Rene Moshi Macdonald is head designer at fashion brand Lisou. An avid vintage collector and bold dresser, she has a unique way of combining colours and creating vibrant prints. Having grown up in Tanzania, Macdonald moved to the UK at a young age but continued to travel to Africa, which continues to inspire her. As a child, she sat at her mother’s knee listening to the whirr of the manual sewing machine and learning from her. The brand name derives from her mother’s childhood nickname for her: Lisou, which pays homage to her mother, her muse. In 2023, Lisou was named W Magazine’s Fashion Brand of the Year, which recognises the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit of up-and-coming brands.