Mossi Traoré: the rise of a committed designer

Born of Malian parents and shaped by his adolescence spent in the Hautes-Noues neighborhood of Villiers-sur-Marne, Mossi challenges clothing norms to fully reveal his personality. This singular trajectory led him to join the Parisian school Mod'Art International in 2005, where he cultivated his passion for fashion and art. He recounts his first eclectic experiences: "an internship at the Garnier opera house, but also with a dressmaker at Gare du Nord, or with an African couturier... I was also a sales assistant at Armani, an experience that enriched my perception of clothing and customer expectations".

A history of international artistic encounters

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In 2011, Mossi Traoré met fashion journalist Janie Samet, author of the book Chère Haute Couture, who introduced him to Didier Grumbach, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode who "launched the adventure"explains Mossi. Despite a difficult start, he remains undeterred. After a collaboration with Chinese stylist Zhen within the Zhen & Mossi brand, he decided in 2019 to relaunch Mossi solo to fully assert his creative identity.

In 2020, Mossi therefore presented his collection for the second time on the official Paris Fashion Week calendar, with "Made in Banlieue" added to the brand logo. In the same year, he receives the Pierre Bergé prize, is also selected to be among the brands promoted by the SPHERE showroom, "which allowed us to really enter the fashion ecosystem" testifies Mossi.

He explains that his customers are his ambassadors, his silhouettes evoking the rigor and aestheticism of couture. Each design is the result of long reflection on texture and volume for garment making. "There's a lot of draping, asymmetry and architecture"he describes. The Mossi brand thrives on artistic collaborations and artisanal savoir-faire, enriching its designs and offering unique experiences. He aspires his customers to live a "Mossi experience"around three pillars of couture, art and urbanism.

Mossi's notable collaborations include partnerships with Korean artist Lee Bae, Simone Pheulpin, calligrapher Hassan Massoudy, Ibrahim Ballo and many others... inviting the public to discover his artistic vision and commitment to diversity and cultural sharing. In this dynamic, Mossi participates in the dissemination of French culture: "I was selected by the US Embassy to represent France in the "IVLP" program, along with other actors committed to culture" and adds: "I went to Africa with UNESCO, I was also welcomed in Indonesia and China".

Between creativity and transmission: the dissemination of savoir-faire

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In his global commitment to the fashion sector, Mossi embodies the essence of his approach: ethics, integration and sharing. He says: "I put exhibitions on the walls of my neighborhood, I bring fashion and culture to priority neighborhoods. I get a kick out of this curatorial role."

Mossi then founded his school "Les Ateliers Alix in 2015 on course formats, experimentation", alongside the development of his brand. It was through a decisive encounter with Josette Thomas, that Mossi raised his aspirations, as he explains:"I wanted to pay tribute to Madame Grès. I met Josette Thomas, who joined Balenciaga at the age of 17, then Madame Grès and Ricci... A decisive encounter that raised my standards as much for my collections as for the school. She embodied the soul of the school, and through her I met French Haute Couture".

With a teaching staff combining between 10 and 40 years' experience in the major Couture Houses, the school guarantees its 36 students per session an authentic and enriching 3-year apprenticeship. Mossi, concerned about the professional future of his students, has even "hired a person who deals exclusively with the employability of students, (...) we also prepare to take the CAP as an independent candidate. As a result, we have a positive exit rate of 80% for our students, whether they are destined for the Paris Opera, the Grandes Home or to develop their own workshop."

In addition to the initial curriculum, it also provides everyone with varied workshops on"couture but also embroidery, corsetry, fur, skin garments, leather goods, ennoblement, haute joaillerie, textile materials, colors, fabrication...", participating in a more global dissemination of French savoir-faire and democratizing culture.

Beyond fashion, a committed and environmental vision

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Facing the plurality of actions he undertakes, the designer is aware "that there are many messages emanating from my brand, but I think that if all the projects are done with common sense, everything is coherent. If the approach is sincere, we respect it". He expresses his intention: "We're here to bring positive things for the industry, I want to be a brand with a positive impact as well as on the territories, I want to create jobs and promote French savoir-faire".

Thus, Mossi Traoré embodies not only the success of a fashion designer, but also an example of commitment and a willingness to value talent, revealing that fashion can be much more than just an industry. He explains that he "works with quite a few industries, research laboratories on rubber, milk casein which can be a new source of income for farmers, recyclable building site soil, recycled home products, all creating textile fibers". He stresses the importance of economic viability, asserting:"We need innovations that feed my brand and can create jobs".

For Mossi, his brand is more than just a fashion home, it's "a home embellished by committed projects and innovation". Today, he wants to restructure his brand by continuing his creative journey, reflecting a philosophy rooted in ethics, integration and sharing. He thus offers a unique and enriching experience through his designs and his initiatives in favor of the preservation of French savoir-faire.

For more information: https://www.mossi.fr/