“You should aspire to do something great”
3rd December 2009: You should never be “afraid to stand out from the crowd”. This is the motto of Miss Maame Baryeh, a young London based fashion designer.
Maame who was born in Kumasi, Ghana in 1983, is the brain behind Maame Baryeh London and Ma:LE labels. She believes that in life, each one of us should remain firmly “a leader not a follower.”
 Maame’s aspirations as a fashion designer began from an early age. “I was always cutting up bits of fabric and hand-stitching them into dresses and tops for my (life-sized) doll, but it wasn’t until I went to college to study my A-levels, that I was able to begin to put my design skills into practice.”
She says that one of the courses she undertook was in Art & Textiles which although wasn’t specifically geared towards fashion, gave her a taste for fabrics, colour, texture and surface decoration. “It quickly became evident that one of my strengths was my extraordinary eye for colour which is a signature trait of all my designs.”
After completing college, Maame enrolled on a three year degree course in fashion design at De Montfort University, Leicester, a decision she describes as “one of the best” she ever made in life, “and it was almost by default!”
Maame learned many skills at De Montfort University including the art of flat pattern cutting, creative pattern cutting, garment design and construction, modelling on the stand, soft tailoring and much more.
Colour excitement and daring could be used to describe Maame’s debut collection launched in September 2007.
“As an individual, my clothes have always been my pride. I love to wear things that are unique in some way,” she says.
“Be a leader and not a follower, dare to be different, take pride in knowing who you are, aspire to do something great, serve your purpose in life,” she says.
Maame is a hard worker who takes every opportunity that comes her way. She also creates opportunities where there are none.
Shortly after graduating, Maame applied, and was selected to show at Profile 4 which was produced by The London Fashion Forum.
“My true passion is the art of pattern cutting like a jigsaw in my mind’s eye, I visualise the creation then create the rule, seeing how textures, and colours manipulated can create the most interesting shapes and effects in clothing,” she says.
Maame has a daring and experimental attitude: “Learn the rules, then break them.”
Each of Maame’s designs are unique and once complete leads to a new idea. That’s how she manages to push the boundaries even further. She reveals: “Jackets are my main forte short, asymmetric, seamless, quirky, bright, detailed, the possibilities are endless and the end result is timeless. It’s a garment worn over others so it should make a statement, express a personality, and communicate with the outside world. I see no limits to my creative abilities, I don’t compromise on the design, I find solutions to make it work.”
Maame says she has developed a fascination with menswear. “My aim is to revolutionise menswear, inject some life into an industry which I feel has played it ‘safe’ for far too long!” she says.
Her heroes are all the people in her life who have helped, supported, and encouraged her to get to where she is today.
Maame will be featuring her collections at the Untold E-boutique this month, at the London Fashion Week in February 2010, and at Clothes Show London, Excel from 4th to 6th June 2010.
Maame Baryeh: Hard work will pay off if you persist and continue to believe!”
Maame, why did you decide to become a designer?
I used to create garments for my life sized doll when I was younger. My mother dabbled in sewing, usually party dresses for me and from the off cuts I’d try and emulate that but in more of an unconventional way. What I really loved was combining the different textured fabrics and colours to create garments. From there I grew up and when I had some of my own money I always loved to shop for unique garments, the sort of things the other girls in my year would covet, always asking where I’d found it or how much it cost. I was never really into labels but always was excited about standing out from the crowd in an understated way. Around the age of 15 I knew for certain the path I would take was as a designer.
 What are some the challenges you meet in your work?
Time management is the biggest challenge I find. Outside of designing I also run Untold Organisation and it’s hard work. I love to be challenged however, there’s always a way, it just takes time to find it sometimes!
How does it feel to be a designer?
I love the feeling of visualising a design in my mind’s eye and then translating that into a 3-D finished garment. There’s nothing more exciting to me than that feeling of having met the challenge, worked out the technical spec and then created the end look. It really is what I was born to do and something that comes naturally to me. I considered giving it up some years ago but realised it wasn’t a choice but my path in life.
Whom do you design for?
I design for people that really appreciate individuality, have found their confidence and are just happy within themselves. It’s not about exhibitionism for me, it’s just wonderful to see confident people wearing my garments because it just looks amazing, they dare to lead where others follow.
Please say something to convince our readers to become designers.
For me, being a designer is an art form and a passion I had no choice but to follow. I encourage everyone to follow their dreams. Don’t be deterred by the path ahead as it’s part of the journey and there is nothing more satisfying than being immersed in and doing something I love as a career. The practicalities are, you may need to work elsewhere in the early stages or have a part-time job on the side, but know that the hard work will pay off if you persist and continue to believe!
How would you describe your designs?
Quirky, individual, bold, colourful and above all fun!
What makes your designs different from others?
Maame Baryeh London and Ma:LE are about amazing garments, which are timeless, unique and original as we all are.
What’s your philosophy of life?
Dare to believe, be bold and remain a leader and not a follower, this is the mantra by which I live my life.
Please share with us your achievements as a designer?
There are so many I don’t want to bore people but for me, graduating from my course at University with the skills and knowledge to create garments, showcasing at the V&A with Kulture2Couture, exhibiting with Nolcha at New York Fashion Week, founding Untold and meeting the creatives I have along the way, the launch of Ma:LE the menswear label, the fact that I am still in the industry and surrounded by generous and gifted individuals who allow my dream to live on.
How do you spend your free time?
I like to relax in front of the television, catch up with friends, read, listen to music, explore the outdoors. I don’t have much free time but it’s nice to just switch off and do something or nothing when I have the opportunity.
What are your dreams in life?
Global domination- I say that with a glint in my eye and a smile. I suppose I want to expand my horizons, live in a few new places, take my brand and designs over to Paris, Tokyo, New York, open up a boutique or two and I’d also like to be able to inspire the next generation, perhaps through teaching or mentoring. I feel like there is so much more that I have to do with a journey that will take me to new plains and experiences which I look forward to embracing whole heartedly. For now, the next stop is London Fashion Week in February where I re-launch the labels.
What’s your advice to our readers?
Success is measured in different ways by different people. Everything is possible with vision and there are people out there who can help to get you there, so if it’s fashion you’re into or something else keep your dreams alive and keep working towards them, hard work will always be rewarded.
MAAME BARYEH’S CONTACTS
Email:
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www.maamebaryehlondon.com
www.un-told.co.uk
By Stephen Ogongo
Some of Maame Baryeh’s designs
        
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