experience because you learn on the go. My first internship was with a tee-shirt brand in Notting Hill, It was hard work. I’d have to go to East London for photoshoots, pick up plimsolls that we were painting overnight, and things like that. It was just crazy, but it was so important. I very much learned about the business of fashion at my first studio internship with Louise Dalton. We did London Fashion Week. She was also on NEWGEN and did things with the British Fashion Council. I learned about mock ups, how to go into the sales period the day after the show, and prepare for showrooms. I learned about the hype of fashion Katie Eary. She designed on Donda for Kanye West. That was an incredible environment to be in with so many creatives.
Would you rather be wearing a pair of heels or sneakers?
Depends what I’m doing, but most of the time, 100% heels.
Are you a car person? What’s your dream car?
My Lamborghini for Mazinyi. It doesn’t matter which one.
What goals do you have for Mazinyi in the future?
I want to travel the globe and send my message everywhere. I want to explore different mediums like furniture dressings and car collaborations. I’m definitely hoping to get my Mazinyi Lamborghini going. That would be super dope. I really want to inspire as many people as possible. It’s always been my motive to inspire and encourage somebody because I always hoped to have that same encouragement when I didn’t know Jesus. But now I do know him, and that encouragement for me is easily accessible. But for many people, they just don’t have it.
What does GRACE mean to you?
Grace is everything that you can’t describe. That’s what grace is. Everything good for your life that you cannot describe.
