MEDI1TV Afrique : Kiru’ Mono : Le Kimono réinventé, quand l’Afrique rencontre le Japon - 15/12/2024
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00:00Welcome to Medihan TV, if you are joining us today, we are honoring a unique meeting between two universes, Japan and Africa.
00:20The kimono, a symbol of Japanese elegance, is reinvented under the prism of African creativity with the KIRU MONO brand.
00:28At the origin of this bold fusion, a Franco-Cameroonian creator, passionate about the world and culturality.
00:35For five years, she has been exploring the art of clothing with a unique signature.
00:40By the way, in Bijon, she reveals her universe and shares her ambition to make her brand shine.
00:46Jeanne-Mécy Fouda is with us on the set of Africa Chic. Thank you for responding to our invitation.
00:51Hello and thank you for the welcome.
00:53Jeanne, tell us about your background, how did you get into fashion?
01:00In 2019, I was in Guadeloupe for an event on the Art Exhibition.
01:06For the occasion, I had made a kimono for myself, so it was before the reaction of the people that I went back to Paris.
01:13Why did you choose the kimono as the masterpiece of your creations?
01:18There are two things. The kimono is a garment that has been worn by my mother and grandmother for years.
01:23Also, in the east of Cameroon, we have an ethnicity that has clothes that look like a kimono.
01:27So I found the mix of the two interesting and I wanted to explore it.
01:33Cameroonian mix and Japan.
01:35No, Africa.
01:36Africa and Japan.
01:37I am African first of all. I am not necessarily Cameroonian.
01:41At the level of my clientele, I have a Rwandan clientele, I have a Congolese clientele, I have an Ivorian clientele.
01:48So only cataloging me as Cameroonian would be a shame.
01:53And it is limited.
01:54Exactly.
01:55Very good.
01:56So when you make kimonos, there is necessarily a message.
02:00Yes, it is the message, it is the rigor.
02:04As you know, the kimono has a rectangular shape, but with the colors that I put on it, it reminds me of Africa.
02:13It puts a little bit of madness.
02:16And is it a garment that suits all shapes?
02:20Exactly.
02:21It is a garment that suits all women.
02:23Big, small, round.
02:25Here we say pucho, right?
02:27Pucho.
02:28That's the Ivorian.
02:31And it is also mixed.
02:33That is to say that the kimono that I wear can also be worn by putting it on differently.
02:38And on all occasions.
02:39Exactly.
02:40You can put it on a red carpet.
02:42I remember I saw an article where it was said that I had removed the kimono from the tatami to put it on the red carpet.
02:48So that's exactly what I do.
02:49Even during the day, you can wear it at any time.
02:52And it's really intercultural too.
02:54Wedding, office.
02:56Everywhere.
02:57Even in the pool.
02:59In the pool too?
03:00Yes, of course.
03:01If you're a little rude and you don't want to show your body, you put on the swimsuit and the kimono on your shoulders.
03:05Because in fact, the kimono is a garment that lets you guess.
03:08It doesn't show everything.
03:10We are really in the subjection.
03:13And finally, in Africa, with the climate we have, is the kimono adapted?
03:18It is adapted.
03:19You just have to change the material.
03:21In Africa, you can put linen.
03:23That is to say that there are kimonos in different materials.
03:25There are kimonos that are doubled, that are not doubled.
03:27There are kimonos in silk.
03:28There are kimonos in polyester.
03:29In each country, you can adapt the raw material, but the shape remains the same.
03:36Very good.
03:37And what particularly attracted you to the aesthetics, the philosophy of the Japanese kimono?
03:42What I like about the kimono is that it is a garment that represents the quintessence of elegance.
03:47Because it doesn't show anything.
03:49It lets you guess.
03:50And of course, when you're in a kimono, you're dressed up.
03:53You see how I'm sitting?
03:55I'm sitting in a majestic way.
03:57Because it is a garment that is majestic.
03:59It is a garment that has existed since the 17th century.
04:01And yet, until now, we still wear it.
04:04It is a timeless garment for me.
04:08Earlier, we were talking about materials.
04:11You chose the cloth to reinvent the kimono.
04:16I chose the cloth, but not only.
04:19I also have kimonos with uniform fabrics.
04:23So, the fact of putting on colored clothes reminds me of my continent.
04:28Because in our country, we like colors.
04:31That's why I made a mix of printed and uniform fabrics.
04:36Very good.
04:37I like what we're going to do with your programs.
04:39We're going to discover what you know how to do.
04:42That is, the kimonos.
04:45You participated in the recent 17th edition of the Afrique Fashion Show.
04:49We are going to discover your passage together.
04:52Let's watch.
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09:07Through this element, we want to pay tribute to our colleague,
09:12who passed away on November 19th.
09:14It was her last shoot for Africa Chic.
09:19I continue with my guest, Jeanne-Mécie Fouda.
09:23Two beautiful pieces presented at the Afrique Fashion Show.
09:26Thank you very much.
09:27What collection was it?
09:28This is the Furisode collection and the Foucault collection.
09:31Furisode are the kimonos with the longer sleeves.
09:35Because at the time, the longer the sleeves, the more comfortable we were.
09:38That's why I wanted to go into luxury.
09:42Foucault are crop tops and pants.
09:45I wanted to say that I have a certain emotion,
09:48because I learned that the person who filmed this report is no longer here.
09:53God knows how to do things.
09:55He came to do this last report.
09:57I didn't meet him.
09:58Now, today, I'm with you and I see his work.
10:01It does something to me.
10:04Thank you very much, Jeanne.
10:06To sum up, how many collections does Jeanne have?
10:10Jeanne started in 2019.
10:13Jeanne, stop counting.
10:14Not bad.
10:15The first collection was called Hajime.
10:18Hajime means beginning in Japanese.
10:21Then I did a collaboration with a shoe brand called Goya Paris.
10:28It's a Franco-Beninois.
10:31We did a collaboration together.
10:33Then I did...
10:37Not bad.
10:38You should have warned me.
10:40What are the collections that were most appreciated?
10:46Everything was appreciated, but what struck me the most was Hajime.
10:50It's the first.
10:52It's the first because I'm self-taught.
10:56It's during a trip, I don't know if I told you.
11:00I was in Guadeloupe and I was wearing a kimono.
11:05It was in front of the people I met that I started.
11:08Hajime is the beginning.
11:10It's the beginning of Kirumono.
11:12It's the beginning of my adventure.
11:14It's the basis.
11:15Very good.
11:16The name of the brand is Kirumono.
11:18What does it mean?
11:19In Japanese, we say Kirumono.
11:20Kirumono.
11:21Kirumono.
11:22With energy.
11:23Kirumono means what you wear on yourself.
11:25It means what you wear.
11:27That's why you have the kimono.
11:30Because Kirumono also means kimono.
11:32That's why you have pants.
11:35I also make jewelry.
11:37Jewelry that you wear without piercing your ears.
11:39You just slip it on.
11:40And it's mixed too.
11:42The Kirumono brand is 100% mixed.
11:45Men and women can share the same wardrobe.
11:48Very good.
11:49Why do you choose bright and happy colors for your creations?
11:53Life is already sad.
11:55There's no need to add anything.
11:57I think that adding a bit of color
12:00allows you to give it an African touch.
12:03It allows you to reinvent the kimono.
12:06I didn't create it, but I put it to the test.
12:09I make sure that you can wear it under any circumstances.
12:11Because the kimono is a very traditional clothing.
12:15Very martial.
12:17In ceremonies.
12:20With the Kirumono brand,
12:22you can wear it on any occasion.
12:26I'm repeating myself, but that's really it.
12:28It's a clothing that you can wear...
12:30Everywhere.
12:31No, not everywhere.
12:32It's not a word I like.
12:33It's a clothing that you can wear under any circumstances.
12:36Everywhere, I think it's a word that is...
12:38A bit pejorative.
12:39Completely.
12:40And Kirumono is not everywhere.
12:41You saw it yourself.
12:42Very elegant.
12:43How is it?
12:45Very good.
12:46What are your different sources of inspiration?
12:49My sources of inspiration are my many trips.
12:53There is a creator who inspires me a lot.
12:57It's God.
12:58It's true that it's with him that I can calm down.
13:02That I can make certain decisions.
13:05And then there is the artistic side.
13:08That I have in my walks.
13:10Even when I'm in the car.
13:11When I see a building.
13:12When I see a person passing by.
13:13Inspiration...
13:14Even when I sleep, I create.
13:16Inspiration comes all the time.
13:17Speaking of trips.
13:18You travel a lot.
13:19Through several countries.
13:21What are the challenges and opportunities in such a project?
13:26To make the brand known more.
13:28I have a high-end CSP+.
13:30It's true that my clientele is rather...
13:34For example, Mewe.
13:35Javier Mewe.
13:36La Fluide.
13:37Miss Universe 2019.
13:39Also, an actor from Cameroon.
13:41His name is Eric Eboané.
13:43Franco Cameroon.
13:44His name is Eric Eboané.
13:45Brian de Palma, for example.
13:47And we forget others.
13:49So, to continue to make the brand known.
13:52Always stay in the high-end.
13:55Always offer beautiful lines.
14:02And it's a high-end brand.
14:03But I also created a line that can be adapted to all stocks.
14:10That's why I also created T-shirts.
14:12The T-shirts are in organic cotton.
14:14It's less expensive than the kimono.
14:19But it also allows you to enter the world of kimono.
14:23Does the brand somehow respect eco-friendly fashion?
14:26Absolutely.
14:27Because, for example, the kimonos.
14:30I certainly made them in Paris for the moment.
14:35But the fabric also comes from France.
14:38It's true that in the future I would like to find a workshop.
14:41Why not in Côte d'Ivoire?
14:43To be able to make it here.
14:45But as you know, finding a good workshop with good finishes is a challenge.
14:49So it's really a short-term project.
14:51And you happen to be in Côte d'Ivoire.
14:54We can know the reasons.
14:56Well, it's a passage that flies.
15:01I arrived on November 15.
15:04For the fashion show on the 16th, Elisabelle Hannaud.
15:11Then I did several TV channels.
15:15I did the events.
15:17It went well.
15:19The opportunity to meet you is also made like that.
15:22Every day there is a new adventure that begins.
15:26As they say, every day is enough.
15:28Jeanne, how do different cultures perceive your re-invented kimonos?
15:34What is interesting is that I wrote it in Japanese.
15:38And they are sensitive to the tribute that I give them.
15:44Because the kimono is a traditional garment.
15:47It's not a garment that you wear like that.
15:49Or even that you reinvent without having worked on it.
15:52Even the name.
15:53Because there is Kirimono and Gofuku to say kimono.
15:57There is a way to wear it, a way to tie it.
16:00There is a whole symbolism around that I respect.
16:03But after that, I go with the flow.
16:05Are these kimonos also marketed in Japan?
16:09Yes.
16:10I had the chance to meet the ambassador of Japan to Benin.
16:15Who also introduced me to people there.
16:18Myself, physically, I haven't been there yet.
16:20But my kimonos are already in Japan.
16:22We see a nice cut on your head.
16:25Is it related to the brand?
16:28I had very young white hair.
16:31And I had a hard time accepting them.
16:33So I put the dye on.
16:35I hid it like a lot of women, I think.
16:37And it was in 2022 that I decided to leave it like that.
16:41And a month ago, I cut everything.
16:45Because I had very long hair.
16:46I had hair that reached my shoulders.
16:48But I wanted to give myself a boost.
16:50So I cut everything.
16:51So the color is 100% natural.
16:54Very good.
16:55What are the goals for Kiru Mono in the coming years?
16:59To continue the expansion.
17:00To continue distribution in our country.
17:03To come to Morocco.
17:05Why not?
17:07Because I know that the Moroccans like to hide the curves.
17:15Why not hide the curves with a kimono and stay elegant?
17:19A kimono that represents Africa.
17:22Exactly.
17:23Because Morocco is in Africa too.
17:24Yes, of course.
17:25How does your work contribute to bringing Africa and Japan closer?
17:31It allows us to discover that in Japan there is also joy.
17:42Because we tend to think that the Japanese don't paint.
17:47The Japanese are very open.
17:50When they saw the name of the brand, they were surprised.
17:57But pleasantly surprised.
17:59Because I could have called my brand Kimono.
18:03But Kimono became a common name.
18:04It didn't mean anything anymore.
18:05Whereas the fact of putting my brand Kiru Mono,
18:08they were touched.
18:09They saw that there was real work behind it.
18:11So they appreciate it a lot.
18:12Very good.
18:13Do you plan to collaborate with other creators or artists as part of this project?
18:19Of course.
18:20By the way, I wanted to say that last Sunday, December 8th,
18:24I dressed the huge artist of Bordeaux who was making his big comeback at the Palace des Congrès.
18:29A beautiful collaboration.
18:31Exactly.
18:32Can the director show us some images of this beautiful collaboration
18:37between John Missifuda and the artist of Bordeaux, Likou Fah?
18:44Hello, this is Haute Caillou.
18:47Today, we are at the concert of Des Bordeaux, Likou Fah.
18:51Organized by Willy Dongo and all his team.
18:54And for the circumstances, I had to go to the entrance.
18:58And today, we are with Dame Jeanne,
19:01who is going to dress Willy and Des Bordeaux.
19:06Right, Dame Jeanne?
19:07Exactly.
19:08So, what are you going to promise us?
19:10Surprise.
19:11Surprise.
19:12So, see you soon.
19:16To feel like a nightmare's call
19:19Can't deny when you find a place to hide
19:26I can't deny when you find a place to hide
19:38I can't deny when you find a place to hide
19:44A very beautiful outfit worn by the artist of Bordeaux, Likou Fah.
19:48And signed, Keri Monod.
19:50So, what does the kimono represent for you as the creator of the world?
19:54It represents, as I said earlier, the quintessence of elegance.
19:58Because I have a strong character, but I have a pudic side.
20:03And this outfit, in fact, it looks exactly like me.
20:07That is to say, I do not reveal who I really am.
20:10I am rather interior.
20:12That is to say, as we are not, we see, I am, I laugh, but I am very interior.
20:18And so, this outfit, it does not show my body.
20:23It lets you guess.
20:24At the same time, there is color.
20:25So, we still know that I am not closed, that we can come towards me.
20:27So, this outfit, really, it represents that for me.
20:29It is a clothing that communicates enough, let's say.
20:32Yes, because, necessarily, it's a call.
20:36Because we say to ourselves, but it's Japanese, but with African fabrics.
20:40In short, in any case, it leaves no difference.
20:42Very good.
20:43So, in fact, it's not a clothing that goes everywhere.
20:45No, I got it right.
20:47I got it right.
20:49So, apart from the artist Adé Bordeaux-Louis Confa,
20:53are there other collaborations with certain African or even Japanese creators?
20:57Japanese, it's hard to speak.
21:00I was wearing, as I said earlier, Mewé, a huge artist,
21:05who is very famous here in the Ivory Coast.
21:07I am very sure.
21:09But it's true that I also collaborated with a shoe brand, Goya Paris.
21:14We did a collaboration together.
21:16There are other collaborations that will be done.
21:17I am open to all constructive and rigorous collaborations.
21:22The two brands have to be in the same position.
21:24Otherwise, there is no interest.
21:26Very good.
21:27We also remembered that outside the cloth, you use linen.
21:30But are traditional fabrics like...
21:33What do you call it?
21:35The Ndop.
21:36The Ndop?
21:37Yes, yes.
21:38Do you use it too?
21:39It's planned.
21:40I had made a kimono with a Cameroonian fabric,
21:43to show the fusion of these two cultures.
21:47And it left very quickly.
21:49As soon as it was...
21:50On the market?
21:51It left and I showed it to Kinshasa, a Congolese.
21:54It's really a mix.
21:56It's not because it's a Cameroonian fabric that it will necessarily be Cameroonian.
22:00Clearly.
22:01Very good.
22:02If you had to describe your creations in one sentence, what would it be?
22:05Kimono represents African culture, Japanese aestheticism and French elegance.
22:12Very good.
22:13What advice would you give, let's say, to young creators
22:16who also want to reinvent iconic pieces?
22:19I would tell them that everything is in the work, in the rigor, in the methodology.
22:24Prepare your subject well and go step by step.
22:29Don't go fast.
22:30Take the stairs, not the elevator.
22:33After Abidjan, what is the next step for a kimono?
22:38I have to go to London, Cameroon.
22:40I have to choose.
22:41But I can't answer you right now.
22:43Very good.
22:44It's a secret.
22:45It's well understood.
22:46We are at the end of the year.
22:47Usually, the creators release brands.
22:49Is that the case for you?
22:50Excuse me, the question?
22:52We are at the end of the year.
22:53Usually, the creators make new collections.
22:56I said brands, but new collections.
22:58Is that the case for you?
23:00I make my collections according to my emotions, according to my desires.
23:04I am not the calendar.
23:05This year, I released two collections.
23:09The Furisode and Fuku, which allowed me to fill my entire year.
23:13Next year, the collection is already ready, but it will be released in 2025.
23:17I don't release a collection specifically for a specific moment.
23:24It's according to your inspirations.
23:26Yes, and my emotions.
23:27We understand that the brand respects its line, which is the creation of kimonos.
23:32Do you plan to do something else besides kimonos?
23:39I make kimonos.
23:40I make pants, t-shirts, shirts.
23:43I make jewelry.
23:45Very soon, I will also make Moroccan accessories.
23:50This brand is aimed at diversifying itself even more.
23:56We can say that the brand respects its line.
24:00Exactly.
24:01The kimono will always be there.
24:04It will be adapted with different colors, embroidery.
24:08But the kimono will always be in the Curumono collection.
24:12Very good.
24:13One last word before saying goodbye.
24:15Listen, I'm doing well in Bijan.
24:18It's not my first trip here.
24:21I came here for the first time in 2015.
24:27Since then, I've been coming back regularly.
24:29My clothes are also distributed here.
24:32I don't know if I can say where you can find them.
24:34At Numotel.
24:35My clothes have been distributed at Numotel since 2021.
24:38I've had a lot of opportunities here in Bijan.
24:43We can say that the Ivory Coast is like the United States of America.
24:47Everything is possible.
24:48Everyone can come and work and find their way.
24:53I would like to thank the Ivory Coast for hosting me.
24:56And we would like to thank Jeanne Messy-Fouda for being on the Africa Show.
25:02Thank you for all your work.
25:05You got it.
25:06We are at the end of this show.
25:09Thank you to everyone who followed us.
25:11Thank you to the directing team, Fares, Jean-Marc.
25:14See you next week for another episode.
25:17Until then, take care.
25:22Bye.