Go to any of the hip spots in Abidjan and you are very likely to meet an elegant, slender man with a chiselled face and doe-like eyes, his head topped by a turban, and his unique wardrobe mixing simple t-shirts or tank tops with roomy trapeze pants. His name is Famas, a well-established rapper whose lyrics are filled with Abidjanese slang and delivered with a deep voice. Now he's added fashion designer to his resume, with the launch of Toclo limited Abidjan, a line of loose pants inspired by his love of Japan. We had a chat and photographed Famas in Abidjan, a city whose ebullient creative scene he has come to epitomise.

What are your biggest musical influences?

My big influences are first of all reggae, rap, R&B, local Ivorian music and of course West African sounds such as Mandinka music, afrobeat and highlife.

Why launch a fashion brand?

I love to dress well. I think I unconsciously inherited this from my great-grandparents. My personal style is very singular and very influenced by Japanese culture. I love hakama pants, kimonos, jinbeys and traditional West African clothing. So I thought, why not launch a brand? And established Toclo limited Abidjan last year.

How did you shape your own personal style?

At first it wasn't really defined, even if I put on some traditional clothes for my performances or music videos. But the artistic director Patrick Edooard helped me push things further. The rest happened naturally as I gained more confidence and tried things that few rappers in Abidjan would dare to do. Now I feel good. I found my own thing, and being different is my thing (laughs).

What are your favourite spots in Abidjan?

The city of Abidjan itself is a favourite because of the inspiration it gives me on a daily basis and also because of the big-hearted people I have been able to meet there. I love Bushman café, the villa Lepic, the Donwahi Foundation, the Louisimone Guirandou gallery, the Cécile Fakhoury gallery, La Rotonde des Arts, the French institute and the Adjame market. I also visit the neighbourhoods of Treichville and Abobo for the retro vibes, the bamboo café where we often meet with the members of my collective, and without forgetting the forest of the banco, because I love nature.