FASHION FEATURE
DESIGNING THROUGH OBSERVATION
BY SHAAZIA ADAM
INSTAGRAM: @ MINA _ BY _ SA AND @ SHAAZIAADAM _ COUTURE.
People often ask me where my inspiration comes from. They expect me to mention fashion trends, runway shows, or forecasting agencies, but the truth is much simpler: I find inspiration in everyday life.
I grew up in Mozambique, which meant growing up surrounded by different cultures and influences. My upbringing carried an Islamic background, my African roots, and my mother’ s local heritage, all of which shaped the way I see the world.
Some of my earliest memories are of admiring the craftsmanship found in local markets and watching skilled hands transform simple materials into something beautiful. I didn’ t know it at the time, but I was training my eye. I was learning to observe, to appreciate detail, and to find inspiration in the world around me. That remains at the heart of my creative process today.
WHERE CREATIVITY FIRST TOOK ROOT As a child, I loved clothing, but I did not always love the rules that came with it. Coming from a more modest background, there were expectations around how women should dress. Becoming a designer allowed me to explore those ideas in my own way. It taught me that fashion does not have to be about restriction. It can also be about expression, identity, and confidence.
Today, I enjoy designing for different lifestyles and cultures because I understand that clothing is deeply personal. What people wear is often connected to identity and emotion.
FINDING INSPIRATION IN EVERYDAY LIFE People often ask me how I know when a collection is beginning. My creative process is very instinctive.
60 INBOUND SA / JULY 2026