MIMI's Hot 21
MIMI Features
Written By: Staff Writer
Photo Credits: Mataano
Caption: Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim
.
They Are: Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim
Country Of Origin: Somalia
Profession: Fashion Designers
Their Story: Born to Somali parents and raised in both their
native country and Washington DC, identical twins Ayaan and Idyl
Mohallim are anything but ordinary. Having fled Somalia at the age
of nine to escape the country’s civil war, both Idyl and Ayaan
completed their college education at University of Michigan and
Boston University, respectively, before making the bold move to
Manhattan where they aimed to stand out from the rest in the world
of fashion and design. Experiencing the industry from the ground
up through careful study and practice, they slowly crafted their
talent, weaving their cultural influence throughout each meticulously
designed piece in their studio with only distant dreams of launching
a collection. In 2008, the Mohallim sisters took their first step
together, launching a new brand, Mataano (meaning “twins” in
Somali) and furnishing a platform to express their vision and bring
forth their creations to the marketplace.
MIMI Features
Written By: Staff Writer
Photo Credits: Mataano
Caption: Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim
.
They Are: Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim
Country Of Origin: Somalia
Profession: Fashion Designers
Their Story: Born to Somali parents and raised in both their
native country and Washington DC, identical twins Ayaan and Idyl
Mohallim are anything but ordinary. Having fled Somalia at the age
of nine to escape the country’s civil war, both Idyl and Ayaan
completed their college education at University of Michigan and
Boston University, respectively, before making the bold move to
Manhattan where they aimed to stand out from the rest in the world
of fashion and design. Experiencing the industry from the ground
up through careful study and practice, they slowly crafted their
talent, weaving their cultural influence throughout each meticulously
designed piece in their studio with only distant dreams of launching
a collection. In 2008, the Mohallim sisters took their first step
together, launching a new brand, Mataano (meaning “twins” in
Somali) and furnishing a platform to express their vision and bring
forth their creations to the marketplace.
