Malawian designer making headway in Ghana

She is making fashion and designing strides in a country where the industry is hue. The story of Malawian fashion design icon Alinafe Naphungwako Misomali started with a humble beginning in West Africa, where she attended the Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design, formerly Voguestyle School of Fashion in Accra, Ghana.

Misomali’s gains in a foreign land are worth noting and sharing.

Born on September 2, the Diploma holder in Food, Nutrition and Livelihood Security from Natural Resources College, stands as Malawi’s new fashion stylist who likes to be called Naphu.

She quit her job “because I was never in love with it” and opted to go to a fashion design school.

She says her fashion story is very funny and short.

“I grew up in a family where we never really had it, and living around friends who had it all was not easy for me because back then I used to think in order to be accepted one must fit in. So I ended up altering my clothes most times, sometimes my sisters’ my mother’s clothes even my father’s trousers and shirts.

“I used to hand stitch. This went on for almost my entire childhood and to my surprise it worked all the time and in many occasions, I out-shined my friends with my altered clothes because they were always different and somehow weird,” she said in an interview from Ghana.

When Naphu grew up she realized what she was doing was real. It was time to make the bold decision that will bring her more happiness.

“I reckoned what I was doing was not about blending in anymore, I was only being me, because what I had created was something unique and different. After I quit my job I told my parents I wanted to switch careers. I told them I wanted to study fashion and design and become a fashion designer. It wasn’t easy to convince them as most parents expect their children to become doctors, bankers just to mention a few of the many white collar jobs.

“But we cannot all become that, there has to be someone to make dresses for the doctors and bankers to wear to work. And I told them I wanted to become that dressmaker.  Thank God my parents are very understanding and forever supportive, they accepted,” she explained.

To follow her dreams, Naphu applied for a course in Fashion and Design in Ghana where she has been studying since September 2012 and has just completed and graduated in September top of her class.

Said the designer: “I am now doing internship at the same school as a Tutor assistant. At the same time, she is perfecting her skills while establishing herself as perhaps the next big designer in Malawi.

“So far I have taken part in two fashion shows. The first one was during the launch of Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design, I was asked to showcase two of my designs. The second show was three weeks ago where I designed dresses for graduating models at one of the leading modelling centres here the Exopa School of Modelling. Of course, there are more to come,” she was enthusiastic.

She believes Malawi’s fashion industry is still budding and people need to be patient and watch it grow.

“Fashion takes time to grow but we are slowly getting there.  It is not easy to create something out of nothing and make people like it. Rome wasn’t built in a day. You don’t go from zero to hundred. We need to make those baby steps.

“I am very happy that we are now realizing its high time we started wearing our own brands and people are now embracing the chitenje more than the Whiteman’s dressing. Young Malawians are also realizing chitenje is not just a mothers and grandmothers thing.  I am even happier that we have had our own first fashion week. It is a very good development,” she added.

Naphu explained that the Ghanaian fashion industry is big and Malawi can learn from it.

“Ghana fashion industry is very big. There are so many fashion schools here and people are making very good use of them.  Out of 10 people you will meet in Ghana, 7 wear African print made clothes. This is very amazing to me and it gives me hope that yes Malawi can do this too. I am looking forward to the Malawi fashion industry becoming the same. Even 10 out 10, yes it is possible,” the designer affirmatively expressed.

Passion alone is not enough. There is more to fashion than stitching.

There’s more to fashion than a dress that looks like it can be worn, according to Naphu.

“The reason most people wear western clothes is because the dresses are well made, well finished and the fit is always perfect. That’s what makes a dress. When a dress is well finished even the wearer feels it. Even those who see it feels it. I came here to study fashion and design because I believe you can never make it as a designer if you don’t get to learn about fashion and design.

“I could have made it without training, I have very amazing ideas and am very creative I could have chosen to employ tailors to make things for me. But how do you call yourself a designer when you cannot even take body measurements. I figured it was important for me to study it, know it so I can know what I am doing,” she said.

But where does Naphu see herself in the next five years?

“This is a career for me, I have to deliver quality so I can earn a living. I dream very big. I see my designs everywhere in Malawi and beyond. God has been so good to me and he’s not done with me yet,” she said.

Naphu will be back as soon as she finishes her internship and polishes her skills.

“Currently, I am into women’s wear and accessories. But I want to perfect my skills in bags, shoes making, hat making, neckpieces and beading. I’m not sure how long it will take me to learn those.

“But one thing I am certain is I want to go beyond dressmaking. I will unveil my brand name with a launch when am all ready, for now it’s just Alinafe Naphu Misomali,” she said.