Mary from MAFCouture
MaFCouture
When I was a child I was kinda the “happy feet” of my family.
What are your roots?
I am a Cameroonian with Some mix of Nigerian heritage. I came to the Netherlands when I was about 14-15 years old.
Do you have siblings?
I do have siblings here in the Netherlands that I stay with.
One is a musician –Bessemoh.com– and the other one is an IT guy that loves fashion shows and parties.
Is sewing a thing in the family?
No, sewing wasn’t really an inheritance from my family neither can my grandma or my mother sew. She’s (my mother) very creative but sewing I never saw her do. I actually developed this talent on my own and I enjoy it thoroughly.
WATCH the MAFCouture Launch Party coverage here.
What would be your passion if you didn’t choose to be a designer?
Hehe, Dancing!! When I was a child I was kinda the “happy feet” of my family.
Why are your designs different than the rest?
My designs are different from the rest because it comes from a place inside of me. When I want to get creative the most I shut off everything, go in myself and start imagining things.
Then will I sketch them all down. Every creation I design is clearly to be seen from the things I make for my clients.
It is like two different worlds. I am literally attached to my designs, because they are very personal to me.
Do you feel like you have any competition here in the Netherlands?
In Holland? Not that I have seen. In countries outside the Netherlands, yes! Like a Ghanaian designer called: Christie Brown. I love her stuff!
I feel like she is a game changer and it scares me the most because we think alike and that can bring some tension between us.
Who is your favorite manufacturer for Ankara fabrics?
I can’t say I have any. But who do I think they have creative patterns and designs in their fabrics? Julius Jansen in Helmond.
I can name designers that are better than Louis Vuitton and the rest
What is your favorite place u have traveled to up till now?
My favorite so far will have to be London.
Is your plan to go international?
Yes
Please learn how to support each other and connect with the person
Where do you expect to be in 5 years’ time?
My own small boutique here in Holland, France, Cameroon, London and Nigeria next to my atelier where I could freely express myself through my creativity and travel the world for more inspiration and collaboration.
Have u ever experienced being treated different because of the color of your skin?
Yes, I had this crazy experience once in Rotterdam Blaak. An interior shop that was close by the metro station Rotterdam Blaak was open that I was passing by to get some furniture to work with. I went to the shop and the door had a note that stated that the store was open . If the door was closed I should ring the bell so I did. I had a black hoodie on from sweatswithattitude and a black legging.
This guy walked up to me to open the door took a look at me and tries to imply that they were closed. When I brought to his attention what was written on the door he then asked me to come in.
I went in feeling this awkward “we don’t need you here” kinda stare. I saw amazing things and I was inspired! While looking around this guy stood by the help desk and stared at me the entire time meanwhile there was a Dutch girl in the place with a huge camera.
So I pulled out my phone to take some pictures; he rushed quickly to me and asked me to not take pictures of their stuff cause it is their new Collection bla bla bla.
Meanwhile the girl next to me was doing just that. Ok, I said fine. Before I knew it he handed me their card and said I could look at the things online and showed me the door.
I was not even ready to leave yet, men I was super pissed and I was sad the whole day because of it.
How do you feel about diversity in fashion?
I feel as though it is very much needed especially NOW! I can name designers that are better than LV and the rest.
We need those people to inspire our little black children at least they won’t be insulted by them or called names in public like these other designers out here do to black people. Our black kids should also know that their moms and pops are able to archive such names and success in the fashion industry as well to motivate them and most importantly inspire them.
What do you want to see change in the fashion nowadays?
The skinny models. Let’s start elevating the big girls and the world will be a little better . Because a confident woman can archive a lot.
Fashion to make our men look like women; Please stop that! I cannot allow my kids to be inspired by such designers, so they need us. They need change!
What do you consider fashion?
Fashion for me is a form of expression. Who I am inside shows on the outside by what I wear and how I present myself. But fashion has a lot of meanings and translations world wide.
Fashion comes with presentation.. how do I want to present myself to the world. Different, mixes, cultural influences or whatever.
Does fashion come with size or do all models have to be a size 4?
Like I said earlier, if fashion came with just one size which means the big girls won’t be able to express themselves. Fashion is for all sizes.
Do you have a partner?
Hehe, who would like to know?
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I am happy when I am eating. If you want to make me happy, get me food.
What is your favourite song at the moment?
Assurance by Davido
Where can we FIND YOU!
Instagram: mafcouture
Personal IG : mary_tataw
Facebook page : mafcouture
Pinterest : mafcouture
Snapchat : youngestceo
Facebook group: My Ankara Closet NL
Final say?
“For the African male/females that have businesses in the Netherlands please learn how to support each other and connect with the person. Let love rules above all Love is the strongest. We can do whatever, give shoutouts, hold meetings or seminars but without love all we do is vain.” – Mary
“Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another,
for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God
and knows God [through personal experience].”
1 JOHN 4:7 AMP
MARY
