Nivaldo Thierry – After Mozambique, the world

When he walked the runway at Mozambique Fashion Week (MFW) in 2008, he was shaking and fearful. But the following year, he walked steadily, took the award for best Young Designer and today is a reference in African fashion and ambitions the spotlight of world fashion focused on himself.

Nivaldo Thierry is observant, examines trends, behaviours and seeks to learn from the successes and failures of his fellow professionals. He has always been like that. Son of a dressmaker and a textile entrepreneur, his first case study was his parents’ behaviour. With them he learned that it was necessary to mass produce, but with quality. With Alberto Tinga, with whom he presented his first collection at the MFW, he got to know new techniques and opened up to learn more and more. His regular trips around the world add to his baggage with experiences that he hopes will raise his bar. But observing is not enough, it is necessary to work more than 8 hours a day. It’s been that way since the early years. The lucky part is that fashion is his passion.

Opportunities are tiny seeds, which Nivaldo held, waited for the right moment, and threw to the ground. It paid off. Now, he is a stylist with an international dimension. This year alone, he already has around 10 invitations to participate in events around the world, such as the London Fashion Week (England) and the Benguela Fashion Week (Angola).

These days he’s busy, he answers his cell phone in the rare breaks between making custom clothes, which his customers demand, and producing the pieces for his new collection.

In “Black Night”, the stylist leaves the capulana aside and invests in black, golden tones and shapes. Without straying from his roots, he looks for other possibilities to explore the continent’s diversity.

In “Black Night”, the stylist leaves the capulana aside and invests in black, golden tones and shapes.

Speaking of Africa, in 2018, he was elected Best Young Designer in Africa, awarded by the World Fashion Organization, the largest governing body of fashion in the world.

The stars have their quirks, that’s for sure. However, Nivaldo Thierry, despite the various awards he has already received at home and abroad, wants to see his brand being consumed by multiple audiences. He has been investing in accessories such as belts, scarves, hats, flip-flops and masks, which cost up to 100 meticais.

“I know it is necessary to differentiate, create lines for different audiences. I’ve been thinking about it. I try to have products that reach those who can and those who just want to have them,” he emphasises.

His number of employees increases daily, which makes his degree in Business Management and postgraduate studies in Project Management increasingly relevant.

Talking about the fashion industry in Mozambique is still utopian. However, Thierry is proud to add to the list of stylists looking to cement its pillars. “We have talent, diversity appreciated by the world. Many are looking towards us,” he assures.

Advertising

Issue 74 Jul/Aug | Download.