MEDI1TV Afrique : Le style vestimentaire d'un leader : Simple apparence ou véritable outil d'influence? - 30/03/2025
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00:00Welcome to Africa Chica, welcome to Mediantv, in a world where the image plays a key role,
00:20the clothing style of a leader is never trivial, whether in politics, in the world of affairs
00:25or on the stage of an audience. Appearance influences perception, strengthens credibility
00:31and conveys a strong message. A leader must necessarily adopt a coded clothing style
00:36to be taken seriously. To what extent can fashion be a strategic asset to assert its leadership?
00:43To talk about it, I have the pleasure of receiving today Mariam Sorey, creator of Maud's,
00:48recognized for her work in elegance and self-affirmation through the clothing with which
00:54we are going to explore how the choices of clothes can shape the image of a leader
01:01and strengthen its impact. Mariam Sorey, thank you for being with us.
01:06Thank you for the invitation Sandi, it's always a pleasure to be here.
01:10Pleasure shared. So, I was saying, you are the promoter of the brand Mami Sore,
01:16what is your approach to fashion today?
01:20Thank you for the question. It must be said that, although I am a stylist,
01:25I can say that my approach is clear, I am not a slave to fashion.
01:29Thank God I am a stylist, I manage to shape fashion to my liking, let's say,
01:34but I must admit that fashion is a sector that I like a lot.
01:38It is a sector that I have chosen and it is also, let's say, an asset for everyone
01:47who decides to show a little of what she knows how to do, who also decides to show her elegance.
01:53So, I would say that my approach to fashion is only good.
01:56Very good. So, a person who is always in contact with clothing,
02:01and precisely why is clothing more than a simple dress, but rather a real tool of expression?
02:08Well, exactly, as you said, I think that when we meet a person for the first time,
02:12I think we don't have two opportunities to make a good impression.
02:16And when we meet a person for the first time,
02:20the first thing that comes to mind is how the person is dressed,
02:24how the person is presenting herself.
02:25So, clothing is necessarily a tool of expression because clothing speaks for you.
02:33Even when we say that clothing does not necessarily make the man,
02:36we recognize the man by his clothing.
02:39Today, we are talking about the relationship between clothing and the leader.
02:46What is the importance of clothing for a leader?
02:50First, in the definition of leadership, being a leader is knowing how to guide,
02:55knowing how to impact, knowing how to inspire.
02:57And I think that in the definition, everything is said.
03:00When you want to impact people, you have to give them a good image of yourself.
03:03So, as a leader, it is very important, depending on the field of activity,
03:10to present yourself very well.
03:11So, for a leader, I think that one of the things that a leader should not have fun with
03:17is his clothing style.
03:18As we said earlier, clothing speaks, clothing gives the first impression to everyone.
03:23So, for me, a leader must take very seriously his clothing style.
03:28And how does this clothing style influence the image and credibility of the leader?
03:38As I said, it depends on the field of activity.
03:41I say anything.
03:42When you go to the office with a sick person,
03:47and you meet a person who is not wearing a blouse,
03:50and the person says to you, follow me.
03:51You will say, but we will not follow you.
03:54But when you already see a person in a blouse,
03:57even if the person did not show you his doctor's card, you are already reassured.
04:00So, inevitably, the outfit, whether you want it or not,
04:04and already, I was saying at the top,
04:06it is that clothing makes the monk, whether you want it or not.
04:09We do not recognize a monk without his outfit.
04:12So, already, I only repeat it,
04:15the outfit is the impression we give before we open our mouth.
04:18But is there not a trap behind knowing how to dress?
04:23Of course, of course.
04:25Because many people can be very well dressed,
04:29even though they are not leaders.
04:31That's clear.
04:32And people can have identity usurpations,
04:35because they are dressed.
04:37We recently saw cases of arrested people,
04:39who took themselves for generals.
04:41Indeed.
04:41Although it was not the case.
04:42So, really, there is a trap.
04:44Perfect.
04:44Very good.
04:45But are there essential clothing codes
04:49to establish one's authority, one's identity?
04:52Absolutely, absolutely.
04:55Speaking of authority, of leadership, of identity,
05:00it is especially important to know
05:04the field of activity of the person.
05:06But in general,
05:07when we speak of a well-dressed person,
05:10we already speak of harmony of colors.
05:12I take the example of a person who works in a bank
05:17and arrives dressed in the colors of the rainbow.
05:21There is a problem.
05:22There is already a harmony of colors.
05:24Is what you wear harmonious?
05:26These are already clear codes.
05:28Does what you wear go with your morphology?
05:31And then, to go on the elements that you have worn,
05:35does what you wear seem of quality?
05:38I say seem, because a leader is not necessarily
05:40someone who has enough to take very expensive clothes.
05:44Of big brands.
05:46Exactly.
05:46But what you wear must seem correct.
05:49That's it, seem correct.
05:51So here are a few codes.
05:53Also, there is the leader and the one who gives the example.
05:56Exactly.
05:57It is the head of a whole group.
06:00We can say it that way.
06:01So, as it is customary for us, Mamy,
06:05it is time for the report.
06:08And now, we are going to go straight
06:11to this report made by our teams.
06:14This is an incursion into the world
06:18of the creator Ivo Argen Roger Bongo.
06:20In 22 years of activity, he has established himself
06:22as an essential reference of the chemistry in Côte d'Ivoire.
06:26With his brand Cora, he combines tradition and modernity
06:29by offering elegant creations,
06:32finely embroidered and made with a soap,
06:35a mixture of cotton and linen.
06:39In his workshop, precision and quality are the masterpieces,
06:43with a production that extends well beyond the Ivorian borders.
06:47I invite you to follow this element
06:49by Melissa Kone and Herman Doggo.
06:53Welcome to the universe of style and exclusivity.
06:56Today, I take you to the discovery of a showroom
06:59not like the others,
07:01a real cave of Alibaba for fashion enthusiasts.
07:04So, follow me.
07:17In 22 years of activity in Terre des Burnies,
07:20the stylist and fashion designer Roger Bongo
07:24has become a reference in the chemistry in Côte d'Ivoire.
07:27In addition to the irrambic commentary on his work
07:31and his creations, his works bear the name Cora.
07:35The vision is simple.
07:36I think that this narrative that I have had since the beginning
07:39is to have products,
07:41to be able to create products
07:44made in Côte d'Ivoire
07:46that respect the standards of the world.
07:48I don't see why we can recognize
07:50an Ivorian pre-tapotee and an European pre-tapotee.
07:53And we, the idea is to be able to remove this barrier
07:56so that we can have quality products,
07:58beautiful finishes that respect the standards.
08:01With a particular feature,
08:03embroidery and design.
08:06These creations are generally composed
08:09of 80% cotton and 20% linen.
08:12A mixture of African and European
08:15where art intertwines tradition and modernity.
08:18My inspiration comes from tradition.
08:20It comes from everything that is African.
08:22We tend to refine
08:24to give a product that is African, but chic.
08:28His workshop is defined
08:30as a unit of production of mixed clothing.
08:33It is a mix of African and European.
08:36With quality products
08:38made in Côte d'Ivoire.
08:40Quite sober and minimalist
08:42whose process of confection
08:44is done in a meticulous way.
08:46The transformation is not made
08:48from the embroidery machine.
08:50The transformation is made
08:52from the computer.
08:54The embroidery machine reproduces
08:56everything that has been done
08:58on the computer.
09:02Here, Roger Bango
09:04produces about
09:06300 pieces per week
09:08and 1,000 per month.
09:10Cora Creations,
09:12taken by men,
09:14is also exported all over the world.
09:16At Cora Creations,
09:18we produce more shirts than pants.
09:20Let's say shirts
09:22at 80% and pants at 20%.
09:24There are also clothes
09:26that we make
09:28and women's clothes
09:30that we make.
09:32Due to the material
09:34and the design,
09:36Cora Creations is accessible to everyone.
09:38As I like to dress my husband,
09:40as soon as I have the opportunity,
09:42I come to take shirts
09:44for him
09:46and he appreciates them.
09:48For me, the clothes are really of quality.
09:50Roger Bango
09:52was three times awarded
09:54in Côte d'Ivoire
09:56and ISO certified.
09:59The showroom
10:01is not just a sales space,
10:03it is a journey
10:05to the heart of fashion
10:07where each piece tells a story.
10:09See you soon!
10:23I am on set
10:25with my guest,
10:27Mariam Sohore,
10:29who has 11 years of experience
10:31in the field of fashion.
10:33We are talking about
10:35the relationship
10:37between clothing and fashion.
10:39Mamie,
10:41do you have any examples
10:43of fashion leaders
10:45whose fashion style
10:47strengthens the image and authority?
10:49Yes, we have a lot of examples.
10:51If we talk about fashion,
10:53I think of Karl Lagerfeld.
10:55Everyone recognized him
10:57with his white collar.
10:59In the same way,
11:01I think of Michael Jackson
11:03with his white socks
11:05and his cap.
11:07On a more religious note,
11:09I think of the Pope.
11:11Everyone knows that the Pope
11:13is always dressed in white.
11:15To get a little closer
11:17here in Côte d'Ivoire,
11:19I think of Zezé.
11:21Yes, Stanislas Zezé,
11:23these are small brands
11:25and they are people
11:27who by their appearance
11:29have already given us
11:31this feeling
11:33of respect
11:35because they have created
11:37something.
11:39They have been able to impose
11:41their brand for years.
11:43Very good.
11:45How can a leader
11:47use his style
11:49to convey a strong message
11:51and at the same time
11:53a coherent message?
11:55I think
11:57in all humility
11:59that clothing
12:01can be
12:03a political message.
12:05It can be
12:07a religious message.
12:09It can be
12:11a message of protest,
12:13exactly.
12:15We can convey
12:17several messages
12:20The example of Mohamed Ghandi
12:22just by his style
12:24he was able to bring a whole country
12:26to adopt the Sahara
12:28that exists until now.
12:30And if we talk about African countries,
12:32some countries in the sub-region
12:34have started to adopt
12:36the Made in their country,
12:38the Made in Africa.
12:40Exactly.
12:42I think it was a project
12:44in Côte d'Ivoire as well.
12:46If we look at it,
12:48it is a political message.
12:50It is a way of saying
12:52to the West
12:54that now we decide
12:56to dress with what we produce.
12:58And I know that in Burkina Faso
13:00there is a law that was voted
13:02and the magistrates now wear
13:04clothes made of torches
13:06in Faso d'Anfani.
13:08These are actions
13:10that I salute
13:12because it gives a lot of work
13:14to the stylists
13:16but at the same time
13:18it sends a strong message
13:20of acceptance and cultural appropriation.
13:22Very good.
13:24In the report that we just followed
13:26we saw that our creator,
13:28Roger Bongo,
13:30uses linen
13:32and these clothes
13:34are intended for a category
13:36of clients.
13:38Do the size,
13:40the choice of the material
13:42have something to do with it?
13:44Are there elements
13:46taken very seriously by a leader?
13:48Ideally, yes.
13:50Ideally, yes.
13:52We can be leaders
13:54in several areas of activity.
13:56We can be leaders
13:58in a group that does not necessarily have the means
14:00to be a sub-category.
14:02And we know that in Africa
14:04the sub-category costs a lot.
14:06It is not given to everyone.
14:08As we said earlier,
14:10we just have to focus
14:12on the clothing.
14:14We have to wear something harmonious.
14:16But if we go to the sub-category,
14:18on the choice of the material,
14:20if the person does not have the means
14:22then it becomes a bit of a proving.
14:24They try to show what they do not have.
14:26I think it should not be
14:28very important criteria
14:30for a leader.
14:32As long as the leader is coherent,
14:34as long as what he wears is adapted
14:36to what he does,
14:38I think it is the most important.
14:41We see the question of knowing
14:43whether it is necessary
14:45to have the means
14:47to be well put on,
14:49to assert yourself as a leader.
14:51I think that with what we have,
14:53it can be done.
14:55Of course.
14:57And I think, thank God,
14:59we are in an Ivory Coast country
15:01where to dress up,
15:03we do not really need to ruin ourselves.
15:05And we do not necessarily need
15:07to wear very expensive clothes
15:09We do not need to have
15:11watches of the latest brands,
15:13to have jackets
15:15of the latest brands.
15:17No, I think a leader,
15:19as I said, who wears
15:21consistent clothes,
15:23consistent colors,
15:25that are very clean,
15:27scented, as we said.
15:29Because it counts too.
15:31Very important. A good hygiene,
15:33well-shaved, well-haired.
15:35And its impact,
15:37I think, apart from the clothing side,
15:39is that it releases.
15:41And the impact
15:43that it has on people's lives.
15:45And if we were to talk
15:47about mistakes to avoid.
15:49Thank you very much.
15:51As we said, there are coasts
15:53and there are mistakes to avoid.
15:55There are many mistakes to avoid.
15:57I want to talk about
15:59doing too much or doing less.
16:01That means, I take an example,
16:03you are invited to an event
16:05for, I say,
16:07I say anything.
16:09You are invited
16:11to a dance.
16:13You are invited, for example,
16:15on a sports set.
16:17And you arrive dressed as if you were
16:19at a wedding.
16:21That is, in costume, tie.
16:23You see that it does not work.
16:25You are invited,
16:27you are chosen, I say anything,
16:29as a manager.
16:31You are a leader,
16:33a religious leader.
16:35And you are invited, for example,
16:37I say anything, to a TV show.
16:39And you manage to dress,
16:41excuse me for the term, as if you were a pedicure.
16:43There is a problem.
16:45So, already, I think that the mistakes to avoid
16:47are mainly, you have to dress
16:49according to the message you want to convey.
16:51That is clear.
16:53If I am a religious leader, I dress according to that.
16:55If I am a leader,
16:57I am an artist,
16:59I dress according to my art.
17:02If I am a political leader,
17:04I dress according to my art.
17:06Now, of course, you know, fashion,
17:08that's why I said,
17:10you should not be a slave to fashion.
17:12Fashion too, what is good,
17:14is that nothing is dictated.
17:16And it is not to imprison people.
17:18You have to be open-minded.
17:20Now, as a leader,
17:22you just have to be careful
17:24not to do too much or less.
17:26And not to arouse criticism.
17:28To give an example that goes in that direction,
17:30recently,
17:32I think last year,
17:34we attended the wedding of the artist Kérosène.
17:36And where the icon,
17:38the legend Didier Dromba,
17:40was one of the guests of honor.
17:42He arrived in a fairly relaxed style,
17:44an English style,
17:46very chic, fresh,
17:48which represents Didier Dromba well,
17:50whom we love.
17:52But the criticism followed on social networks.
17:54At the wedding, he had to come in costume.
17:56So, always to stay in that direction.
17:58So, we said,
18:00we come back to Africanity
18:02with our traditional clothes.
18:04But is African fashion
18:06concretely in its place
18:08in this style of clothing?
18:10Absolutely,
18:12African fashion is in its place.
18:14The hospital is not going to care
18:16about charity, you know.
18:18No, African fashion
18:20is in its place.
18:22And if you notice,
18:24our local leaders,
18:26for example, a great lady
18:28whom I love a lot,
18:30you take Mme Florence Atakoni.
18:32When you look at her clothing,
18:34she is always well dressed,
18:36but always with that African touch.
18:38You will notice that it is
18:40a painted suit,
18:42a painted mix.
18:44She always has clothes
18:46made by local stylists
18:48and she takes
18:50Africanity.
18:52And when she dresses,
18:54she doesn't go to meetings
18:56of a governmental order
18:58or not.
19:00She is not out of phase
19:02of the rest.
19:04So, it means that African fashion
19:06is in its place totally.
19:08And now, even when you notice
19:10on the international level,
19:12our leaders, our governors
19:14are no longer ashamed
19:16to wear their boo-boos.
19:18You will see the Senegalese president
19:20wearing his boo-boos.
19:23You will see the Ghanaian president
19:25when he wants to give a speech.
19:27He wears a suit made by a Ghanaian stylist.
19:29You will see the presidents
19:31of Burkina Faso, Mali,
19:33who proudly wear their booboos
19:35and walk around everywhere.
19:37So, fashion is in its place
19:39even when we are out of phase.
19:41And we also have the first lady
19:43who always wears a booboo
19:45and it suits her very well.
19:47That's it.
19:49What are the current trends
19:51in terms of fashion and leadership?
19:53I think that fashion
19:55has been addressed.
19:57The current trend
19:59is the return
20:01to Africanism.
20:03If you notice,
20:05it is the return of Made in Africa.
20:07Even in accessories.
20:09You will notice brands
20:11like Aliwaks
20:13who put a little weight
20:15on their creations.
20:17You will notice brands
20:19who put African touches
20:21on their art objects.
20:23For example,
20:25gold earrings
20:27with African touches.
20:29So, the current trend
20:31is the return to South Africa.
20:33And we have the impression
20:35that all the fights converge
20:37towards the return
20:39to South Africa.
20:41What do you think
20:43are the essentials
20:45for a leader?
20:47First of all,
20:49based on his field of activity,
20:51I think that
20:53a leader should have
20:55in his wardrobe
20:57for a man
20:59or even for a woman
21:01a black jacket
21:03that goes everywhere
21:05in case
21:07he is invited
21:09and that he should wear.
21:11When I say a black jacket,
21:13it can be a jacket made
21:15locally or in a fabric.
21:17There is no problem.
21:19Also, for women,
21:21I think that a black dress
21:23is essential for all women.
21:25Whether it is short or long,
21:27we always need it
21:29and we know how to accessorize it
21:31according to the events.
21:33Apart from that,
21:35if possible,
21:37he should have a watch.
21:39The watch is important
21:41for the leader
21:44and the perfume
21:46is also very important.
21:48I think that
21:50the message is clear
21:52and he should feel good
21:54about all that.
21:56He should also have a budget
21:58for the hairstyle
22:00because it is very important.
22:02You can find people
22:04especially for women
22:06Yes, men too.
22:08Yes, even men.
22:10I take the example of a client
22:12who wanted to make a dress
22:14and the dress was so good.
22:16When she wore it,
22:18she sent me her picture
22:20and I said,
22:22there is a problem.
22:24She said,
22:26what does it mean?
22:28I said,
22:30try to wear it with a headdress.
22:32But when she brought me the picture,
22:34she said,
22:36don't publish the other picture.
22:38The hairstyle is very important
22:40because it gives me the impression
22:42that I am classy.
22:44Serious.
22:46A small budget for the hairstyle.
22:48It leads me to say
22:50that the final touch
22:52should be
22:54an image consultant
22:56or a creator
22:58to accompany the leader.
23:00It is good to mention it
23:02because we often dress artists
23:04and I remember
23:06when I made a collection
23:08and there was a fashion show
23:10and she said,
23:12I want your outfit.
23:14I said, ok.
23:16Then she came back
23:18and I said,
23:20I want your outfit.
23:22Once I had the opportunity
23:24to see her
23:26because I was in her country
23:28and I said to her,
23:30it would be better
23:32if we adopted a style for you.
23:34It is important.
23:36We had to consult artists
23:38for example,
23:40when we see you,
23:42we think that
23:44you are always dressed in white.
23:46It will be your touch.
23:48It depends on the music site
23:50that you do.
23:52We went to a contemporary site
23:54but with a touch of white.
23:56During all the dedication
23:58and promotion of her album,
24:00people identified her like that.
24:02It is true that there are questions
24:05but it is important
24:07to have a fashion advice.
24:09To not repeat ourselves,
24:11is there an advice
24:13to give to a leader
24:15to establish his identity?
24:17I think that to establish
24:19his identity,
24:21it is above all a question
24:23of self-confidence.
24:25You have to trust yourself.
24:27When you decide to be a leader,
24:29you have to trust yourself
24:31and you have to be clear
24:33about the impact you want to have.
24:35I am a stylist
24:37when I go to the bank
24:39or to the church.
24:41When people see me,
24:43they are not surprised
24:45when I say that I am a stylist
24:47because they see
24:49in my way of dressing.
24:51I am not everyday
24:53in a black and white costume.
24:55They will see the colors,
24:57my touch of painting,
24:59my hair,
25:01so you have to know
25:03what impact you want to have.
25:05You are a leader
25:07depending on your field of activity.
25:09What impact do you want?
25:11Do you want that when people see you
25:13they say to themselves
25:15this person must do this type of work
25:17or do you want them to say
25:19I want to know this person?
25:21It depends on the impact.
25:23For a leader,
25:25once he has determined
25:27the impact he wants to have
25:29in his field of activity
25:31he can always
25:33search on Google
25:35or close to
25:37some stylists
25:39and people who
25:41can help him.
25:43How should I dress?
25:45What color should I wear?
25:47How should I dress
25:49when I am in office?
25:51Exactly, it is a whole
25:53for a leader
25:55who wants to assert his authority
25:57In any case, Mariam Soré
25:59thank you for being on our show
26:01it is always a pleasure
26:03to welcome you in Africa Chic
26:05Thank you, it went by quickly
26:07Unfortunately, we are at the end
26:09of this show
26:11I thank all those who followed us
26:13Thank you to the team in the region
26:15We will meet again next week
26:17for another issue
26:19Until then, take care