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MOTIVATED: Abdul Maito

ABDUL MAITO’s story is pretty inspirational. From being imprisoned to exceeding expectations in a Level 2 BTEC in Fashion and Art Design course, Maito has overcome many obstacles and is ready to embrace his future.

Maito enrolled this year at Carmel Rock - a fashion and creative arts education charity based in Newham, east London - and states that he always wanted to get into the fashion industry.

Prior to him going to prison, he tried to start up his clothing line. “I did try to start up my own clothing line even though I didn’t know much in terms of how to build up my brand,” he said.

Unfortunately in 2016, he was sentenced to time in prison which caused a delay to his achieving his dreams. However, even in prison his potential couldn’t be ignored, as his mentor was amazed by his drawings during his life skills class and secretly signed him up to an art class.

“I did shrug it off at the time but later that week, something clicked, where I said to myself that I am going to be better and do better in life,” said Maito. “That completely changed my mind-set because at that moment, I knew that I wanted to be fully invested in fashion.”

After being released, he kept his promise and that’s when he found Caramel Rock, which provides training and opportunities to young people. The organisation has a strong belief in shaping future leaders and therefore offers, in every course, a personal development plan, as well as helping young people.

The fashion based charity provides young people like Maito with key life skills which they can take beyond the fashion world. With the help of Caramel Rock, he managed to learn how to sew his own backpack and model it at Caramel Rock’s fashion event.

He also won a design competition with Knit One Change One (KOCO), an Indian knitwear company who is collaborating with Caramel Rock and the Commonwealth Fashion Council.

Through this initiative, Maito will have the opportunity to expose his design during an event in September 2019 during London Fashion Week.

“The law of attractive is something that shouldn’t be underestimated…if you focus all your energy on committing crimes then don’t be surprised if you end up spending most of your life in and out of prison and shrouded with negativity,” advised Maito. “But if you focus your energy on positive and progressive things then don’t be surprised if your life plans out accordingly.”

The way Maito is going with Caramel Rock, there is no doubt that he will achieve his goal of becoming a fashion designer whether that be for his own label or a credible fashion company and be able to emulate his idol Virgil Abloh. “For him to be the first black creative director for Louis Vuitton gives me hope that I can make it in the fashion industry too.”