Monzlapur Creates An Elevated Gender-Fluid Vibe
By: Kristen Philipkoski
Mona Hamid was born in Sudan and grew up in Abu Dhabi. Like many parents, hers hoped she would study something that would enter her into a stable, predictable career. Hamid followed her parents’ wishes and studied biochemistry at King’s College in London. But as she navigated classes in organic chemistry and genome studies, she was drawn to a life outside of science.
She became involved with the London fashion scene, helping organize fashion shows, dress the models—even teaching them how to walk the runway.
“That's where it came to me like, ‘Oh my God, I can do this. I could create beautiful pieces—probably nicer than the ones I'm seeing now.’”
That was the spark that lit up an idea in Hamid’s mind: Maybe biochemistry was not her future. She spent her next holiday break designing her first capsule collection with her mother’s help. Still, Hamid wanted to please her parents, so she finished school.
“Once I finished my biochemistry degree I was like, well, now I can go back and do what I want,” she said. “And the second time around, my family was like, ‘Do it, do whatever you want.’”
Promptly after graduating, Hamid went back to school to study fashion at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She was surprised to find that fashion design was actually harder in many ways than biochemistry.
“In comparison to a science degree, it's actually much, much more work,” she said. “You have long studio hours, you're making things, you're spending hours in illustration class and corset-making classes. It takes a lot of time.”
But her hard work paid off: Hamid launched her unisex fashion brand Monzlapur (a combination of her nickname and “la pur,” which means “purest form” in French) in 2015, and, despite the pandemic and an economic downturn, is making her mark in the fashion world.
Hamid was accepted into the FiSF Incubator program in October, where she’s taking her business to the next level with mentoring from fashion industry and business development professionals. “It’s been helping me step out and get a bird's eye view at my business and my brand, understand what I need to focus on and then make plans to tackle it,” Hamid said.
When she’s not working on business plans and profit margins, Hamid spends her time between her home in Brooklyn and Soho where she takes private client appointments.
“We play dress up, and I see how clients feel when they try on certain pieces that speak to them,” Hamid said. “It completely transforms how they feel about themselves and where they envision wearing the clothes.”
That transformation, which alters the wearer both internally and externally, is what she loves about fashion. Call it a vibe or call it an aura as Hamid does, but there’s no denying that the best fashion pieces change how we present ourselves to the world.
Hamid said her customers enjoy dressing up for whatever scene they might be a part of, and they’re not afraid to show their individuality. “Not necessarily in a loud way,” she said, “but they like to stand out for having immaculate taste because of their attention to detail.”
A perfect example is Monzlapur’s Metallic Neoprene Mesh Hoodie which is Hamid’s way of mixing an oversized, contemporary piece with a medieval-style hooded cape. “It has a connection between the past and the future,” she said.
And while Monzlapur designs may not be loud, they certainly won’t fade into the background. That makes these clothes perfect for holiday dressing. Hamid recommends her Silk Velvet T-Shirt for “something comfy yet elevated. It drapes beautifully and can be styled casually with any bottoms.”
If your holiday event requires something a little more formal, she recommends her textured dresses: The Structured Metallic Dress in black, magenta, and silver is perfect for a party-goer who likes a classic body-con shape but isn’t afraid of a futuristic vibe. The mandarin collar elevates the overall look.
Or, the eyelash-inspired Little Frill Dress in black or crimson makes the perfect Christmas party or New Year’s Eve dress.
A consistent thread through Monzlapur collections is texture, whether it’s mesh, velvet, or fringe, which is fun to look at but can sometimes mean sacrificing comfort. That’s decidedly not the case with Hamid’s creations.