Considered a big name in African fashion, Hélio Manjate, known as Luxury Recycle, divides his time between fashion and music. Luxury, who has once again been nominated for an international fashion award, is an example of passionate dedication to both fashion and music.
With six years in the fashion world, this multi-talented young man has a long list of clients, including national and international celebrities. The list includes the renowned Mozambican jazz musician Jimmy Dludlu, Mr. Bow and the trio Yaba Buluku Boyz. Abroad, Hélio Manjate has already collaborated with Angolan artists, notably Pérola, Yola Araújo, Edmázia Mayembe and Rui Orlando. He has dressed Kelly Khumalo, Wanda Baloy and Neli Zondo in South Africa, and DJ Sara Santini in Portugal, among other international celebrities.
Luxury Recycle is an image and fashion consultant, creative director, influencer and rapper from the city of Maputo. Trained in accounting and auditing, in 2018 he decided to take a Fashion Styling course to satisfy his passion for fashion. “In 2018 I took a course where you learn all the techniques of fashion styling, as well as merchandising; you learn concept design, networking, marketing strategies, style design and so on. It covers a bit of everything to do with fashion,” the young fashionista from Maputo told us. He draws inspiration from the work of Burberry, Chanel, Christian Dior, Comme des Garçons, Maison Margiela, Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s and Guess. He began to take an interest in fashion at a tender age, influenced by the brands he was exposed to during his trips to South Africa.
Luxury's contemporary and authentic professional style has brought a new image to Mozambican fashion. His bold style choices and combinations of colours and accessories make him one of the best African stylists of the moment, and one of the most in demand. "I always try to think outside the box, I'm not afraid to try out concepts that haven't been implemented yet, because that's the only way to be original, to create authentic pieces and to make a difference," he said. Recycle's activities also include directing and producing fashion photo shoots, and putting together outfits for everyday wear, for specific occasions and for exclusive events.
And recognition came early
It took Luxury Recycle only five years to conquer Africa and raise Mozambique's flag at the highest level in the fashion world. From early on, Luxury's creations caught the attention of the fashion industry and of celebrities in the world of showbiz. However, it was in 2021 that his career as a fashion stylist reached new horizons, when he won the "Best Fashion Stylist of the Year" award at the Odartey Style & Fashion Awards, held in Accra, the capital of Ghana. Recycle beat competition from five other stylists from Ghana and Kenya, reaching the podium thanks to the public vote.
The Odartey Style & Fashion Awards is an annual event held in the Ghanaian capital, honouring the best personalities in the fashion world in Africa. With only six years of career behind him, the multi-talented young artist is already a name with an international reputation. This year, Luxury was nominated again for an annual awards show in that country, in the city of Accra, called the Ghana Style Awards 2022, in the category of International Stylish Icon of the Year. The Ghana Style Awards is also an event that honours individuals in Africa who work in the world of fashion and entertainment.
“I'm a person who doesn't like to build up expectations about anything. I let things run their natural course. Just being among the nominees at the Ghana Style Awards already makes me a winner," he said when asked about the event, which will take place next March. Luxury has also taken part in one of the biggest fashion events in South Africa, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Spring Summer 2016, as part of the executive team of the Xipixi brand.
Music, the craze that never goes out of fashion
Although he is better known as a stylist, Luxury Recycle is also a rapper. In fact, music was the first passion to appear in his life: “What influenced me most in my childhood was music; fashion came later. I started recording in 2006, but it was only in 2010 that I started singing professionally, in the group Último Nível. It was a project of the rapper and television presenter Dygo Boy and the group Magnésia, in partnership with Turma do Exagero Music - TEM,” explained the 29-year-old, who goes into music mode when he is not exploring a wardrobe.
The rapper Luxury Recycle stepped away from music for a few years to devote himself entirely to his career as a celebrity fashion stylist, in which he has earned great international prominence. In 2020 he returned to hip hop with the song Taking Pictures, featuring Maluke Cefa. This was followed by the single, this time solo, entitled Pai Grande, co-produced by the Portuguese producer Red E and the Swedish producer Melodic Desert. It was released with a video, in which the costumes were conceived by Luxury, in partnership with the Mozambican brands Dear Boredom Shop and Peças Únicas.
Luxury Recycle is in the studio working on another music project, with no release date set yet. Luxury promises that it will be a project with many guest appearances.
“I intend to launch my own clothing brand, and it will have a fashion show in Maputo. In parallel, I plan to release my music project I'm Not a Rapper, which features several Mozambican and international artists," he concluded, without giving details of the two projects, which, he says, define his existence.
