It’s 7pm on Friday the 25th of November. In the halls of the Sarit Expo Centre guests eagerly await to enter and enjoy the show the first of a two-day show. A buzz of excitement fills the air, meanwhile backstage the same buzz is mixed in with chaos as the models, designers and staff get ready to put on an…
Hub of Africa Fashion Week (HAFW) was created with the understanding that there is a need for an event that can highlight the growing talent of African designers and brands to the international market. The philosophy of the company is to be the event that can create a linkage amongst different sectors in the growing garment industry in Africa, while…
Kepha Maina established his label by the same name in 2013. Focusing on ready-to-wear and high-fashion, he draws inspiration from visual artists such as Ibrahim el-Salahi, the renowned Sudanese painter and leading modernist figure. Kepha has had four key fashion showcases that have gotten international attention, and his next collection drops in September 2022. He says there is a slick,…
Mohamed Awale of Rummage Studios [formerly Suave Studios] has established himself as one of the most exciting brands in Nairobi’s flourishing fashion scene. He takes discarded fabrics and turns them into items such as backpacks, messenger bags and smaller goods like wallets and passport holders. Awale draws inspiration from Gikomba, a huge, sprawling, open-air second-hand clothes market in Nairobi, the…
The dashiki, a part of the Intsinzi Collection from Rwanda design studio, Moshions, first appeared on a catwalk in Kigali five years ago and is now part of a visually stunning exhibition at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum entitled ‘Africa Fashion’. These and many more garments have made their way to the acclaimed museum. The exhibition includes fashion pieces that…
Modern kimonos that feature bold designs and are made from silk, cotton, wool or Ankara fabric. Kimonos can also be used to punctuate outfits and provide contrast to an otherwise plain look. They can add sophistication to a casual outfit and provide the finishing touch for a dressier look. KIMONOS AND TROUSERS If you are wondering what to wear with…
In Alan Donovan’s Textile Heritage Collection, he reiterates the opinions of many, that ‘Africa has contributed a rich legacy to the world of art, but it is in the fields of sculpture and textiles that its contribution has been the richest. Textiles in Africa are a major art form leading to prestige for the weaver or dyer, as well as…
Online fashion eCommerce platform Shop Zetu hosted an industry breakfast to bring together a wide range of stakeholders in the fashion industry to discuss how the industry can work together better in support of Kenyans wearing Kenyan. According to a recent study by the British Council, “the Kenyan fashion market has been described as complex, and hard to figure out…