MIA BY MIA NISBET-TEXTILE UPCYCLING FOR AFRICA

Fusing recycled clothing with traditional Malawian textiles, MIA by Mia Nisbet is an ethical fashion brand like no other. There are funky upcycling brands and bold African collections but not many that bring the two together whereas MIA by Mia Nisbet does. After spending some time in Malawi Mia Nisbet was inspired by the mix of second-hand clothing and local textiles that Malawians wore. Intrigued by the mix of ‘Northern’ and ‘Southern’ cultures and the contrast between modern and traditional textiles, Mia created her collection upcycling second-hand imported clothing and offsetting this with a bold African print and has showcased at the first Africa Fashion Week London in 2011, as well as during London Fashion Week in Feb 2012 for her 2012 collection (image below), as well as being an Ethical Fashion Forum Innovation Award winner. More excitedly is that Mia by Mia Nisbet features in our book Fashion Africa by AFG Founder Jacqueline Shaw.



Nisbet’s signature ruffles and funky styling transform previously discarded pieces of clothing into fresh, playful ones. Men’s shirts, old T-shirts and sportswear are given a new lease of life with careful tailoring and a little African ‘Kitenge’. Featuring well known western logos such as Adidas and I ‘heart’ NY in many of her designs, Mia playfully emphasizes the upcycled nature of the designs and the contrast between the ideas of ‘African’ and ‘Western’ style.