A Spiritual Path
From Senegal, made in New York and headed to the world, Fallou is a fashion designer that expresses spirituality through clothes.
When Fallou sat down with African Diaries and shared her story, it was immediately clear to us that she was a part of something bigger than herself. We are honored to share three time slices of the Fallou Story and hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us.
The Present, early afternoon in Harlem
The stand has the feel of a bright, energetic living room where a lot of conversations and connections happen on a daily basis. Stacked on the stand are unique colorful hats and abstract drawings. African fans and tote bags line the tent along with clothing in traditional fabric. What’s perhaps most radiating is Fallou’s big smile and her vibrant presence behind the stand.
Sun is warming Malcolm X Blvd in New York City. Activities are bustling in the heart of Harlem on a Saturday. A gift shop, a cafe and an animal hospital are located right across Fallou’s stand. Harlem’s friends, family, tourists and pets are out and about.
“I am looking for a peach hat”, a fashionista is scrabbling around for a hat that has the color of his desire. “Let me have this hat, I am from the Netherlands and you are local”, a Dutch tourist is bargaining with a Harlemites over the same coveted hat they are competing for. Fallou swims around people, laughing, recommending, chatting, handing the fashion pieces to customers and running her business Baayfall Fashion. From time to time, she stops to hug and catch up with a friend and a regular that stops by.
African Diaries cofounders sit in the back of the stand and ask a series of questions when Fallou gets a break.
We start with growth. Fallou’s face beams with joy when she talks about growth.
“It gives me ecstasy, happiness and joy. I love growth. Once you step away from the things you do everyday, what are you going to do next? You got to have the next move. It should be something you have never done before: eat food you have never eaten before, go to places you have never been before, meet people you have never met before. That's all part of the change.”
The conversation goes to practicing for change. Fallou’s method of practice is unique and down to earth. She starts practicing the moment she wakes up. Most people brush their teeth with their dominant hand. Fallou uses her left hand to brush from time to time even though she is right handed. It’s a way for her to get out of the box and change. Small practice like that helps her be mindful of life.
“It starts with your daily life, your daily routine. You cannot make a big change out of nothing. Change is necessary in all fields of life in order to have that big growth.”
The practice goes beyond daily routine to the spiritual side of selling.
“The prophet Mohamed Salah said when you trade a product for money with someone, make sure that you are neither stealing from them nor losing yourself. Find the balance so that your selling does not hurt your customers or yourself.”
Turns out that’s actually very difficult to do. When Fallou started, she didn’t know how to do it yet but she set the intentions. Her whole life has been intensely practicing to do better with people and business. This journey is a journey of finding herself. Ultimately, that’s the advice that Fallou left with us:
“Go find yourself. In the process of finding yourself, you find god, ancestors, guidance, and a higher power. Everything around you starts working out. Your real community comes to you. They will never leave because you belong to the same frequency. The moment you step into the frequency you belong, wherever you go you are home. Everyone should find themselves. We have replaced what matters in life with work and partying. It is mind-blowing for humankind to live life so shallow.”
The Past, a cold snowy winter in 2014
Suits and tuxedos are newly pressed and shine through the window. Dollar bills are piling up on the cashier’s table. Fallou has been working at the Portabella store on 125th St. for seven months and bringing in record-level revenue. She left her accounting job in Senegal and moved to New York City for a calling that is about to manifest.
Inside the store, tension is building up and jealousy stirred as Fallou keeps outperforming her higher-up male manager. Inside Fallou’s soul, her ancestor is about to call her to a different path.
The Portabella store manager has picked a fight with Fallou. “Do you think you are better than us just because you are bringing in more money than anyone?” He walks towards Fallou while Fallou steps aside to de-escalate. “What if I take your sell and commission? You are a woman.” The manager takes another step forward and bursts out the F word, “You African *****!”. Fallou stops, looking straight at the manager with dignity, “I quit”.
$192 is all that is left from Fallou’s paycheck. She took the money and left Portabella.
At this fateful time, Fallou’s grandfather appeared in her heart and mind. In Senegal, he is called the grandfather of spirituality. Fallou reflected on him:
“My grandfather’s work and intention, his goal, his purpose, his everything is spirituality. I am grateful for my grandfather. I am grateful for that man. Everything that I look, touch and feel, he is there. Just that is enough for me to live and die on earth. That is enough for me. I don’t want it any other way. I don't want it any other way.”
Fallou has never met her grandfather in person but he is everywhere in her. In that winter in 2014, Fallou’s grandfather channeled through Fallou and Baayfall Fashion was born.
She will never forget that day. It was a snowy day. She bought a table of $29.99, three winter hats, scarves, and gloves and set up a stand. The stand was right in front of the store on 125th St. that she left. The Portabella staff found it amusing. “Aisha, what are you doing?”. At the time, Portabella staff were calling Fallou Aisha. Fallou declared to them and the world, “I am starting my own business!”.
Less than a year ago, Fallou had an accounting job and worked for a bank in Senegal, a safe choice after getting a masters degree in finance and accounting. Now everything has changed. It’s not an easy path. Fallou looks to her ancestors when she follows her purpose. She knows that her ancestors are there with her the moment she starts:
“In the beginning, your ancestors are going to watch because you’ve got to struggle. They will let you find your own strengths. If the thing to lift is heavy, you get discouraged and say ‘it’s so heavy I cannot lift’. They will let you go. If you lift it, it’s heavy but you say ‘I want this purpose.This is who I want to be’. You are not leaving. You keep lifting. They will nod and say ‘let’s help her’. Once you lift it, you are going to walk. The purpose comes with the walk.”
Fallou started with one table. Gradually, she grew it to six tables and became the biggest stand on 125th St. in New York City. Her stand got so big that she got a ticket because the stand was too big. She changed the game on 125th St. and inspired many people to follow her example. Starting and running her own business is hard but Fallou is now on a spiritual path:
“I give it patience. I give it grace. I even look like I’m begging or I am nothing. Some people look at me that way. But I am on that path. Only you know you are on the spiritual path. That is why you have to keep walking and lifting the weight. The universe will send you distractions. Sometimes the path hurts. Just know that the purpose that you are pursuing is way bigger than you. Nothing is going to stop you. You can achieve it. That is the path. That is the path I’m on now.”
Looking back to where she started, Fallou thinks her African roots gave her a foundation to keep building herself and be greater over time. Her suggestion for fellow Africans is to think about the future and break out of the box:
“We Africans are raised very well. We respect elders, know how to cope with life and earn money. We just don't know how to keep money in the long run. Africans have to do better and think differently in business. We are not looking at the future. We want to make the money now. That’s the mentality. How to feed my family is all we think about. This is not the way to create life or wealth. You don't create wealth like that.”
The Future, at Baayfall Fashions Show in 2023
A unique drum circle forms in Harlem. Drumbeats can be heard blocks away from Malcolm X Blvd and 120th St. Children, young men and women, seniors, families gather to celebrate Baayfall Fashions Show on August 12, 2023. Models are dressed in striking colors and a special blend of African fabric and modern cut of Baayfall Fashion. Each model showcases a different dimension of Fallou’s work, regal, powerful, rebel, creative, mysterious and more. At the end of the runway, models gesture thanks and respect to the drummers in the body language of culture and spirituality.
Joy is in the air.
People of every background and color are here to see Baayfall Fashion and to hear Fallou’s purpose. A palpable energy connects everyone together. The crowd dances together inside the drum circle, smiling, mirroring and responding to each other’s dance moves. Everyone vibrates together in resonance with the flowing music.
The joy is from the street and that’s intentional. Being on the street allows Fallou to meet people. These people become Baayfall connections. They tell Fallou their stories. Fallou tells them hers. Fallou embraces the street, the togetherness and celebrations:
“Baayfall Fashion expresses spirituality through clothes. The hustle feeds the fashion and the fashion feeds the purpose. I will set up a table even if I am a billionaire. Real life is the street. The street can teach you life. The street brings the togetherness of the fashion show. My fashion show opens up the opportunity for every creative to get involved. It’s a celebration of our ancestors. Set the intention to bring your ancestors to the show because that is what it is about – my ancestors are hosting your ancestors.”
70% of the Baayfall Fashions show proceeds goes to orphan children in Senegal. At Daara Khabane, a school that offers underserved children spiritual teaching and food, Fallou is a regular supporter. Helping children is a part of Fallou’s life:
“Most kids in the Daara Khabane center are orphans and in poverty. Every month I send whatever I have to them. Lately in New York, there have been millions of young Senegalese and Mauritanias coming here with nothing. I don't have clothes anymore because I gave bags and bags of clothes to these kids. They didn't bring clothes when they came. Some died on the way. Most have no family. I have been cooking and feeding them. I hired three tailors. Sometimes I ask them to help me set up then give them money so that they can buy some food.”
Everyone is welcomed at the Fashions Show and united in universal love. This too, is intentional. Fallou sets the intention to love all people:
“People who love you and hate you have to be the same in your eyes. You need to have the same love for all people. What is more difficult than that? A lot of people would say ‘I ain’t doing that’. That does not work in spirituality. You have to love them the same way. What does it take? The ego needs to go. Even when a person hates you like hell, it doesn't matter. You love them the same way. This is the inner work of spirituality. Not simple but true.”
At Baayfall Fashions show, Fallou is happy for her people and for her ancestors in this celebration. Looking back at her path, everything goes back to spirituality:
“At the root of it, spirituality is the service of God through humankind. That's the work. There is no work more difficult on earth than doing inner work and doing it with spiritual purpose. It’s not easy. Why? Because at first you’ve got to break yourself to pieces and rebuild yourself. When you rebuild yourself, the universe, God, and your ancestors are there for you.”
