Up-and-coming clothing designer M’wafrica Haynes’s signature work is the ‘pretty mas’ style of Carnival costumes. A longtime lover of the celebration – his mother was a popular Soca singer named Lady Neema – he is fond of the more risqué style beloved by the public, but not favoured by traditional designers. Pretty mas are scanty costumes generally made of bikinis, beads and feathers, while traditional mas features historical human and animal characters.

His designs feature structured starched and wired bras and chest pieces, made in a heady mix of vivid, yellow, red, white blue and gold, that are reminiscent of Queen Boadicea or Trojan soldiers going into battle. Women’s costumes are adorned with strings of beaded fabric, their crotch pieces studded with coloured crystal and hand-painted feathers. On their heads are crowns made to resemble majestic birds of prey and reptiles. Men, meanwhile, sport breast plates, arm and wrist bands and feathered wings spanning their backs and shoulders. Their costumes are far less risqué, but just as colourful.

Haynes developed his appreciation of ‘pretty mas’ from his grandmother. Guyanese of Ethiopian African heritage. She was a seamstress whose fashionable African inspired bespoke outfits were worn by friends and the country’s fashionistas. Haynes describes her as his greatest influence. As a child, he would spend many hours helping her fill her orders. 

“My grandmother was my inspiration because without her I would not have had the confidence to do what I love now.”

Haynes, who also goes by Wafi (pronounced Woffie – meaning loyal),  a nickname his grandmother gave him – his official first name M’wafrica means Prince of Africa – began pursuing his designing dreams when he left Guyana and began to travel, first to Belize, where he lived for 16 years and then to London, where he now lives.

Over the years, he has been actively involved in the arts and culture of these countries. He taught dance with the Belizean band, the Titans, helping to make their costumes and later became their Carnival King.

The London-based Masquerade 2000 was the band to emulate when Haynes began designing. He was so excited about the prospect of working for it that he decided to make a trip to London on a whim after members ignored his requests to join.

In 2021, now in the UK capital, he approached Masquerade 2000 again.  This time, impressed with his designs and previous history in Guyana and Belize, members invited him to join the band. For Haynes it was the perfect opportunity to see firsthand how they put together the shows, the spectacular costumes, the music they selected and best of all, their truck. 

Sourcing his materials from local London markets, he quickly started making costumes for individuals – one at a time — and then as word spread and his intricate style of ‘pretty mas’ designs gained momentum,  he started making increasingly more bespoke costumes.

Haynes, who works full-time at a local restaurant, says realising that he could “do the whole thing by myself,”  decided it was time to break away from traditional mas. But Masquerade 2000 was not ready for the sight of crystal, feathers and diamanté scantily clad young men and women, so the two now focus on different costume styles. 

While he appreciates costume design that has elements of both traditional and pretty mas, he says supporters of traditional costumes would likely not be comfortable with his art form.  “If I suggested that they would chase me.” Haynes works with clients to develop their vision, getting inspiration from nature, marvel comics, and other bands’ costumes.  Funki Fabrics in Cheshire is his material store of choice, “but it’s a hunt girl, if I’m to get something that people haven’t seen before, ” he says laughing.  

He will debut his costumes, which range from £200 – £400, at the 2024 Notting Hill Carnival. They will be worn by his new band affiliation, the magic mas band. 

And this is only the beginning for Haynes who hopes to one day have his own store focusing on the designs he believes in. “Pretty mas is the future. It is trendy, it’s pretty, it’s shiny, and it really sells. Women love it and they are the majority of the people who wear it.”  

For more information, please contact Wafi M’wafrica Haynes: 07934598339

magicmasband44@gmail.com