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ON OUR RADAR: ARIETA MUJAY

4 Oct 2012
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Arieta Mujay was recently named as one of Africa’s top six stylists by heritage1960.com, reason enough to be on our radar! She was born in London, then moved to Lagos, Nigeria – an African girl with a London attitude.

She has been working in fashion for 15 years, starting out as a window dresser for GAP and breaking into the world of styling. She has styled Agyness Deyn, Liya Kebede, Pixie Lott, Lily Allen, Oluchi Onweagba, Tyson Beckford, Kelis, Kelly Rowland and Alesha Dixon. She has styled lookbooks for Deola Sagoes’s spring/summer 2007 collection and Tiffany Amber’s spring/summer 2012 collection and acted as brand advisor for both.

Currently, she is fashion editor of the River Island instore magazine and has also been chosen to work on the brand’s collection with Rihanna. Arieta has also styled 18 collections at the Arise Show In Lagos last year and in March this year worked on 22 shows including Maki Oh and Christie Brown.

She has worked at RED magazine and as the PR manager for New Look in the UK before getting the job at River Island.

ELLE’s fashion editor Asanda Sizani interviewed her in Botswana earlier this year and it was clear to see how passionate the stylist is about the fashion industry.

When did you fall in love with fashion?
I always say that fashionistas are born, not made. Although style can be developed through trial and error, there is an innate inner pizzazz that every fashion enthusiast must have.

What drives you to do what you do?
Hard work was instilled in me by my mom at a very young age. I do have days when I feel like I can’t do this any more, but there is always a voice at the back of my head which says to me: ‘You work in fashion; you don’t save lives’. Then I remember I am truly blessed.

How would you describe your personal style?
My style is androgynous, tomboy chic. The way I dress is influenced by my dual upbringing in London and Lagos. It’s ’90s London girl (think Neneh Cherry) mixed with the rebellious enigma that is Grace Jones topped off with headscarfs, bright colours and prints.

Which celebrity did you most enjoy styling?
Working with Kelis, as it was like dressing myself. We both share a similar sense of style.

Career highlights?
Working on the African Fashion International shows in 2010 and meeting Graca Maçhel and Marianne Fassler – two of my heroes. Recently I travelled across Africa and went to eight countries in four weeks. I got to meet so many talented people who work in the industry. That was very inspiring.

Challenges in your work?
I sometimes find it hard to just style and leave; I always end up giving my opinion on everything, much to designers’ annoyance. But what can I say? I’m passionate about what I do.

Your must-haves this season?
Black leather pants, a baroque-inspired biker jacket, a crisp white shirt, a doctor’s bag and black snakeskin boots.

Any funny stories to share?
Last year I interviewed my hero, Mary J. Blige. I decided to keep it professional but ended up telling her how much I love her! I actually started to cry. The conversation went a little bit like this:
Mary: ‘Why are you crying?’
Me: ‘Because I have to leave and haven’t asked all of my questions.’
Mary: ‘What else do you want to ask me?’
Me: ‘I just love you; you mean so much to me. I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough time, so I wrote you a card.’

Mary was crying too at this point and telling me not to cry. Her make-up artists started to cry too. The PR manager was trying to get me out of the room and I was pretending I couldn’t see her. I finally left with my eyes red and swollen. Mary needed her make up re-applied and her interviews with eight other journalists were delayed. An unbelievable experience though!

Images: One Nigerian Boy and Jas Lehal Photography