Naomi Campbell: “I’m proud to be part of a shoot with young creatives that are all my skin colour”

The iconic supermodel and activist tell i-D about being photographed at her home in Kenya by Luis Alberto Rodriguez, and her hopes for 2021.

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“When I’m in Kenya there are days that are less hectic than others, but I’m always busy. I’m being more careful at the moment because of the situation with COVID, but I still saw the kids in the orphanage that I support, I didn’t want to let them down. I want to reach as many people as I can. I want to spread awareness. There’s a part of me where, if I love something, I want the world to know about it.

“We were working, too we were even shooting on Boxing Day! We shot during the day, we shot at night, but the atmosphere on set with Carlos and Luis and Jawara was so fun, so easy there was always a boombox somewhere close by playing music that it just felt like we were taking pictures on vacation. I think that’s something you can see: in how at ease I am; in the style of Luis’ photography; in the way, Carlos has styled me, and in the fun, Jawara had with the hair. We got to be a bit flamboyant, and it didn’t really feel like work, to be honest, it just felt like dressing up!

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“It was just very real, very organic. And I felt proud, humbled, and happy to be part of a shoot with young creatives that are all my skin color, and that I’m getting to work with them after so many years of being in the fashion industry. It’s very rare that this has happened to me. Luis is the third photographer of color I’ve worked with in my whole career in fashion.

“When you see these images, I hope you see that Kenya is beautiful, that Africa is beautiful. I think people now are going to really open their minds and start to understand that real beauty is in Africa. There are so many gems, so many hidden secrets. I’ve been coming here since 1994 and I’m still discovering things.

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“At the end of 2020, my main reflections were on the need for us to move upward and forward. We have to rise to every challenge and walk through it. And we will get through it. 2021 is going to be a great year, we’ve just got a few more bumps to get through first. Nothing disappears overnight, but we just need to get through this first quarter. After that, I believe that this is going to be an amazing year.

“Actually, I don’t just believe it will be; I feel it will be.”

Credits

Photography: Luis Alberto Rodriguez
Fashion director: Carlos Nazario

Hair Jawara at Art Partner using Dyson.
Make-up by: Bimpe Onakoya and Naomi Campbell.
Styling assistance Raymond Gee, Christine Nicholson, Cari Pacheco, and Jennifer De La Cruz.
Hair assistance: Matt Benns.
Casting director: Samuel Ellis Scheinman for DMCASTING.
Post-production: Michael Moser.
Model Naomi Campbell at Models1.

Content courtesy of I-D & Nairobi fashion hub

In a bid to buy more Kenyan made products after realizing how populated the Kenyan market is with imported products, we discovered just how difficult it was to find, purchase and receive such products. Started in 2017, our goal is to make it easier for both producers and buyers to promote, buy/sell and distribute their Kenyan-made products

“We help promote businesses which produce Kenyan products that meet our quality standards.”

“Every Kenyan should have access to quality products made in Kenya. Today It’s easier to find products from other parts of the world, this shouldn’t be the case.”

In August 17th 2018 The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and the Brand Kenya Board entered into a partnership that will accelerate the implementation of the Made in Kenya Brand Mark that was recently launched by the Deputy President William Ruto.

Brand Kenya and key partners developed the Brand Mark which gives a unique identity to products made in Kenya. The Brand Mark will facilitate the ‘Buy Kenya, Build Kenya’ initiative and improve the consumer base for local manufacturers.

“The Made in Kenya Brand Mark we are launching today August 17th 2018 will set Kenya apart as the home for a set of products that meet the needs of discerning buyers across the world. All our authentic products will do well if they have some iconic branding and a form of identity,” said Deputy President William Ruto at the launch of the Brand Mark during the 2018 Annual Kenya National Trade Week.

The Partnership

The partnership aims to promote the Made in Kenya Brand Mark to manufacturers and collect feedback on the Made in Kenya initiative.

At the signing ceremony, KAM Ag chief executive Tobias Alando said the partnership will support local industries and in consequence contribute to the Big Four agenda.

“The manufacturing sector is key to Kenya’s economic growth due to its potential to grow productive jobs and increase the purchasing power of consumers. While Kenya is the most industrially developed country in the East Africa region, manufacturing only accounts for 8.37 per cent of GDP,” he said.

“Increased competition from imported goods and services has been a challenge to Kenyan produced goods and services. This Mark of Identity seeks to increase the competitiveness of local products, which is key to increasing exports, creating jobs and driving industrialization.”

Brand Kenya’s Ag chief executive Damaris Ngugi said the partnership will “synergize efforts to authenticate and promote products” made locally in the local and international markets.

“The Made in Kenya Brand Mark was developed to boost the manufacturing industry by authenticating all Kenyan goods and services for the local and international markets. It will be placed on all Kenyan products and comes with a promise of authentic, organic and high-quality products,” she said.

The Brand Kenya Board has also introduced a continuous marketing campaign on its online platforms for “companies and brands that will take up the Mark.”

Content courtesy of Brand Kenya , Made In Kenya & Nairobi Fashion Hub

Tag: Brand Kenya