Mick Unplugged - Destined for Style with Ugo Mozie

Episode Date: October 30, 2025

Ugo Mozie is an acclaimed fashion designer, entrepreneur, and creative visionary who began his remarkable journey by co-founding his first fashion brand, Aston Mozie, at just 18 years old. Originally from Nigeria, Ugo moved to New York at 17 and quickly became a driving force in the fashion industry, working with icons such as Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, and Diana Ross. His influence extends beyond design, as he’s dedicated to elevating African culture and heritage through his forthcoming luxury lifestyle brand, 11:16. Ugo is passionate about empowering others to express their individuality, believing that style is about personal perspective and authenticity.  Takeaways: Personal Perspective Is Power: Ugo emphasizes that your unique story and point of view are your strongest assets in fashion and creativity, setting you apart in a crowded industry. Culture as Storytelling: Through his upcoming brand 11:16, Ugo is reinventing the narrative around African luxury and using fashion as a platform to educate and inspire the world about authentic African culture. Build the Right Team: Success doesn’t happen alone—Ugo highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with a team that supports your vision, pushes you higher, and keeps you grounded.  Sound Bites: “My gift has allowed me the ability to help people unlock their inner dreams... when people feel good about themselves, they do good things.” “We were the artists that really just created without any boundaries... We don’t put limits to the possibilities.” “When people buy a piece of our garment, they’re buying a piece of culture, a piece of history, a story that hasn’t really been told on this kind of forefront before.” Connect & Discover Ugo: Instagram: @ugomozie LinkedIn: @ugomozie X: @ugomozie Threads: @ugomozie Website: elevensixteenlabs.com 🔥 Ready to Unleash Your Inner Game-Changer? 🔥  Mick Hunt’s BEST SELLING book, How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership, is here to light a fire under your ambition and arm you with the real-talk strategies that only Mick delivers.  👉 Grab your copy now and level up your life → Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million   FOLLOW MICK ON: Spotify: MickUnplugged Instagram: @mickunplugged  Facebook: @mickunpluggedYouTube:  @MickUnpluggedPodcast  LinkedIn: @mickhunt  Website:  MickHuntOfficial.com Apple: MickUnplugged Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Need to pick me up. Snack back to reality with Tim's new Cravable Raps, available in Chipotle or Ranch. Plus, tax at participating restaurants in Canada for a limited time. At 18, what were you doing with your life? Hugo Mosea started a fashion line. Fashion designer, icon. We're going to talk about all the things that you don't know about this. the fashion industry and then also some tips because getting started in fashion might be easier

than you think. Welcome up. We're going to have a great conversation. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you, the iconic Mr. Hugo Mosier. Hugo, how are you doing today, brother? Man, Mick, I am fantastic. I'm very honored and happy to be here with you today. Thank you so much for choosing me of all people to be with you and have this conversation. I'm very excited. 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 because that doesn't even give it the credibility that it deserves.

It's just I'm truly honored to spend this moment with you, man. And, you know, you do so much 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 you're becoming. cause, that thing that's driving you, that thing that you're for. So if I were to say, Hugo, 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 make someone's wedding dreams or their concert dreams or their red carpet or magazine cover, like, dreams come true, I think it's something very special, you know, I love to the smile. I put on people's faces, and I love the way I made people feel good. I remember I did this, I was watching the interview I did when I was like 18 in New York, super young, and they asked me, what about fashion that I like?

And I remember I was like, I love 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. And that really stuck to me even to this day. And I think that's the because it's just the effect. The fact that I can make people feel better and look better, it's a dick thing, 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? 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 as being in Nigeria, like four, five years old. my aunts that I see now, they were like, they'll tell me, like, even we always knew that you were going to be in Hollywood, we always knew you were going to be a star. I think there was a certain, like, just this energy. I feel like when you, when you have a bigger purpose that's

bigger than you, like, you can't, the voice is too loud, right? When you're driven by something bigger than yourself, which I believe I am, it's, 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 who their kids were and I was so shocked to see that I had like I counted like eight or nine fashion designers 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 it's fashion just like part of my lineage and actually it is because just the fact that I had, like, they were like, oh, you're great, great, great, great grand uncle, like fashion designer, designer. And I was just, it was really dope to just unlock that. Because it made it, it put it all in a 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 carrying the torch that they lit centuries ago. I think you hit it on the head, man. like you're fulfilling the destiny, right? You're creating the new legacy with the family, with the ancestors. And I know everyone's amazingly proud 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 big names that are icons, right?

Like, when did you get that first call? And what was that first call like? Well, so I think that 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, 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 artist 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 Ruigi, like our generation of creators like didn't put, we We don't put boundaries or limits to the possibility, 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, early 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

and 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 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 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 address him and he can't even see he doesn't there's no there's no deeper level of trust than a blind person allowing you to trust them I don't think it gets any deeper than that when it comes to like image and trust and just like and we develop such a strong

beautiful relationship and I think like from that point that was the that was it for me after And I was like, if Stevie can trust me to do my thing and look incredible, like, I know that my gift has been certified by God. Like, I 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 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. With Amex Platinum, $400 in annual credits for travel and dining means you not only satisfy your travel bug, but your taste buds too. That's the powerful backing of Amex.

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Go. Explore the new Peloton cross-training tread plus at one peloton.ca. 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 I'm going to brag for you, bro.

At 18, at 18, you co-found Aston Mosier. Like, taught us a little bit about just that venture and how dope that was for the folks 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 we have no choice you start something or go clean somewhere it wasn't it wasn't too many options but Aston Mosier was my first fashion brand that I founded with my best friend of the time Quinn Aston those Quinn Aston Ugo Mozier we actually Actually, we moved from Houston together.

We are high school friends. Move from Houston together to New York. And within our first year, we developed this collection, develop this brand, and we launched it during New York Fashion Week two years later. And that was, for me, by launching a brand at 18 during New York Fashion Week was such a special time because it was a time before. the rise of streetwear and where like this, you know, like there's 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 Louvertone or you had Zara and H&M, like, and like Uniglo. 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 can afford, stuff that was like ahead of the trends. We created and launched it. And it was so special because the response was phenomenal. You know, we were in every publication you can imagine, you know, I thought, the fashion world got, like, that was my introduction, if you will, like my baptism into fashion

was launching that brand. And we rocked it for a few years before we parted our ways. But that was honestly a very pivotal part of my foundation in fashion. 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'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. Yes, indeed. So 1116, my baby is, I would say it's a combination of like my life work, right? 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? I would, my parents kept me very in touch and grounded. Like, we would spend summers and holidays in Nigeria, and I'd 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 in a place with like, you know, with no water and having to just like this, 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 career, you know, it became such 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 1116, I'm building and creating a brand that encompasses all these things, right? We're collaborating with the most amazing artisans and craftsmen all over the continent of Africa to, you know, from beading in Kenya to cottons and fabrics from Morocco to just textiles from all over Nigeria and dyeing in the cano diapids 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 our 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 thing that I did not see enough.

was people like us, you know, I'd not see enough African brands operating on a larger scale, you know, being in stores like Bergdorf and Neiman Marcus and Sacks, like you're not seeing made in Africa on the shelves, right? Like 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's, there's so many incredible African designers and artists and creators that I want to be able to use our platforms to shine light onto. 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. It means the world to me for sure. It's the matcha or the three ensemble Cicot of Cephora of the Fats that I've been to denichie who energize all the time? Mm, it's the ensemble. The form of standard and mini

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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, 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 we love most about them is their personality right 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, I follow a trend. But what's going to make you stand out, get hired, make a name for yourself, is your perspective. That's deep, man. And to me, that also translates into other industries, right? Like, your perspective is 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, right? Copycats don't make it past 15 minutes, brother. So you are you, right? You can spot it a mile away. Right. Inauthent system, it 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 matter who's selling the cheapest, right?

It's not about like coming to you for your quality or what's about I'm coming to 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, 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 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 the day-to-day, like from my assistants to my project managers, to my creative directors, my art directors, like everybody around me is what really makes this ship in this engine move. I love that, brother. So, yeah, I guess I'll add to that. That's 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 they can just keep you in mind for opportunities. Amen. Hey, man.

It's all about the team, man. It's all about the team. Well, Hugo, 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 going to say Google them, Google them, and you'll see everything. But where do you want people to connect with you?

The honor was mine. It was such a great, great time speaking to you, Mick. Man, you guys can find me on Instagram at Ugo Mosea or UgoMosier. Orugomosea.com. And you can also find the brand at, at Elisie. 1116. 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. Hugo, man, again, 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 being that. You are now the shoulders that people are standing on, man. So keep doing what you do.

much love man I hold that with so much gratitude on her you got it and for all the viewers and listeners remember your because is your superpower

go unleash it 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 mchuntofficial.com keep building keep leading and most importantly keep dominating I don't know.