Mossi: Sculptural street chic with a beat

Few designers in Paris are more committed than Mossi, the winner of the latest prestigious ANDAM award, a creator whose whole raison d'être is about building a fairer society.

Mossi staged his latest collection in the back of the 5th arrondissement where few shows are held, inside the headquarters of Paris Habitat – a key organization developing public housing in France.

In his brief career, Mossi has already helped open a school for young designers in Villiers-sur-Marne, a distant Paris suburb, and collaborated with several highly respected couture houses. Moreover, in the era of Black Lives Matter, many people in France would love to discover a champion black designer in the new generation.

Mossi, of dreadlocked gentlemanly lithe young man of Malian origin, certainly fits the profile. So, a small gang of Paris editors showed up for this show, which we are happy to report was a pretty impressive display. Mossi is an adept cutter and his lean silhouettes were flattering and real.

Cleverly draped asymmetrical apron skirts; rippling chiffon dusters; a marvelous transparent gauze trench with golden lapels and cuffs and sleeveless halter neck floor-length downtown Grand Dame looks. Add in some great plissé tunics overlaid with muslin and a wonderful printed Japanese organza top with prints by Iraqi artist Hassan Massoudy’s calligraphy and you had an impressive display of grown up but never uptight Parisian style. All skillfully styled by Paris hippest stylist of color and black militant, Ahmed Jenke Tailly.

“Movement. In the clothes, in the patterns. But also in society and on the streets. That was were I started,” said Mossi after his show staged with great simplicity in the glass atrium of Paris Habitat.

What’s best about Mossi is that he connects the craft of couture, with greater contemporary culture. Even as he references Madame Grès, he sends out a team a break, and modern ballet, dancers.

Movement too in the dancers who staged a great writhing and spinning mini routine to kick off the show, backed up by a soundtrack of fantastic French rap led by Ideal J’s Hardcore.

In a word, Mossi is sculptural street chic with a beat.

Mossi: Sculptural street chic with a beat

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