MIZIZI started as an idea in the dining halls of the University of South Florida in spring of 2014. Paakow Essandoh and his friend George Kariuki (who later left the company for other business endeavors) noticed the lack of African pride displayed in Florida and decided to work to change that. They saw the lack of representation in Florida and thought about how Africans might be affected by the same thing globally. The duo would spend hours brainstorming ideas for patterns and designs that could be marketable.

“We wanted to uplit that African self-esteem within everyone and give them something they can wear stylishly and take pride in,” Essandoh says. The line officially launched in the summer of 2015.

But before MIZIZI, the current CEO wasn’t an experienced fashion industry expert. His background was limited to retail and food service and he was working as a pharmacy tech at CVS. Launching the company marked a sharp career shift and a shift in the way people can display their pride for where they’re from.

MIZIZI literally means “roots” in Swahili. The name, though simple, represents the connections the brand aims to make every day.

“Africa is the only continent whose children leave and never come back,” Essandoh says. “With the lack of representation we tend to lose touch with an entire dimension of our identity because we’re not exposed to it.” But having a connection to where you came from, even one as small as a wristband with flags on it, can serve as an important connection.

Photo: Courtesy of MIZIZI
Photo: Courtesy of MIZIZI

He finds, through his own experiences and customers, that people get excited to represent their identity. People are proud of where they’re from. They want to represent their history. And that’s why they want clothing from MIZIZI.

The pieces are for anyone and everyone from the African diaspora.

No matter if you’re African, African-American, Caribbean, Afro-Latin, etc., you’re connected to Africa. And as a member of that club, you’re a part of the movement to display pride and show love to the cultures that made you who you are. Essandoh wants you to think of MIZIZI as “The Black Nike.” They’re industry leaders bringing you fresh sportswear, but this brand has cultural context that can’t be matched. “We want to create a movement making Africa the ‘cool’ thing to be connected to,” Essandoh says. “We’ve always known it — now it’s time for the rest of the world to catch up.”

Photo: Courtesy of MIZIZI
Photo: Courtesy of MIZIZI

And grabbing some gear from MIZIZI guarantees you’re supporting black-owned businesses and a “for us, by us” model instead of some major brands that take advantage of culture by simply appropriating it for profit. Within all of MIZIZI’s designs are little Easter Eggs of knowledge that relate back to the respective country’s culture. This makes each item a conversation piece, prompting customers to learn more about their country and share that knowledge with others.

“We identify with our customer because we are them,” Essandoh says. “It’s a company built for the African Diasporic community by people who are part of that community.”

Not sure where to start when browsing the site? How about their dope Black Lives Matter hockey jersey? Bring a message to a cut and style perfect to transition you into fall and winter.

Photo: Courtesy of MIZIZI
Photo: Courtesy of MIZIZI

And the brand’s most recent campaign, “The MIZIZI AfriKan Games Campaign,” includes a basketball jersey for every single African country, as well as “African” and “African-American” options. The designs are full of important details and can be effortlessly styled like any other jerseys you’ve worn before — but these have a special meaning and cultural tie that sets them apart.

Check out the commercials showcasing the collection’s innovative styles below:

The striking videos take place in Dallas, Texas, and shooting them demonstrated the kind of community that MIZIZI pulls together. “A lot of the local Africans came out to be a part of it and show love,” Essandoh says. “In true African style, it somehow turned out to be a small block party — we had a DJ and everything.” The commercial was directed by Ugochukwu Onwuzurike, co-directed by Obiaura Anozie, and produced with the assistance of Devy Stonez and Anthony Sarden.

But this video is just one of the new ways the brand is connecting with consumers. Regarding what’s up next for MIZIZI, Essandoh says he can’t give too much away, but that they’ve got some game-changing moves up their sleeves.

“It’s honestly becoming bigger than me and bigger than I had expected,” he says, “MIZIZI itself is becoming a movement, and it’s a blessing to be able to witness this growth.”

Check out MIZIZI and shop the AfriKan Games collection. Although temporarily on backorder, it’s still available for purchase up until August 21.


 


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