DESIGNERS' SPOTLIGHT: Liz Ngwane of Margos' Mode

Liz Ngwane is a creative fashion businesswoman, one of the finest from Africa in Cameroon. She has inspired a lot of people with her designs, wowed some with her wisdom, and left others truly motivated to care about the planet that we live in. 

We at Fashfied Studios took a peep into her world and had a little chat with her to understand some of the things that drive and motivate her to do all she does.

Enjoy her story!

All images were gotten from Margo's Mode Instagram page

Meet Ms. Liz Ngwane

FS: Hi Liz! So what inspired you to pursue a career in fashion, and how did you get started in the industry?

Liz: My mum inspired my career in fashion. She used hours to shop for clothes for us and also used to sell dresses made from Cotonou in those days. After she passed, I wanted to build something In memory of her and only fashion came to my mind. Knowing she was a fashionista at her time.

FS: Oh! So sorry about your mom! She'll be so proud of you and all you're doing in Fashion now. So can you describe your design aesthetic and how it reflects your cultural heritage?

Liz: We're an Afro-minimalist contemporary brand and we use arts to pass down stories generationally

FS: Wow! That is fantastic! So what challenges have you faced as an African fashion designer, and how have you overcome them?

Liz: One of my greatest challenges is cultural identification. In the 21st century, everyone is looking to be identified as rich, and luxurious in what the Western world had defined luxury. It's quite difficult in my country to see people in custom-made clothes. They prefer spending money shopping at foreign brands rather than home-based products. I'm overcoming each day by trying to create contemporary pieces that tell our stories yet can fit into modern-day life.

FS: How do you incorporate sustainable and ethical practices into your design process and business model?

Liz: Sustainability is at the core of our brand's vision. We believe that sustainability is creating jobs for others & that's why we work and collaborate with small communities like artists, artisans, and markers. We also carry out a campaign during collections launch to educate the public on fashion impact, we use recycled paper and boxes for our packaging, and in all these, run an environmental charity organization that is focused on reducing textile Waste known as the no waste factory.

FS: Fantastic! What advice would you give to aspiring African fashion designers who are just starting out?

Liz: My advice to aspiring designers is that they should tell their own story. Fashion is a language you should be able to exploit its different dimensions as you want, stay creative and innovative

FS: Beautiful! So Liz, how do you stay up-to-date with the latest fashion trends and innovations while maintaining your unique style?

Liz: I am not someone who goes for trends nor follows trends I believe in creating styles that cut across different centuries, so I stay innovative with technology the world is shifting toward digital

FS: Can you share a particularly memorable experience or achievement in your fashion career?

Liz: Every time I read articles about me is overwhelming, like that from BellaNaija! It was super memorable... I didn't see it coming, so it felt like 'Ok! We're doing something!'

All images were gotten from Margo's Mode Instagram page

FS: How do you balance the creative and business aspects of your fashion brand?

Liz: I understand being creative is one thing, and running a business is another, so I make sure I handle my company as a business. I create seasonal pieces so the rest of my time is to run the business.

FS: What are your future goals for your fashion brand, and how do you plan to achieve them?

Liz: My future goal is to see my pieces in different boutiques around the world I am looking forward to starting with manufacturing or say scaling and partnerships.

FS: How do you see African fashion evolving in the global fashion industry, and what role do you hope to play in that evolution?

Liz: I'm super excited about the future of the fashion industry cause it's such a beautiful driver of economic development of creativity and innovation. And the more innovative I get definitely our stories are being told globally

All images were gotten from Margo's Mode Instagram page

All images were gotten from Margo's Mode Instagram page