He wants his brand, which has caught the eyes of young Mozambicans with its trendy designs, to be on par with the world's best.

"We need to create that dynamic of when a person goes to a store to buy Gucci, Nike and... sees NTL... (and) feels a little balance there. Like, should I buy this or that," said Matapisse, 39, from Mozambique's capital Maputo.

NTL customers say its affordability, fabric quality and range of styles from hats to summer outfits set it apart.

"You have the freedom to choose the colour, size and design of your clothes," customer Neusa Gilda Castigo Mussuey said.

(Reporting by Emidio Jozine; Writing by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Alexander Winning and Lisa Shumaker)