00:00I'm Mohamed Jimjai and I'm from The Gambia, based in Berlin now. I'm a fashion designer
00:07in circular and sustainable fashion. I believe circular fashion is the only way forward unlike
00:14fast fashion. Mohamed is one of many young Africans who risk everything to succeed,
00:19but his story is one of grief and an unshakable desire to make it in life.
00:24He found healing and purpose through art, channeling his journey into his fashion brand
00:29Sahara Designs. He named it after the desert that has become a symbol of peril and resilience
00:35for countless young migrants. When I was in The Gambia, I was going to school and I lost my best
00:42friend and ever since he passed away is where I really lost interest in schooling and just wanted
00:52to go away. And I wanted something better for me and my family.
01:02If I just don't feel like going to the gym, I come here. Being here, working out helps me too
01:08as a person, especially when I came new in Germany.
01:13By day, Mohamed teaches at a local kindergarten. But outside work, he's fully immersed in fashion,
01:19spending long hours developing new designs with his creative director.
01:28I just don't randomly do any art. The inspiration really comes from my grandmother. My grandmother used to
01:35sew a lot with her hands. I understand too, it's very important for us as humans to really take care of
01:43our environment too and not just produce and produce for the benefits of ourselves and looking nice,
01:51but also consider how it has a lot of negative effects to nature. Sustainability is what drives his
01:57mission. Circular Fashion encourages recycling used materials as opposed to the wear and tear logic.
02:03His limited creations can be found on his website for a limited time before they are sold out,
02:09all while avoiding waste. I don't do mass production. These are leftovers I have from the
02:18previous collection. I'm going to use the logos from the previous collection for the sake of recycling
02:25and attach them in the new identity drop. And the logo is actually called
02:31basically telling how bad smoking is. Now I'm working on a collection called Resilience. The word itself
02:43is defined as overcoming any obstacle or struggles that comes your way. And that's literally part of
02:50my story. And the vest is literally the armor you wear to tackle all these obstacles. Our attires,
02:56our materials, our textiles, so many messages behind them. And they're fantastic, they're amazing,
03:05they look beautiful. And the used clothes I use is from here and it's just from around me.
03:10Today, Mohamed's work reaches far beyond Berlin. His designs have dressed some of the biggest music
03:17stars, among them Jisul from The Gambia. He has worked with international icons like UK-based artist
03:24Pasali. And some of those creations were featured on British Vogue.
03:30This was a confirmation of everything in life is possible. Literally everything.
03:42So, if I'm not in the atelier creating designs, I'm normally outside taking pictures of my designs
03:50because I'm a photographer too and a videographer. New York, Berlin, London, Paris.
04:02One thing I really dream of is showcasing my own collection or art on Berlin First Fashion Week
04:13and any other fashion week that's in the world. This office here makes that happen for designers
04:18like Mohamed. The Fashion Council Germany supports emerging designers regardless of their background.
04:24Diverse talents are key to cementing the growth of the industry and the diaspora network is a valuable
04:30economic infrastructure. Fashion Council Germany is the organizer behind Berlin Fashion Week. And if
04:36you look at the EU policy makers when it comes to the circular fashion and textile programs that they're
04:41launching, Germany is one of the leading. The GDP that contributes from Fashion is around 80 billion euros.
04:50So, we have educational programs, we have supporting systems, we have networking platforms,
04:56and one of our core target groups are emerging talents.
05:03As a person who is part of this minority group, it's just important to just show that
05:08we have a lot to give and help develop their countries in certain ways. And fashion designers
05:17and everyone in art doing clothing should really embrace circular fashion.
05:22While his art protests the irregular journey to Europe, Mohamed is still in the process of
05:27rediscovering himself. One thing is certain, his career in circular fashion is only just beginning.
05:38The way he wishes to be on the culture.
05:40But of course, there's lots of people who want to present many different cultures who do
05:42and have pictures of the world. And he's being a smart person who has made this
05:43so that he's something that requires love to think about.
05:44For example, his work allows them to be the same, he's to be the same.
05:45Probably not for a person.
05:46But basically, his work is a great for him to be the same and for the world.
05:48He is our teacher at the same time.
05:49He is here to say on this выступ as a people who are not equal to the group.
05:51And he at the same time is a couple of people who are not familiar with these.
05:51And he is here to be the same, he has a code.
05:53And so that he was a guy who, you are not a person from the same.
05:55This kind of thing, he doesn't know where you have for anybody.
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