Afrikan Goddess (AG) Online

Fashion! Fashion! Fashion! Runway, lights, cameras, the glare, the glamour and the glitz! “But, wait a minute. That design has ‘African cloth’ in it! What is it doing on the runway? I think I like it, but it screams too many ethnic tones.”

Amidst all the cycled fashion trends and recent lack of innovation within the world of fashion, it is amazing to see that the world is still yet to get on board with the concept of something new, something intricate and something exciting and innovative. African designers daring enough to push afrocentric designs have been relegated backstage for far too long; it takes a special kind of talent and courage to attempt to break the glass ceiling holding back the African designer who dares to go there. But where does one begin when fashion-conscious consumers, including the very people it is meant to represent – Africans - would rather scrap and save every nickel they have in order to afford the latest Italian, French or American fashion while ignoring Afro-centrically inspired trends? It begins with education, increased awareness and a bold initiative to attempt to dominate the fashion runway no matter what!

That is exactly what Côté Minou has set out to do since its establishment in 2006. The Fashion Duo made up of two long-time friends, Maryanne Mokoko and Stephanie Mouapi, have taken the Washington, DC area by storm with their creative designs, glitzy fashion shows and glamorous parties. Afrikan Goddess was able to get the two to sit down for a brief chat via email.

The Interview:

Côté Minou:  Hello everyone…Maryanne and Stephanie here. We are the designers behind Côté Minou. We are actually longtime friends who have spent a majority of our lives together. We were both born in the same town Bamenda and grew up in the city that never sleeps- Douala in Cameroon, West/Central Africa and we both love the world of fashion.

What’s the meaning of Côté Minou?

Côté Minou: Côté is French for corner and Minou is a combination of our nicknames. Coucou (Maryanne's) and Nini (Stephanie's) with M being the first letter in both our last names. 

How very creative. However, it’s no surprise seeing the ingenuity the two of you exude in your designs. What’s the inspiration behind Côté Minou designs? 

Côté Minou: We are inspired by a number of aspects from the arts: color, texture, pattern, diversity, rhythm, nature, volume, geometry, structure, many of which have roots in the continent. We are also highly inspired by places, people, and time eras.

You have organized/participated in quite a number of events in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, a few at which Afrikan Goddess was present. What would you say the response to your designs and concepts has been so far, especially among the African population? Are you encouraged by the response? 

Côté Minou: We are truly appreciative of the support and great response from our audience, a majority of who are African. This is what encourages us to keep going- the fact that our works are not in vain. People are watching and taking action. We thank God and hope for many more people to get to know about us.

Well, I guess this interview will give you a few more people interested in getting to know more about what you’re all about. Have you ever been to a private event and spotted someone in one of your designs?

Côté Minou:  Yes…and looking like superstars!

How did it make you feel? 

Côté Minou:  It is exhilarating to see someone who is bold enough to represent the cloth outside of the house…LOL! We are not just about the cloth though we are also about innovation and that is what probably makes us quite marketable.

That’s true. Africa is a large continent and it is impossible to please everyone. How do you go about including fabrics and designs to fully represent the various African countries? Or do you just concentrate on Cameroonian fabrics?

Côté Minou:  It is true that pleasing everyone can be impossible. We do consider that when we design. We try to change things up once in a while to show our versatility, and have used a wide range of traditional fabrics from many countries such as Cameroon, of course, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, and Ivory Coast, and still have more we are interested in exploring in the future. The sky is the limit!

Lots of luck to you on that endeavor. Do customers have the option to request a Côté Minou custom design or are all your creations already-made-to-buy?

Côté Minou:   Our customers actually have the option to order either way. They can buy what is readily available or have a custom design ready in 3 weeks.

Where can potential customers go to get their hands on one of your fabulous designs? Can Côté Minou designs be purchased online?

Côté Minou:   We are working on an e-commerce website for our customers, but for now we are available on Facebook. Our orders are normally by phone/mail orders. Interested buyers may also contact us from The Côté Minou Blog (coteminou.blogspot.com). Prospective customers may also meet us at our scheduled fashion events to get our business cards/ contact info.

Personally, I am curious to know whether there are any African designers in the area who can successfully blend African fabrics, especially the Kente cloth, with a wedding gown bought from say David’s Bridal, to give it an ethnic flare. Do you see Côté Minou involved in something like that (on a request basis) in the future?

Côté Minou:  We have had requests like this in the past. We hope to have a bridal line in the future with hints of African fabric.

That would be awesome! What words of encouragement do you have for up and coming women entertaining the idea of running a clothing design business of their own? What challenges are they bound to face and how do you suggest they tackle those challenges?

Côté Minou:  Participation in the fashion industry requires a lot of dedication. It is important that you first define your commodity. Listen to what's going on around you, go with your heart, be patient, be driven and ingenious and be resilient. Always remember that a fashion designer should be artistic, creative and also business savvy. 

Anything you would like readers to know about that I may have overlooked?

Côté Minou: We are currently planning our second annual Summer Fashion show. A follow-up to last year’s PAPARAZZI show. It is entitled PAPARAZZI II- Muleyma ~My Heart~. It is a celebration of the CM summer collection with a bazaar of activities for our guests to enjoy. Information on this event can be seen on our website at http://www.mycoteminou.comand on Facebook as well.

As said, this isn’t the last you’ll be hearing about these two dynamic and talented ladies. For information on where and how to get your hands on one of their fabulous creations, visit Côté Minou at their website listed above, as well as for upcoming events in the area. Don’t miss out on their summer event either. It promises to be very entertaining.