Making Dreams Visible: Inside the Mind of Ugo Mozie

What this episode is about

Ugo Mozie, a young fashion designer and icon, reflects on his journey in the fashion industry, sharing insights on breaking into the field and the importance of personal influence. He emphasizes his passion for helping others realize their dreams and the joy he finds in making people feel extraordinary through his work.

Key takeaways

• At 18, while most were figuring life out, Ugo Mosier was crafting his fashion empire. Talk about hustle!
• Feeling good is contagious; Ugo believes confidence leads to kindness, proving fashion's power extends beyond aesthetics.
• Fashion isn’t just a job for Ugo; it’s a family legacy, showing creativity can be in your DNA.
• Raised by an inner voice louder than most, Ugo’s journey illustrates that passion often transcends reason.
• In a boundary-less era of creativity, Ugo and his peers transformed the fashion industry—watch out, world changers!

Who speaks in this episode?

• Mick Hunt (Host) · 9 min speaking
• Ugo Mozie (Guest) · 14 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

1. 0:00 – 5:00: Ugo Mosier, Nigeria, Mick Hunt, Creativity
2. 5:00 – 10:00: Ugo Mosier, Aston Mosier, Perspective, Creativity
3. 10:00 – 15:00: Nigeria, Aston Mosier, Luxury, Fashion Week
4. 15:00 – 20:00: Perspective, Storytelling, Nigeria, Luxury
5. 20:00 – 23:16: 1116, Mick Hunt, Creativity

Notable quotes from "Making Dreams Visible: Inside the Mind of Ugo Mozie"

• At 18, what were you doing with your life? Ugo Mosier started a fashion line, fashion designer, icon. We're going to talk about all the things that you don't know about the fashion industry and then also some tips because getting started.

  about Ugo Mosier · at 0:00

• From Houston together to New York and within our first year we developed this collection, developed this brand and we launched it during New York Fashion Week two years later. And that was for me like launching a brand at 18 during New York.

  about Aston Mosier · at 10:33

• Building well that I'm launching in February officially, but it is a African luxury lifestyle brand, right? It's beyond fashion and beyond clothing. It's about culture. It's about it's about education. It's about informing the.

  about Luxury · at 12:52

• To just like want to prove to people like that's not what it is. Like you guys have no clue. Like actually my house in Nigeria is bigger than my house in America. Like we have…

  about Nigeria · at 14:15

• That's trying to get into fashion or design into the style space, I would say that your strongest weapon is your perspective, your personal perspective, right? Like it's so easy to be influenced and inspired by the magazines and.

  about Perspective · at 17:34

• You because either you're the cheapest or you know and that to me is not that's not really creating that's not really designing you know there's one like being in fashion right like there's there's people that are in fashion.

  about Creativity · at 20:07

• And you can also find the brand at 1116.

  about 1116 · at 22:13

• Don't just listen, take action. Rate and subscribe. Follow me on social and get the full experience at mickhuntofficial.com.

  about Mick Hunt · at 22:59

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

• Ugo Mosier — Person · Main guest · 3 mentions · first at 0:02
  Central speaker describing his origin story in fashion, early brand-building, celebrity styling, and the mission behind launching 1116 as an African luxury lifestyle brand.
• Mick Hunt — Person · Host · 2 mentions · first at 0:32
  Interviewer guiding the conversation, prompting Ugo Mosier on purpose, career milestones, and advice for aspiring creatives; closes with show branding and calls to action.
• Quinn Aston — Person · Referenced collaborator · 1 mention · first at 10:25
  Named as Ugo Mosier's best friend at the time and co-founder partner in the early brand Aston Mosier, representing his early entrepreneurial foundation.
  My first fashion brand that I founded with my best friend at the time, Quinn Aston. It was Quinn Aston Uga Mosier. We actually we moved from Houston together.
• Virgil Abloh — Person · Referenced peer influencer · 1 mention · first at 6:43
  Cited as part of a boundary-pushing generation of creators in New York City, contextualizing Ugo Mosier's creative ecosystem and influences.
  Boundaries, right? That we were opening the doors and carving the way working with people like Virgil Ablo and Jerry Lorenzo and Luigi like our generation of creators like didn't put we didn't we don't put boundaries or limits to the.
• Beyonce Knowles-Carter — Person · Referenced celebrity client · 1 mention · first at 5:48
  Mentioned as an example of the iconic level of talent Ugo Mosier has designed for, reinforcing his credibility and reach.
  And have done. And did you know did you think I'm going to be able to design for Beyonce and Diana Ross and all these big names that are icons, right? Like when did you when did you get that first call and what was that first call like?
• Diana Ross — Person · Referenced celebrity client · 1 mention · first at 5:48
  Mentioned alongside Beyonce Knowles-Carter to illustrate the caliber of icons associated with Ugo Mosier's work.
  And have done. And did you know did you think I'm going to be able to design for Beyonce and Diana Ross and all these big names that are icons, right? Like when did you when did you get that first call and what was that first call like?
• Jerry Lorenzo — Person · Referenced peer influencer · 1 mention · first at 6:45
  Mentioned alongside Virgil Abloh as part of the cohort shaping a new creative era without boundaries.
  Opening the doors and carving the way working with people like Virgil Ablo and Jerry Lorenzo and Luigi like our generation of creators like didn't put we didn't we don't put boundaries or limits to the possibilities, right? I mean I was 17.
• Travis Scott — Person · Referenced styling client · 1 mention · first at 14:54
  Mentioned with Justin Bieber as a high-profile example of Ugo Mosier's styling reach and cultural integration.
  And African legacy and heritage into the conversation. whether I'm styling Justin Bieber or Travis Scott, like you're going to see a touch of culture somewhere. So when it comes to 1116, I'm building and creating a brand that.

Companies & orgs

• 1116 — Company · Core venture discussed · 1 mention · first at 22:13
  Ugo Mosier's upcoming brand positioned as an African luxury lifestyle platform focused on culture, education, and changing perceptions of Africa in global luxury retail.
• Aston Mosier — Company · Early venture discussed · 3 mentions · first at 9:46
  Ugo Mosier's first fashion brand, co-founded at 18 and launched at New York Fashion Week, described as his 'baptism into fashion' and early proof of market response.

Concepts & topics

• Perspective — Concept · Key advice theme · 4 mentions · first at 5:10
  Ugo Mosier emphasizes personal perspective as the differentiator for creatives—driving authenticity, employability, and uniqueness in a trend-driven industry.
• Luxury — Concept · Core positioning concept · 2 mentions · first at 13:00
  Luxury is central to 1116's positioning and the episode's critique of global retail gatekeeping that often excludes 'made in Africa' from luxury classification.
• Creativity — Concept · Core theme · 3 mentions · first at 3:14
  Creativity is discussed as boundaryless creation in the late-2000s New York scene and as the driver behind building brands and storytelling through design.
• Storytelling — Concept · Core theme · 3 mentions · first at 14:44
  Storytelling is presented as the mechanism for changing perceptions of Africa and embedding heritage into products and celebrity styling.
  Have there too. And I think that, through my career, I it became such a a drive for my storytelling was being able to incorporate just like African culture and African legacy and heritage into the conversation. whether I'm.
• Legacy — Concept · Core theme · 2 mentions · first at 5:20
  Legacy appears in Ugo Mosier's framing of ancestral lineage (multi-generation designers) and his aim to carry a cultural torch through modern luxury storytelling.
  It became such a a drive for my storytelling was being able to incorporate just like African culture and African legacy and heritage into the conversation. whether I'm styling…
• Identity — Concept · Core theme · 2 mentions · first at 14:04
  Identity is implied through authenticity, individuality, and pride in African heritage; it underpins Ugo Mosier's advice to creators and the mission of 1116.
  And having to just like just the wildest things, the meanest things you can say and tell a kid. But like that never really shattered my pride. It didn't it didn't make me…
• Media Culture — Concept · Supporting theme · 2 mentions · first at 3:14
  Appears in the framing of how misconceptions about Africa spread and how creative work can reshape narratives through visibility and publications.
  Other way around. What inner voice or experience told you way back when that media culture and creativity would kind of be where you leave your mark on the world brother?

Places & events

• Nigeria — Place · Key origin location · 5 mentions · first at 3:30
  Ugo Mosier references Nigeria as childhood context, family lineage discovery, and a core source of cultural materials and narrative for 1116.
• Fashion Week — Event · Career milestone event · 1 mention · first at 10:39
  New York Fashion Week is described as the platform where Aston Mosier launched, serving as Ugo Mosier's early industry validation and exposure.
  Two years later. And that was for me like launching a brand at 18 during New York Fashion Week was such a [clears throat] special time because it was a it was a time before the rise of street wear and where like.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:00 At 18, what were you doing with your life? Ugo Mosier started a fashion line, fashion designer, icon. We're going to talk about all the things that you don't know about the fashion industry and then also some tips because getting started in fashion might be easier than you think. Buckle up. We're going to have a great conversation. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you the iconic Mr. Ugo Mosier. Here we go. How you doing today, brother?

0:32 Man, Mick, I am fantastic. I'm very honored and happy to be here with you today. Thank you so much for choosing me about people to to be with you and have this conversation. I'm very excited,

0:46 man. I'm the honored one. To have conversations with you in particular is is is I don't even want to say bucket list cuz that doesn't even give it the credibility that it deserves. It's just I'm truly honored to to spend this moment with you, man. And

1:02 you know, thank you, brother. Matt, you you do so much for for so many people and you have done so much. And at an early age, it was you, man. Like, you know, I like to ask the question about what's your because that thing that's driving you, that thing that you're for. So, if I were to say, Fugo, man, like what's your because why do you keep doing the things that you do? Honestly, I would say my because is the way I'm able to influence and elevate and make people better, feel better from the inside out. That's because my gift has allowed me the ability to help people unlock their inner dreams, right? Unlock like their vision for themselves. And I think that the result like when I'm able to to make someone's wedding dreams or their concert dreams or their red carpet or magazine cover like dreams come true. I think it just something very special. You know, I love to the the smile I put on people's faces

2:14 and I love the way I made people feel good. I remember I did this I was watching an interview I did when I was like 18 in New York super young and they asked me what about like fashion that I like and I remember I was like I love the the idea that I can make people feel good about themselves because when people feel good about themselves they do good things like no one's ever gone out and hurt somebody because they were confident

2:47 and that really stuck to me even to this day. I think that's the because it's just the the effect the fact that I can make people feel better and look better. It's a it's addicting I must say. Man, you know, you've often said that fashion called you, right? Like not the other way around. What inner voice or experience told you way back when that media culture and creativity would kind of be where you leave your mark on the world brother?

3:20 Honestly, I have to for sure say God because the inner voice is just like it's louder than I can imagine. It's out of my control. Since I was a kid, I remember even just being in Nigeria like at four or five years old. My aunts that I see now, they were like they they would tell me like even we always knew that you were going to be be in Hollywood. We always knew you were going to be a star. I think there was a certain like just an energy. I feel like when you when you when you have a bigger purpose that's bigger than you, like you can't the the voice is too loud, right?

3:59 When you're driven by something bigger than yourself, which I believe I am, it's it was it was innate. But even deeper than that, I discovered recently about a year ago, I was in my great-grandfather's house in our village in Nemo in Nigeria. And I was looking through I found this like family tree book that they made for him when he died. And with it, it had like our ancestors for like four generations back. It had like their names and their occupation and like you know just the the who who like who their kids were. And I was so shocked to see that I had like I counted like eight or nine fashion designers [clears throat]

4:44 since the 17 1800. I'm like whoa. So does that mean that this is this is in my DNA? Is it in my blood? Like is fashion just like part of my lineage? And actually it is. cuz just the fact that I had like they were like, "Oh, your great great great grand uncle like fashion designer, designer, and I was just it was really dope to just unlock that cuz it made it it put it all into perspective and also made me feel like what I what I do is part of my destiny and I'm actually, you know, making my ancestors proud by by by carrying the torch that they lit centuries ago. I I think you hit it on the head, man. Like you're fulfilling the destiny, right?

5:32 You're you're you're creating the new legacy with with the family, with the ancestors, and I know everyone's amazingly proud of of what you are doing and have done. And you know, did you know did you think I'm going to be able to design for Beyonce and Diana Ross and all these these big names that are icons, right? Like like when did you when did you get that first call and what was that first call like?

6:03 Well, so I I think that my my trajectory was pretty beautiful. You know, I moved to New York City at 17, straight out of high school. I graduated early. And just being in New York so young at that time, like 2008, 2008, 2009, around that time was just a special electrifying time for artists and creatives, right? I think that my generation, we were the artists that really just created without any boundaries, right? That we were we were opening the doors and carving the way like, you know, working with people like Virgil Ablo and Jerry Lorenzo and Luigi like our generation of creators like didn't put we didn't we don't put boundaries or limits to the possibilities, right? I mean I was 17 and I was working well interning then assisting at Virgin Records and in that space I was exposed to so many amazing artists and just the relationship that I was able to cultivate like let me know early early

7:19 ahead in my life that I was going to make a big impact in big spaces with very important people and not because like you know I'm I'm interested in celebrities and fans or in in in these people, but it's like I just feel like I just know that what I have to offer and what I do is so elite and it's so precious and it's so it's it's just it's it's made for people of you know the people that understand it are these kind of people. Like when I remember when I when I first worked with Stevie Wonder and like that to me was I think such a pivotal time for me because it allowed me to really just develop like real confidence. I'm like if someone like this iconic legendary incredible human being can trust me to dress him and he can't even see. He doesn't there there's there's no there's no deeper level of trust than a blind person allowing you to trust them.

8:35 I don't think it gets any deeper than that when it comes to like image and trust and just like and we developed such a strong beautiful relationship and I think like from that point that was the that was it for me. After that, I was like, if Stevie can trust me to do my thing and look incredible, like I I know that my gift has been certified by God. Like that was like that was my check. And you know, from then I realized that, you know, like the sky is really the limit. So when obviously when I when I get these phone calls from incredible people to work with, it's always still such a blessing and I don't take it for granted one day. But it's also not it's not shocking. It's not shocking to me that God is aligning me with the most powerful influential human beings in the world because I believe that's the level of what my gift is.

9:35 Amen to that, brother. Amen to that. And you're so humble, right? Like you talked about graduating early, moving to New York, and then going into some of the things. So, so I'm gonna brag for you, bro. At 18, at 18, you co-found Aston Mosier. Like, talk to us a little bit about just that venture and how dope that was for for the folks that don't know, because I know when I was 18, man, like I was I was just trying to figure stuff out. You're over there starting companies bro. I mean, honestly, at that point, we had bills to pay. Like, we had we had no choice. Either start something or go clean somewhere. It wasn't it wasn't too many options. But it it Aston Mosier was my first fashion brand that I founded with my best friend at the time, Quinn Aston. It was Quinn Aston Uga Mosier. We actually we moved from Houston together.

10:30 We we are high school friends. moved from Houston together to New York and within our first year we developed this collection, developed this brand and we launched it during New York Fashion Week two years later. And that was for me like launching launching a brand at 18 during New York Fashion Week was such a [clears throat] special time because it was a it was a time before

10:58 the rise of street wear and where like this you know like there's a a middle ground in fashion that exists today where like the young young designers aspiring designers fresh designers are getting a voice in fashion. At that time you either had Gucci and Dior and Louis Vuitton or you had Zara and H&M like and like Uniglow. There was there wasn't many brands in between like young young people were not given the opportunity to operate on that scale. So for me, I created a brand that was something that I wanted to see at the time, you know, like we wanted we wanted stuff that, you know, one our peers could afford, stuff that was like ahead of the trend. So we created it and launched it and it was so special because the response was was phenomenal.

11:51 You know, we were we were in every publication you can imagine. You know, the I feel like the fashion world got like that was my introduction, if you will, like my baptism into fashion was launching that brand. And we we rocked it for a few years before we parted our ways. But that was honestly a very pivotal part of my foundation with fashion

12:14 wholeheartedly. And it doesn't stop, man. Like, you're always creating, you're always being innovative, you're always looking at the future, but staying relevant in the present, right? which I think is really hard in the fashion world. I I'd love to give you the floor, man, to talk about 1116 a little bit and the things that you have going on there and some of the cool things that are going to be coming out for the world to see and share.

12:37 Yes, indeed. So, 1116, my baby is I would say it's it's a a combination of like my life work, right? It's it's a brand that I'm building well that I'm launching in February officially, but it is a African luxury lifestyle brand, right? It's beyond fashion and beyond clothing. It's about culture. It's about it's about education. It's about informing the world on the reality of Africa. How I've seen it, how my peers see it, like how we see it every day. You know, as a as a immigrant that moved to America at the age of five, one of my biggest struggles as a child was the misconception on Africa, right? it. I would my parents kept me very in touch and grounded like we would spend summers and holidays in Nigeria and I would come back from school. I mean, I'll come back to school and the kids would be like, "Oh, what's it like, you know, like being in a place with all those flies and like being on a

13:57 place with like, you know, with no water and having to just like just the wildest things, the meanest things you can say and tell a kid." But like that never really shattered my pride. It didn't it didn't make me embarrassed where I came from. If anything, it just encouraged me to just like want to prove to people like that's not what it is. Like you guys have no clue. Like actually my house in Nigeria is bigger than my house in America. Like we have maids and drivers and we have like waterfalls and museums and everything you have here we have there too. And I think that, you know, through my my career, you know, I it became such a a a a drive for my storytelling was being able to incorporate just like African culture and African legacy and heritage into the conversation. You know, whether I'm styling Justin Bieber or Travis Scott, like you're going to see a touch of culture somewhere. So when it comes to

15:02 1116, I I'm building and creating a brand that encompasses all these things, right? We're collaborating with the most amazing artisans and craftsman all over the continent of Africa to, you know, from beading in Kenya to cotton and fabrics from Morocco to just textiles from all over Nigeria and dying in the the Kano diet pits and making bronzes in Benin and you know getting beads from South Africa. like these are all the elements that are, you know, telling the story for 1116. So when people, you know, see this brand when it's launched, like when they buy a piece of art garment, they're buying a piece of culture, a piece of history, you know, they're buying the story that hasn't really been told on this kind of forefront before. you know, I want to, you know, as a stylist for for 10 plus years, you know, I've gone and shopped and worked with every brand under the sun. And one, you know, one

16:11 thing that I I did not see enough was people like us. You know, I did not see enough African brands operating on a larger scale. you know, being in stores like Burgdorf and Neiman Marcus and Sachs, like you're not seeing made in Africa on the shelves, right? Like they're not they're not they're not qualifying made in Africa clothing as luxury at these places. And this is what is inspiring and driving 1116 because we're changing the narrative and we're opening those doors and you know it's it it's there's so many incredible African designers and artists and creators that I want to be able to use our platform to shine light onto.

16:58 I love that, man. I love that. I'm so proud of you for that. you know, when I introed you and talked about how bold you are, how innovative you are, like that's the representation of that. And so, again, I just want to thank you for the things that you do, man. It means the world

17:15 to me for sure. for the the viewer or listener that's aspiring to be a creative, a designer, a stylist and all that, man, like what's what's one piece of advice you'd give them to get started? For the creator that's trying to get into fashion or design into the style space, I would say that your strongest weapon is your perspective,

17:46 your personal perspective, right? Like it's so easy to be influenced and inspired by the magazines and advertisements and the runway shows and this and that, but what's going to set you apart and what's going to get you hired and booked is going to be your point of view and your personal perspective. And this comes from digging within. What do you like? Like what what's your story, right? like what part of your childhood, your upbringing, your you know your experiences can you bring to create this aesthetic? So yeah, that's it. Because at the end of the day when you think about your favorite anything, whether it's a whether they're an athlete or a musician or an actor, like what you love most about them is that they're them. M

18:42 what we love most about them is their personality, right? And it's about like their uniqueness, their individuality. Like we're in a world where it's so easy to be the same. It's so easy to blend in. It's so easy to know like like follow a trend. But what's going to make you stand out, get hired, make a name for yourself is your perspective. [clears throat]

19:07 That's deep, man. as and to me that also translates into other industries, right? Like your perspective is what what really matters for leaders. I talk about that all the time. Like it's got to be you. You've got to be authentic because if not, the world has enough copycats,

19:24 right? Copycats don't make it past 15 minutes, brother. So, be authentically you right?

19:31 You can spotted a mile away, right? Inauthenticity can be spotted a mile away. And again, like you said, it goes across the board everywhere, right? Every every industry, you know, every industry from food to hospitality, right? Like what you like about a place is the uniqueness. What makes you come back is that you're finding something there that you can't find other places. So, if you're here selling the same t-shirts that John, Jane, and Bob are selling, like now it's a it's a matter of who's selling the cheapest, right?

20:04 It's not about like coming to you for your quality or it's about I'm coming to you because either you're the cheapest or you know and that to me is not

20:11 that's not really creating that's not really designing you know there's one like being in being in fashion right like there's there's people that are in fashion strictly for you know the commerce and you know for for for the business side and there's people that are in fashion that are actually designing and creating and then there's people that are meeting in the middle. And I think that I'm meeting in the middle because in order for me to operate and grow and scale, like the the creative and the art is one thing, but my team is so important, right? like the people that I have around me on a day-to-day like my my from my assistants to my project managers to my creative directors, my art directors, like everybody around me is what really makes this ship and this engine move.

21:09 I love that, brother. So, yeah, I guess I'll add I'll add to that. That's another another advice I would give to upcoming creatives is building the right team, right? like building the right team. Like you cannot do it by yourself. Whether you're a painter or like whatever you are, like you need people around you that believe in your vision, that can push you, that can tell you the truth, and that can just keep you in mind for opportunities.

21:37 Amen. Amen. It's all about the team, man. It's all about the team. Well, Ugo, man, I know you're so busy. I know you have a lot going on. I'm honored that you took some time with us out of this busy schedule that you have, man. Where can people find and follow you? Again, I'm just gonna say Google. Google him and you'll see everything, but where do you want people to connect with you?

22:00 The honor was mine. It was such a great great time speaking to you, Mick. Man, you guys can find me on Instagram, ugomosier, or ugosier.com. And you can also find the brand at 1116.

22:18 I love it. Spelled out 1116 written out. There we go. I'll make sure I have links to all of that in the show notes and descriptions. Ugo, man, again, this this meant the world to me to spend some time with an icon. Again, I know how humble you are, but bro, you are that icon. And so, keep keep being that. You are now the shoulders that people are standing on, man. So, so keep doing what you do.

22:44 Ah, much love, man. I hold that with so much gratitude, honor. You got [clears throat] it. And for all the viewers and listeners, remember your because is your superpower. Go unleash it.

22:56 You've been plugged into Mick Unplugged. Don't just listen, take action. Rate and subscribe. Follow me on social and get the full experience at mickhuntofficial.com. Keep building, keep leading, and most importantly, keep dominating.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Making Dreams Visible: Inside the Mind of Ugo Mozie"?

Mick Hunt (Host), Ugo Mozie (Guest).

What is "Making Dreams Visible: Inside the Mind of Ugo Mozie" about?

Ugo Mozie, a young fashion designer and icon, reflects on his journey in the fashion industry, sharing insights on breaking into the field and the importance of personal influence. He emphasizes his passion for helping others realize their dreams and the joy he finds in making people feel extraordinary through his work.

What is mentioned in this Mick Unplugged Podcast episode?

19 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Ugo Mosier, Mick Hunt, 1116, Nigeria, Perspective, Aston Mosier. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Making Dreams Visible: Inside the Mind of Ugo Mozie"?

The episode runs 23 min; the transcript is about 3,645 words in 37 timestamped sections.

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