How Akim Soul is transforming Mali through Fashion.

Exclusive Interview: From Bamako to Fashioning a New Africa in Mali w/Akim Soul

An intimate 1:1 conversation w/ Akim Soul on purpose and impact in Bamako’s Fashion Industry

Through this series of questions, Akim Soul opens up on his journey, from his beginnings in Bamako to his impact on African fashion, ethical craftsmanship, and luxury. Additionally, his contributions, notably the founding of the Association Mali Mode and his role in positioning Bamako as a fashion hub, have played a key role in the sector’s evolution.

What sparked your interest in fashion and design in Bamako?

The beauty of my country’s culture and craftsmanship. I come from two very rich and strong cultural backgrounds in Mali. My father is Dogon, and the Dogon region is known for its beautiful plateaus, masks, and the ingenuity of its architects. My mother is from Gao in northern Mali, and the Songhai woman is known for her elegance, refinement, and adornments. These two ethnic groups are filled with richness and know-how, especially when it comes to design and fashion. So I believe that’s where my inspiration comes from—more broadly, from Mali, a West African country with an undeniable cultural depth.

Why did you decide to shift from civil engineering to the fashion industry?

I’ve always been naturally entrepreneurial. I love creating, innovating, and giving meaning to things I find important. That’s how the choice became clear to me. I felt more useful in fashion because the scene in Mali was almost non-existent. I’m also a lover of beauty and creativity, which you can also find in civil engineering since I’m passionate about architecture. But it became obvious to me that fashion would be a more exciting mission.

What challenges did you face when launching Mali Mode Association in 2011?

Lack of funding to build ambitious projects, the absence of a fashion ecosystem, and the difficulty of finding people who shared our vision—a modern, globally connected, high-quality, and innovative fashion industry.

How have events like Mali Mode Show influenced Mali’s fashion scene?

The Mali Mode Show helped raise the bar for fashion events. Promoters are now putting in the effort to create modern, professional events. Just our communication alone has inspired many others in Mali. People are beginning to realize that fashion is a business, not just a gathering to clap for clothes they might never buy. Before the Mali Mode Show, even free fashion shows rarely attracted crowds. We’re proud to be among the events that kickstarted a local fashion economy, created a space for creatives to express themselves, and showed Malians that there’s talent here—and showed the world that something is happening here.

What was your vision when partnering with the ACCM for Bamako Fashion Week in 2015?

To put Bamako on the African fashion calendar. Back then, we pulled off something major—over 30 fashion personalities came to Bamako for a full week of runway shows, at a time when the region didn’t really embrace fashion weeks yet. It remains one of the richest experiences of my career—I was only 22.

What were your goals in launching the Mali Mode Academy?

To identify, train, and launch creative and professional fashion designers into the market. The two editions of the Mali Mode Academy have enriched Mali’s fashion scene, training an average of 20 designers each time. Most are now active—creating, selling, growing. Our support continues beyond the training—we form a community and keep offering them opportunities for promotion and growth.

What are you doing to position Bamako as a fashion capital in Africa?

All our initiatives—Mali Mode Show, Mali Mode Academy, Fashion and Design Forum, and Boubou Week—are tools that represent this vision.

What are the main challenges you’ve faced in promoting African fashion globally?

One big challenge is how fashion is perceived in Africa—it’s often seen as superficial, when in fact it has serious cultural, economic, and social weight. A garment isn’t just a beautiful object or a runway piece. It’s the product of a whole chain of value—from producer to creator, artisan to distributor. It means jobs, innovation, and wealth.

But in Africa, this industry is still underdeveloped. There’s a lack of investment, reliable data, and tailored education. Access to quality raw materials is hard, and it’s difficult to go international without proper logistics, standards, or networks.

Still, I deeply believe in fashion’s potential as a tool for development. That’s why we launched the Bamako Fashion and Design Forum—to create a space for reflection and action, where fashion professionals can connect, learn, share ideas, and come up with real solutions.

This forum is a step toward structuring the sector. We’re not just talking about fashion—we’re talking about the economy, education, and sustainability. We’re laying the foundation for a serious, respected industry that can transform society in a lasting way.

What is your vision of ethical fashion in Mali?

To me, ethical fashion is first and foremost human-centered. Fashion that respects its makers, values local materials, and is produced in dignified, sustainable ways—without harming the planet or human dignity.

But beyond that universal definition, I think we need to adapt the concept to our local ecosystems. Too often, ethical fashion seems like a concept imported from elsewhere. Yet our societies and traditions have always embraced these values—without naming them.

In Mali, artisans have always worked with a sense of proximity, respect for resources, and transmission of knowledge. Recycling, natural dyes, handmade textiles, jewelry, and leather—these are inherently ethical practices rooted in our way of life.

So the real urgency isn’t to copy external definitions, but to reconnect with who we are, revive these practices, give them space in the modern economy, and build an ethical fashion system that makes sense here.

How would you define African luxury in the Malian context?

To me, African luxury isn’t about excess or showiness. It’s about what lasts. What is rare, meaningful, and full of history, craftsmanship, and memory.

Here in Mali, luxury is the time we take to do things well. A handwoven textile, a symbolic piece of jewelry, a fabric dyed with ancestral techniques.

Yet today, it can feel like luxury is something that comes from somewhere else—as if we never had it. But Africa has always known luxury—in its noble materials, refined techniques, and deep care for daily or ceremonial objects.

African luxury is rooted excellence. It draws from identity, authenticity, and the intimate relationship between person and object. It tells our story. It has a soul.

I believe it’s time we redefine luxury ourselves—based on our realities and histories. Let’s not just copy standards from elsewhere, but affirm a vision of luxury that feels true to us—where elegance meets culture, respect, legacy, and depth.

What upcoming projects or collaborations excite you the most?

Without a doubt, Mali Mode Show 2025. It’ll be our fifth edition, but the first in a biennial format—a true fashion season in Bamako. It’ll run from November 1 to 30, 2025, with a full month of shows, exhibitions, talks, residencies, and cultural activations.

This year’s theme is: “Embodying Heritage… The Heritage Embodied.” It’s an invitation to reflect on how we carry our legacies, how we transform them, and how they can inspire contemporary creation.

Through this biennial, our ambition is clear—to make Mali Mode Show a landmark platform for African creativity. More than just an event, it’ll be a full cultural, artistic, and economic experience—rooted in Bamako and connected to the world.

This project means a lot to me because it represents my core belief: fashion is a tool for transformation, expression, pride—and Bamako can become a capital of creativity if we give it the means to grow.

What legacy do you hope to leave in the African and global fashion communities?

I want to help build a credible, professional sector that brings hope. A space where young people can dream, learn, create, and live with dignity.

The legacy I want to leave is that of a strong ecosystem—grounded in our realities but open to the world. I want people to remember that from Bamako, we laid solid foundations for an ambitious, independent, and respected African fashion industry.