Saturday 26th of September 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: fashion business

Hamaji Studio

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Hamaji, meaning “nomad” in coastal Swahili is an African designer collection created around preserving ancient textile traditions and nomadic craftsmanship whilst empowering local small-scale artisans in Africa.

Reigning from the East coast of Africa, Hamaji was born in Kenya in 2017 by designer Louise Sommerlatte.

Creating a narrative of sustainability and conscious consumerism their collections are made up of natural fibres, botanical dyes, hand craft, embroidery and up-cycled collected vintage textiles. Hamaji is inspired by East African charm and embodies a spirit of nomadic femininity in pastel hues, free flowing silhouettes and a delightful sense of elegance.

 

This collection was simply inspired by Hamaji journey between Kenya and India and her quest to source sustainable fabrics. The artisanal souls met along the way, the freedom in nature, wild vast landscapes, dusty roads and rickety trains.

But most importantly the feeling of travelling, the romance, nostalgia and inner peace retrieved from being alone and connected to your surroundings. It is to capture this honest feeling and portray its outstanding beauty.

The collection uses a variety of unbleached organic cotton, 100% linen, up-cycled vintage saris and what is currently known to be one of the most sustainable textiles available, 100% natural and biodegradable TencelT” By Lenzinr which is made using very minimal water and no chemicals, from tree bark.

This lucious fibre claims the breathability of linen, the wearability of cotton and the luxurious feel of silk. Garments are adorned with hand beaded collected cowry shells and various beaded embellishments. Our in house hornbill block print is made with harm free dyes and are certified Oeko-Tex’s Standard 100.

Made in rural Kenya by local artisans at the Mitumba Arts workshop in Nanyuki. The workshop consists of 20 artisans working together mostly in creating items made from second hand clothes. All the profits are collectively shared between the artists consisting of tailors, upholsters, hand headers and painters.

We are committed to equality and fairness in the workplace, pay not just living wages but decent wages, have interest in the livelihoods of our employees and to create a comfortable and kind working environment.

Content courtesy of Hamaji Studio & Nairobi fashion hub

 

Nike Kondakiss Upcycled Parachute Fashions Help Educate Maasai Girls

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The Greek/Danish designer and entrepreneur Nike Kondakis seeks to provide an alternative to the polluting fashion industry and is one of the talented designers featured in the soon to be released book Fashion Africa by AFG’s founder Jacqueline Shaw.

KONDAKIS is a responsible fashion company both socially and environmentally. Based in Kenya, KONDAKIS concept-collections are made from several unique materials such as Parachutes, Dead Wood and Peace Silk. Nike Kondakis creates stunning to-die-for garments fit for any Red Carpet event from these original recycled parachutes in Kenya. Her voluminous, goddess-like dresses are manufactured by local artisans and can be ordered on-line and shipped worldwide within 3-5 weeks.

The parachute line (she also designs accessories and knitwear) is available in an unexpected and wide range of colours such as snow white, lava orange, bush green, sea blue, pitch black and Barbie purple to name a few which are all the original colours, minimizing the energy used in an additional dyeing process and adding to the novelty of each piece. Stamps revealing when and who the parachute was made for and original parachute stitching are subtle details that make each piece unique.

Kondakis’ style is avant-garde and extravagant yet breathes Scandinavian minimalism , making her creations very wearable, modern and pure.

This is definitely visible in her knitwear line named the Natural Collection, which is made from un-dyed wool from Kenya and is spun and knitted by hand. Oversized sweaters and ponchos with a raw, natural look are made in unbleached white and black tones and are complemented by the accessories made from African “dead wood”.

Her accessories line consists of bangles, earrings and necklaces carved from wood which has died naturally or been broken off by wild game in the Kenyan bush. Her graphic pieces have a rustic touch, some surfaces still covered in bark and others polished and stamped with the Kondakis logo.

In 2002 Nike Kondakis started a three year program in responsible entrepreneurship at the Kaos piloterna in Copenhagen. After completing her education, she traveled to Kenya to set up a development project for 30,000 Maasai’s at the Lorika Foundation.

The project is now currently being run by local managers, but Nike still contributes to the education of Maasai girls who she says are often under prioritized when it comes to schooling. Her ambition is to create many more collections from different recycled materials, to sell more internationally and to employ 100 people in the coming 5 years.

Overall through their growing sales they want to take many more girls to school.

Kondakis has received a large amount of attention by international and local press for her design and work with the Maasai community, and has shown her collections on the catwalk in NYC, Nairobi and Sun City. If you happen to be in NYC, San Francisco or LA in September, you can book an appointment to meet Nike and view her collection.

Content courtesy of Africa Fashion Guide & Nairobi fashion hub

Rihanna’s Fenty fashion label to close down after 2 years

Posted on by Fashion Police

The slowdown of luxury fashion continues with the announcement that Rihanna’s ready-to-wear line Fenty has been discontinued.

The fashion line, launched in 2019, made history as the first luxury brand run by a black woman and effortlessly chimed with Generation Z’s values of inclusivity and diversity. It was also only the second luxury fashion house started from scratch by the French conglomerate LVMH after Christian Lacroix in 1987.

Although it comes as a surprise  Rihanna picked up the Urban Luxe gong for the brand at the Fashion Awards in 2019 – the end of the ready-to-wear arm of Fenty is in part a casualty of the pandemic.

The brand, known for footwear, denim items, and eyewear, has struggled with supply chain issues and the singer, who is based in the US, has been unable to travel in order to collaborate with the Parisian fashion team.

During a press conference in October, LVMH’s chief financial officer, Jean-Jacques Guiony, also hinted that they were having their share of teething problems.

“On Fenty fashion, we are obviously still in a launching phase and we have to figure out exactly what is the right offer,” he was quoted by the New York Times as saying. “It is not something that is easy. We were starting entirely from scratch. Obviously, we have the great help from Rihanna on this, but I would say it’s still a work in progress when it comes to really define what the offer will be.”

Despite other LVMH-owned fashion brands such as Dior and Louis Vuitton bucking the trend of decline during the pandemic, net profits for the parent company fell 34% in 2020, according to the WWD website.

Fenty’s final collection, a collaboration with the footwear designer Amina Muaddi, was in November last year and its last Instagram post was on 1 January.

The shuttering of the fashion arm of Fenty will not affect its side projects, the lingerie arm Savage X Fenty and Fenty Skin, which are both considered a success in their field: the former made $108m (£78m) last year and the latter, which is available in Boots, has made £26m in four months, according to WWD.

Content courtesy of The Guardian &  Nairobi fashion hub 

South African Fashion Week 2021 to Go Digital

Posted on by Fashion Police

The event will take place online, between April 29 and May 1 2021, to showcase 26 runway shows by the likes of Lukhanyo Mdingi and Mmusomaxwell.

Like fashion events around the world, SA Fashion Week has adapted to continue connecting homegrown brands with buyers. Like its last hybrid season held in October, upcoming collections will be trans-seasonal.

In October, over 8,000 guests viewed the collections, which under pre-pandemic circumstances would’ve been seen by 6,000.

In the wake of Covid-19, the event has honed in on helping designers generate immediate sales. “It has been a superhuman challenge for these businesses to stay afloat and retain jobs in the absence of any trade or cash flows,” said Lucilla Booyzen, director of SA Fashion Week. “The opportunity to showcase their collections in preparation for summer 2021 is vital.”

South Africa Fashion Week is the country’s only business-to-business platform that allows brands to grow their collections. This upcoming season, the brands will be taking a trans-seasonal approach, best known as seasonless.

SA Fashion Week is also taking a larger focus on slow fashion to build on sustainable production. The country’s designers are calling for a “new fashion order” to create a more ethical fashion system.

Content courtesy of Business of Fashion & Nairobi fashion hub 

Three Kenyan Fashion designers join the Ethical Fashion Initiative

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The Ethical Fashion Initiative, a joint venture from the UN and World Trade Organisation’s International Trade Centre, has selected three Kenyan brands – Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, Suave, and Hamaji to participate in its second accelerator programme.

Each of the designers was chosen for their “commitment to sustainability” as they use reclaimed and organic fabrics to create their collections, as well as noting their country and upbringing in Kenya as heavily inspiring their work.

The launch of the Ethical Fashion Initiative Kenya Fashion Accelerator aims to highlight the distinct design talent within Kenya and follows the organisation’s successful launch of their nationwide accelerator search in 2019.

There will be a focus on the specific needs of African fashion brands, with this accelerator programme, with a business development approach that prepares its beneficiaries to become investment ready, to accelerate their business in the global marketplace.

Simone Cipriani, head and founder of the Ethical Fashion Initiative at the UN’s International Trade Centre, said in a statement: “The continued development of our designer accelerator programmes in Africa, provide a new generation of African design talent the opportunity to engage with the international market. Through education and mentoring we seek to equalise the playing field, giving exposure to the incredible talent that exists on the continent.

“Each region in Africa has its own unique creative voice. Being able to launch a programme dedicated to Kenya – the country where Ethical Fashion Initiative began its journey and where it has some of the most beautiful collaborations – is a wonderful opportunity to spotlight the creative visionaries that set this country apart.”

Ethical Fashion Initiative Kenya Fashion Accelerator to assist Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, Suave, and Hamaji

The programme will help the selected brand expand their supply chain and scale up their production, source new products and develop their production team. Each designer will be assigned a production mentor, with whom one-to-one support meetings will take place, as well as additional mentoring and brand development from the Ethical Fashion Initiative team and industry experts.

The accelerator will also support the management and production of key designs for the first collection to be manufactured through experienced companies selected within the Ethical Fashion Initiative network.

In addition, the initiative will fast track the emerging African designer labels, through “identifying and strategising areas for growth” and funding towards developing a new product process or service. A diagnostic review of the business will also take place every season to assess progress and tailor the programme to best suit and benefit each business.

The programme will also help build brand value by helping each business understand investment, develop strategies for maximising brand equity, build a funding proposition and market themselves as an attractive investment proposition to angel investors or VC funds. Each designer will finish off the accelerator with an opportunity to pitch themselves to investors at a networking event.

Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, founded and based in Nairobi, Kenya, is a leisure lifestyle brand offering seasonless, timeless, transcendent casual and semi-formal wear heavily influenced by her upbringing and surroundings.

The brand experiments with modern techniques, innovative fabrics and traditional methods, as well as working with materials that are organic and or as sustainable as possible, such as Tencel and Cupro. They are keen on working with cooperatives and businesses that have a greater impact on the lives of those within a given society.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ycp1ZHofh/?utm_source=ig_embed

Suave Kenya was founded in 2013 by Mohammed Awale from an idea sparked by numerous trips to a local thrift market, Gikomba Market, the largest open-air market in East Africa. While rummaging among heaps of oversized and discarded denim outfits, Awale discovered the source material for its bags, as it looks to end the cycle of unwanted garments ending up in landfills. The bags made by Suave Kenya are made with practicality in mind.

The final recipient is Hamaji, founded in 2017 by designer Louise Sommerlatte, it is a brand created around preserving ancient textile traditions and nomadic craftsmanship whilst empowering local small scale artisans in Africa. The brand creates a narrative of sustainability and conscious consumerism through its collections using natural fibres, botanical dyes, handcraft, embroidery and up-cycled vintage textiles. Hamaji is inspired by East African charm and embodies a spirit of nomadic femininity in pastel hues, free-flowing silhouettes and a delightful sense of elegance.

Commenting on joining the accelerator, Hamaji, said: “I feel hugely honoured and extremely excited to be a part of the Ethical Fashion Initiative accelerator programme, to have this opportunity to expand my knowledge and be mentored in the development of my brand in a sustainable approach with international and local expertise in Kenya.”

Written by Danielle Wightman-Stone

Photo: courtesy of Katush by Katungulu Mwendwa, Suave Kenya and Hamaji Studio
Content courtesy of Fashion United & Nairobi fashion hub 

 

 

 

Made in Kenya: Exclusive interview with Cynthia Kimathi Founder, Creative Director at The Seamstress and African le’kiondo

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Cynthia is a mother and a fashion enthusiast; who doubles up as a self-taught fashion designer, I have loved fashion and style for as far back as I can remember.

I used to accompany my mother to clothes stores every Christmas holiday to choose outfits for my siblings and me, however, I must admit that my Art and Design teacher in State House Girls High School gave me the extra push needed, from whence I learned all the basics myself.
My fashion line is The Seamstress. A seamstress is a woman who sews and one who earns her living from the craft. That is simply who I am.
I officially launched The Seamstress on November 28th, 2020 on the JW Runway Show, but we had been working on the brand and first collection for at least a year beforehand.

Oscar Alochi: Can you describe The Seamstress, the idea and concept as if I knew nothing about it or the market it is in?

Cynthia Kimathi: The Seamstress is purely a ladies-wear fashion line. During our launch, we started with the collection Dusk to Dawn, which is glam wear for evenings and events. But we are not all about evening gowns. We are a one-stop-shop for all women wear; ranging from casual, office, and streetwear, lingerie, mature looks, and older women, among others.

The brand concept is to release quarterly collections (mid-February, end June, end September, and mid-December) that will aim at introducing new designs and aspects into the fashion market. The collections are all pre-planned beforehand, with every design passing through a set of criticisms from The Seamstress team prior to the final vetting.

This is because the creative side of me sometimes needs to be controlled if we want to make functional outfits.

This February, our aim is to release our second collection just before Valentine’s.

OA: What were you doing before The Seamstress, and what motivated you to start the business?

CK: I have been running African le’kiondo, which is a subsidiary brand just like The Seamstress. The brand focuses on making authentic Africanised bags that are environmentally friendly as we source raw materials and labor locally.

Not only that, but it has been a great instrument in empowering women in Meru County by providing them with an avenue to expand their creativity, put food on their table, and have a safe space to talk about their issues.

Just like African le’kiondo, I started The Seamstress out of mere frustration in finding an outfit for myself, a great motivator. During my participation in a national pageant in 2019, Mrs. Universe Kenya as the current 1st Runners Up, it took me weeks to get an evening gown I liked.

This was simply due to all the outfits looking the same, plus they did not look very functional in the sense that I kept wondering where else I would wear the outfit, and how I could style it to look different every time. This predicament gave birth to The Seamstress fashion line.

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OA: What techniques do you use? Tell us about the process.

CK: At The Seamstress, we start with a designer’s consultation, This consultation includes detailed discussions with the client ranging from color choices to fabric choices.

The client then receives three (3) designs and chooses from them. The duration from consultation to delivery also depends on design and details. The sewing process differs and the details would seem quite boring for now.

But I also add a lot of accessories to my designs to give them a 3D effect, with such pieces ranging from flowers, beads, etc, which aids in having my outfits turn heads positively.

OA: How did you learn/master this technique and why do you use it?

CK: As previously mentioned, I received basic art and design training from my high school days. In addition to this, my team and I do a lot of research, and I spend the better part of my mornings learning online.

I use this technique as it keeps me on my toes on what is currently trending in the fashion space, what trends could be making their comeback, plus the added benefit of attaining inspiration.

OA: What challenges did you face?

CK: Being a designer, one has to pump in a lot of finances before reaping anything, therefore sometimes you can be financially constrained especially as a start-up and a new name in the fashion industry.

In the Kenyan market, as much as we are now beginning to accept Kenyan designers, we are not yet there. The market still prefers ‘ready-made’ outfits from boutiques for designer outfits. Therefore, oftentimes clientele does not understand the business model especially the need to pay a Designer’s Consultation Fee.

Growth is gradual and sometimes the audience is not as receptive as imagined, but we hope for better days and are positive on the same.

The biggest challenge has however been letting go of clients who wish us to replicate outfits they find online. It is a difficult task at times explaining that we do not replicate, we create.

OA: How did the obstacles make you feel?

CK: Frustrated at times, excited at others. It is bittersweet. The challenges however motivate me, helps me find new ways of approaching things, and elevates my thinking whilst tickling my creativity.

OA: What were your achievements?

CK: The JW Runway Show is the most recent highlight since the launch. In addition, I have dressed beauty pageant judges, taken part at the end of year party for WICCI (Women’s Indian Chamber Of Commerce and Industry – Kenya Business Council) as well as having the honor of dressing an artist for their upcoming music video to be released this February.

It has just been a month and a half and we feel positive about achieving even bigger this quarter.

OA: Favourite moments?

CK: The launch at the JW has to be the highlight so far. The runway took me back to my old modeling days and I was overwhelmed by how far I have come. Seeing my pieces on the runway and how receptive the audience was to them, blew my mind away.

In some way, I felt validated that I might be on to something really amazing.
An added advantage is that I get to travel more now, another passion of mine, as I do deliveries and have one-on-one discussions with clients.

OA: How do you get dressed in the morning?

CK:  I am a casual dresser. Half the time, you shall find me in jeans and a t-shirt. Whenever I have meetings and glam events though, that is when I put my mind into the dressing.

OA: What’s your take on the Kenya fashion industry?

CK: The Kenyan fashion industry is impressively growing fast.

We are seeing Kenyans being dressed by Kenyan designers for events, and the only way we grow is by supporting our own.

The pioneers have done a great job in growing the industry, but so have media personalities and bloggers like yourselves. You have given designers and fashionistas a platform to express themselves in terms of marketing to the world at large.

OA: How different is the Kenya fashion industry compared to East Africa and Africa’s fashion industry at large?

CK: Our rich culture already sets us apart. The Maasai shuka for example has been widely accepted and has found itself in some international design houses, and so has the kikoi.

OA: Any future collaboration with Kenyan or International fashion designers?

CK: Yes. I am hopeful on this front. Maybe Neomi Nganga will read this and we get to do something.

OA: If you were given the opportunity to work with a local or international fashion designer who will you love to work with?

CK: Locally, Neomi Nganga of Style By Neomi. She has revolutionized plus-size fashion, as I find her designs sexy and eye-catching.
Internationally, Zuhair Murad. He is a genius, so daring with his technique. He always delivers utterly unique and dramatic masterpieces.

OA: What are your thoughts on fashion in Africa?

CK: It is growing tremendously fast. Countries like Nigeria and South Africa are already making enough noise in the fashion industry home and away.

OA: What has changed during this period of Covid-19?

CK: Most fashion designers have started to focus more on online marketing strategies.

Personally, the pandemic has given me room to magnify my creativity and read more. Never did I think I would be designing masks for instance.

OA: How has The Seamstress adopted the new technology virtual fashion show during and after the Coronavirus pandemic?

CK: We will be doing Instagram and Facebook live for virtual shows whenever we release our new collections.

OA: How are African fashion designers influencing fashion in the western world?

CK: Most African designers like pomp and color, and lately we have seen more African prints on the red carpet, as the Western world is already recognizing our African designs.

This can even be seen in as diverse an environment such as Hollywood blockbuster films like Black Panther, where they consulted with African designers for the costume designs.

OA: What can the Kenyan fashion industry learn from the western world?

CK: Owning our products. The Western world has a lot of acceptance and loyalty towards its designers. We should borrow a leaf from that and grow our own African designers.
We can also aim at having more fashion weeks and shows to call for upcoming designers to showcase their outfits, as I believe we have so much talent to offer.

OA: Over the last few years have you noticed any significant changes with the African fashion trends?

CK: Yes, I have. There have been some significant developments. We are seeing more African designers, models, and outfits on magazines and social media platforms, which is a clear indication that the perception of African designs has shifted progressively.

OA: When dealing with Africa is it important for the fashion world to be ethical and socially responsible, and put in place strong corporate social responsibility governance?

CK: Yes. We can’t just take and not give back.
Sustainable fashion needs CSR. It helps build relationships with consumers and stakeholders, and it helps to show the market space precisely what the designers are doing and the positive effects their work has in Africa. Let us never forget that our consumers appreciate transparency.

 

OA: Tell us about The JW Show or Kenyan Fashion week and your experience at the Show.

CK: The JW show is an amazing platform for upcoming designers to showcase their outfits and for seasoned designers to release their collections. The panelist choice was also a wise one; we got to get first-hand information from fashion icons and legends in the industry.

They discussed different parameters in the fashion industry and gave solid advice on how to be fashion-forward and run a house as a business.

OA: Where can we find your designs?

CK: We are currently based online.

Facebook: The Seamstress.ke
Instagram: theseamstress.ke
Facebook: African Lekiondo
Instagram: african.lekiondo
Mobile number: 0101704786

Here you will find our recently released collection Dusk to Dawn and some outfits made for our clients.

OA: Share with the audience your social media platforms or a website

CK: Our Social platforms

Facebook: The Seamstress.ke
Instagram: @theseamstress.ke
Email: theseamstress.ke@gmail.com

OA: What does eCommerce mean to you and your business?

CK: eCommerce means everything! Our business is purely online based.
We are however currently developing our website, which will give us the extra push in the eCommerce world

OA: Do you think eCommerce is important for African fashion designers that are trying to get recognized and reach a global market?

CK: Of course, it is! Ecommerce has opened doors for many businesses locally and globally. It is safe to say that eCommerce is an essential tool in the fashion industry in this modern time.

OA: How does your strategy change when running an online store to an offline store?

CK: When using an Online-to-Offline (O2O) Strategy in our business, both channels share similar significance and importance to The Seamstress in helping us achieve our success.

The Online Channels shall be helpful in widening our reach to not only local stakeholders, but internationally too, through digital marketing and advertising, and draw them into our physical store.

Whilst using the Offline Channel for a physical store, location is our primary strategy as we would wish our discerning customers to feel welcome in our brick-and-mortar when they come for measurements, fittings, and even collecting of their goods.

Finally, due to our industry being fashion, our clients still prefer to physically see, and touch and feel, our outfits when they want to make a purchase, especially if they are first-time buyers.

OA: Where do you see African fashion in the next 5 to 10 years?

CK: I see most celebrities accepting African fashion and embracing it internationally. I strongly believe that we shall be seeing more African designs in the Oscars and Golden Globe Awards amongst other international platforms. We have so much untapped talent and we are about to take the industry by storm.

OA: What 5 pieces of advice would you give to young African fashion designers wanting to enter the fashion industry?

CK: My Advice to young African designer

  • The world is your oyster. All you have to do is spread your wings.
  • Success is not experienced overnight, put in the work and it shall surely come.
  • Social media likes do not equal sales. Clients will buy even without liking your pictures.
  • Every time you feel lost, remember why in a world where you could be anyone you decided to be a designer.
  • Always be true to yourself.

OA: Is there anything else you would like to add?

CK: I would like to thank you for giving me and The Seamstress fashion line by extension, the opportunity for this interview and for deeming us worthy of it. When the names of people and organizations that led the Kenyan fashion industry to be recognized worldwide will be written, yours shall surely be there.

Content courtesy of The Seamstress, African le’kiondo & Nairobi fashion hub 

 

 

Michelle Obama Chose a Symbolic Outfit for Inauguration Day of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s swearing in ceremony

Posted on by Fashion Police

The former First Lady dressed for the historical importance of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s swearing-in ceremony.

If anyone could handle the pressure of dressing for this historic Inauguration Day, it’s former First Lady Michelle Obama. As the first Black First Lady, she has a better understanding than most of the pressures Vice President Kamala Harris will face as the trifecta of first woman, first Black, and first Asian American Vice President of the United States.

And with that comes the responsibility of what to wear. It isn’t mere superficial vanity, Obama expertly deployed her fashion early on to share her values and promote emerging designers. “It seemed that my clothes mattered more to people than anything I had to say,” she told the New York Times in 2018. “Optics governed more or less everything in the political world, and I factored this into every outfit.”

On January 20, she arrived in a burgundy coat and jumpsuit cinched with a gold belt by Black designer Sergio Hudson and a black face mask. Hudson, an up-and-coming designer who made his debut on New York Fashion Week in February 2020, has designed looks for Obama’s Becoming book tour and at the Essence Festival and his clients include celebrities like Rihanna and Beyonce.

Kamala Harris wore Sergio Hudson shoes to the inauguration with her outfit by Black designer Christopher John Rodgers.

For President Barack Obama’s first inauguration in 2009, she wore a sparkling gold sheath dress and coat by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo for the presidential swearing-in ceremony. There was the color: sunny and full of optimism. And there was the designer: Toledo immigrated to the U.S. at age eight and went on to fulfill the American dream of becoming a successful fashion designer.

In 2013, she wore a Thom Browne dress and coat, polished and businesslike. And of course, there were the stunning gowns for each inauguration, both designed by Jason Wu. It is clear from these examples alone (and there are many more) that Obama artfully represented American designers of all races and all genders, particularly championing emerging designers.

As the years went on, her approach became dubbed “sartorial diplomacy,” drawing comparisons to Jackie Kennedy, who took a similar approach, although with fewer political landmines to navigate.

Content courtesy of Town and Country  & Nairobi fashion hub 

Zuri, The Kenyan Label With A Beautiful African Aesthetic Is Finding Following Europe and Asia

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

When preparing for a trip to South Sudan last May, the American designer Sandra Zhao’s packing list was straightforward: “I wanted something I could shove in a backpack, that wouldn’t look like I’d just shoved it in a backpack.” Zhao, a New York City transplant, was living in Nairobi, where it’s fast and cheap to have clothes tailored, so she designed the dress she had in mind: resistant to wrinkling, airy enough for the equatorial sun and long enough (in sleeves and skirt) to be culturally appropriate.

The resulting piece a tunic-style dress that’s fitted in the shoulders and loose through the body hit all the marks. It also, remarkably, looked good. Zhao traveled in the dress; then she started living in it.

At a wedding later that year, Ashleigh Gersh Miller (another New Yorker who had recently relocated to Nairobi) saw Zhao in the dress and was immediately drawn to it. “It was the week of my due date with my second child,” Miller says, so the loose, forgiving cut appealed. (“It doesn’t look like a muumuu,” says Zhao, “But it kind of feels like one.”) The two struck up a conversation. Soon after, they went into business.

Zuri, which launched online at shopzuri.com this year, is built on Zhao and Miller’s conviction that there’s one dress (indeed, “just one dress” is the brand’s tag line and hashtag) suitable for all purposes and people. “We’re both really short, but you could be six feet tall,” says Zhao. “It looks good on everyone.” They attribute this “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”-like adaptability to the structured top and an ample skirt that floats away from the body and hits just around the knee. “It’s just a flattering cut.”

The design of the dress has changed only slightly from Zhao’s first iteration. In response to feedback from friends, they’ve lengthened the sleeves (making it possible to tie the dress around one’s waist as a skirt) and added pockets. Buttons run down the front, so it can be worn as a jacket. “Personally, I like to wear it over pants,” says Miller.

Equally central to the designer’s shared aesthetic is their choice of material. At any given time, the dress is available in limited-run colorways cut from Dutch wax fabric: the riotously bright, playfully patterned cotton cloth that is, to many, synonymous with “African dress.”

Though Zhao and Miller source their fabric from the continent specifically Tanzania, Congo, and Nigeria historically, it’s not African at all. Initially produced by the Dutch to tap into the Indonesian Batik market, the wax-printed cotton cloth traveled via colonial channels to East and West Africa, where it became ubiquitous.

Most Dutch wax fabric is still designed in the Netherlands, but the patterns have become highly localized. (One popular print called “LV” or “Le Sac du Michelle Obama,” features a repeating pattern of the Louis Vuitton bag that Obama carried during her 2009 trip to Ghana.) They’re also short-lived. “Fabrics are constantly circulating and cycling,” says Zhao. “One factory will put a pattern out, then another will adopt it, it repeats and moves, sort of like it’s alive.”

For now, the dress itself is also on the move. Available online and stocked by St. Cloud in Houston, Tex., as well as by Merchants on Long in Cape Town, South Africa, Zuri’s in-store presence comes mostly in the form of pop-ups. Two are slated for June, one at Shinola in Detroit and one in New York.

The duo would eventually like to start printing their own materials, but in the meantime, it’s clear they enjoy the chase. “We’ve got feelers out in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, and we’re heading to Uganda in a couple of weeks,” Miller says. Fabrics are typically only in production for a few weeks, so when a favorite motif retro oscillating fans, or lovebirds on branches show up, they have to act fast. “We walked into a shop recently, and a pattern we’d been looking for for months literally dropped at our feet,” Miller says. “I was immediately like, ‘Sold!’”

Zhao calls the constant variety and unpredictability of materials “a roller coaster of emotion,” but it’s also a perfect complement to the slow, singular design process. “It’s been fun to have one dress,” Miller says, “and to perfect it.

Content courtesy New york time & Nairobi fashion hub 

Rihanna Wore $2 Million Worth of Rubies and Jewels For a Savage X Fenty Valentine’s Day Ad​​​​​​​

Posted on by Fashion Police

Rihanna modeled her new Savage X Fenty Valentine’s Day lingerie in a sexy collage-style campaign combining latex and mesh with over $2 million worth of antique diamond and ruby jewels.

In the sultry shots, the 32-year-old triple threat pairs the red “Candy Hearts” bralette ($39.95), G-string ($22.95), and garter ($39.95) with two different sparkling necklaces from Hammerman Jewels a seven-row collar, and a chandelier style dripping with pear-shaped stones worth over $2 million combined.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Rihanna also shines in no fewer than five Art Deco pieces from Lang Antiques, including two giant ruby rings and a duo of matching bracelets worth around $35,000 each.

A rep for Lang Antiques told us the precious pieces, which collectively total over $130,000, are all around 100 years old.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ_qaJGHi82/?utm_source=ig_embed

In other images from the campaign, Rihanna teams the same jewels with the “V-Day” fishnet slip ($49.95) and pieces from the “Candy Hearts” Xtra VIP box ($129.85), including a cropped mesh cami and matching open-back skirt.

Latex opera gloves and stockings from Atsuko Kudo one of Hollywood’s favorite latex fashion providers round out the sizzling mix.

Now available to shop online, Savage X Fenty’s V-Day lingerie comes in sizes 32A to 42DD and XS to 3X, with prices ranging from $13 to $80.

Those aren’t your average, everyday diamonds and rubies, either. She layers two necklaces in the shoot: a chandelier style and a seven-row collar, both by Hammerman Jewels, Page Six reports. Their total worth? Over $2 million. And to finish off the look, Rih wears an assortment of Art Deco rings and bracelets from Lang Antiques, worth a total of $130,000. It’s simply what she deserves!

Content courtesy of Page Six & Nairobi fashion hub

An Interview With Leah Wanjiru Co-founder and Creative Designer at Tai Designs Africa

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Leah Wanjiru is a young fashion designer who is passionate about Made in Kenya clothes, she is a fashion lover who embraces color and prints when we talk of fabrics co-founder and creative designer at Tai Designs.

Tai Designs Africa is a clothing brand that I founded with my Partner Wambui Mwaura. Tai mainly focuses on dressing people for occasions such as weddings, traditional weddings, and corporate events. We also customize summer/ swimwear and accessories such as hats and bags. Recently we have also started doing custom made clothes for our clients.

Oscar Alochi: Can you describe Tai Designs Africa, the idea and concept as if I knew nothing about it or the market it is in? 

Leah Wanjiru: Well, Tai Designs Africa is a product of passion, disappointments from local tailors, and curiosity all combined. I am one person who never gets satisfied with something basic.
So whenever I bought clothes I always had ideas of how I would do it better or differently. Of course given that I had no fashion education it was difficult to explain to my tailor exactly what I wanted.

End results? A spoilt dress and disappointed Leah. So with time the interest in fashion came up and enrolled in college where I learned both tailoring and fashion illustration.

OA: What were you doing before Tai Designs Africa, and what motivated you to start the business?

LW: I have always been the girl in the office. At the time I decide to start Tai Designs Africa I was an assistant accountant in an audit firm. The interest to monetize my interest and curiosity developed while I was still working there, I realized I did appreciate as much doing the same thing month in month out.

I wanted to be my own boss.

OA: What techniques do you use? Tell us about the process.

LW: I apply two techniques in my business. one involves sketching designs that I mainly get inspiration from movies and sourcing the fabrics, I then cut and sew the fabrics to bring the sketches to life. In most of such designs, I do wear them.

The second is where clients choose designs and they bring fabrics or I choose for them then we create their custom made outfits.

OA: How did you learn/master this technique and why do you use it? 

LW: I did my research before setting up the business. The technique favors my line since the clothing industry is dynamic and has
seasons.

There are seasons that clients wear mostly ready to wear and at times like December, they prefer custom made.

OA: What challenges did you face? 

LW: Mmhm.

First, I struggled with getting my brand out there, Being so introverted and fearing to talk to strangers was not helping me either. Again when the clients
started rolling in, now pricing and clients running away with balances become another headache.

OA: How did the obstacles make you feel? 

LW: In the beginning, I would say I got frustrated.

You know to a point I thought of making clothes to those clothes to me only. With time I mastered the art of handling clients to avoid such scenarios.

OA: What were your achievements? 

LW: We are proud to have showcased in one of the biggest fashion shows. The JW show. We also showcased in the Women World show which aims at improving upcoming women entrepreneurs, also last year we did our very first collection

OA: Favorite moments? 

LW: Walking in after our collection showcased at the JW show and the shows thereafter are moments engraved in my heart.

OA: How do you get dressed in the morning?

LW: Really depends on the mood, any day qualifies for anything

OA: What’s your take on the Kenya fashion industry? 

LW: Right now the Kenyan fashion industry is taking a huge positive change with people appreciating locally produced clothing and the very skilled
tailors around, I think it’s a matter of time and people will be wearing made in Kenya.

The youth have also embraced Kenyan fabrics and with the help of talented designers, the future looks promising.

OA: How different is the Kenya fashion industry compared to East Africa and Africa’s fashion industry at large? 

LW: One thing about Kenya is that citizens and majorly fashion lovers are so diverse with color and designs. Unlike East Africa where most nations are limited to vitenge’s, Kenyan the industry is diverse.

OA: Any future collaboration with Kenyan or International fashion designers?

LW: I always admire works done by a Kenyan designer, Remy a great designer.

OA: If you were given the opportunity to work with a local or international fashion designer who will you love to work with? 

LW: I would go International and work with Kollins Carter. He makes extraordinary pieces.

OA: What are your thoughts on fashion in Africa? 

LW: Innovative.

Africa has very talented designers and skilled tailors, the challenge is the machinery for the production

OA: What has changed during this period of Covid-19

LW: Mostly the frequency of people buying or ordering clothes. With most people indoors due to lockdown and others retrenched from their workplaces, finances have become scarce.

OA: How has Tai Designs Africa adopted the new technology virtual fashion show during and after the Coronavirus pandemic? 

LW: We have adopted the representation of our products online mainly doing indoor shoots and posting on our social media platforms.

OA: How are African fashion designers influencing fashion in the western world?

LW: African designers have embraced the production of great pieces with fabrics that represent Africa. The likes of vitenge, kente, and Maasai shukas. These fabrics bring color which is well embraced in the western world.

OA: What can the Kenyan fashion industry learn from the western world? 

LW: Mostly what color goes with what skin tones. I find it well intriguing. Also making our own prints would save us a lot of importation taxes.

OA: Over the last few years have you noticed any significant changes with the African fashion trends?

LW: Great changes, From chasing Western trends to creating our own designs and making them trend.

OA: When dealing with Africa is it important for the fashion world to be ethical and socially responsible, and put in place strong corporate social responsibility governance? 

LW: Yes, it is very important to put in some policies. Africa has well-grounded roots and people of different
ethnicity.

The only way to preserve our culture is by having policies in place.

OA: Tell us about The JW Show or Kenyan Fashion week and your experience at the Show?

LW: JW Show is a great platform for designers and to showcase. Fashion lovers also get the chance to walk the red carpet with their beautiful designs. I think we should have more of such shows in a year where we get to celebrate fashion.

OA: Where can we find your designs? 

LW: We are at Sawa mall 3 rd Floor C20 and also online on our social media platforms.

OA: Share with the audience your social media platforms or a website.

LW: Our social media platforms are

Instagram: @taidesignsafrica
Facebook: Tai Designs Africa
WhatsApp: +254 736 336062

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OA: What does eCommerce mean to you and your business?

LW: It’s resourceful for our brand, Most of our clients are online customers.

OA: Do you think eCommerce is important for African fashion designers that are trying to get recognized and reach a global market? 

LW: With technology making the world to become a global village, eCommerce is one of the best to capture the global market and let the world know about what we offer.

OA: How does your strategy change when running an online store to an offline store?

LW: Dealing with virtual clients is easier since they buy products at the listed prices and get them delivered. Offline clients can be sometimes negotiating.

OA: Where do you see African fashion in the next 5 to 10 years? 

LW: I dream of a continent that will be doing a production of not only clothing but also textiles which will be ready for exportation too.

OA: What 5 pieces of advice would you give to young African fashion designers wanting to enter the fashion industry? 

LW: My advice

  1. Be clear about your brand what clients you target.
  2. Be ready to start small.
  3. Always wear your brand with pride.
  4. Take time to master the art and then monetize it
  5. No one will offer a seat in the industry, come with your own and take the space.

OA: Is there anything else you would like to add? 

LW: Thank you for the interview. The questions exhaustively covered everything.

Content courtesy of Tai Designs Africa & Nairobi fashion hub 

 

 

Meet Dennis Osadebe The Man Disrupting The African Fashion Industry founder and C.E.O of D&D Clothing

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

Dennis Osadebe is the founder of D&D Clothing with the head office in Dubai. Being more than 10 years in the entertainment business in Nigeria, he has seen the lack of professionally made costumes and artistic clothing. That’s how we start our office in Dubai, by creating different custom made orders.

Now Dennis Osadebe is a motivational speaker, promoting Africa and African fashion all over the world. After having different branches and representatives in Europe, Canada, the US, and Australia we are back home to Africa and opened our first branch in Kenya.

Ann Mumbi:  Can you describe D&D Clothing Company, the idea, and concept as if I knew nothing about it or the market it is in?

Dennis Osadebe: D&D Clothing is an international fashion brand with an African soul. We don’t just do fashion, we create an African Fashion Movement that will reach every home. We have achieved big success because of the belief and hard work of our D&D family. We create 6 amazing collections per year for males and females and divide our products in 3 directions business casual, Urbach chic, and glamour.

Our main goal is to be represented in different countries, where people are proud to wear MADE IN AFRICA. Being the number 1 brand in the Middle East, gave us the possibility to produce our own fabrics that have a special story. Our own production is located in Kenya, from where we distribute items to all showrooms and shops. Started far from home with a lot of difficulties We are finally back in Africa because that’s where we belong to! AFRICA IS HOME!

AM: What were you doing before D&D Clothing Company, and what motivated you to start the business?

DO: I (Dennis Osadebe) was into the entertainment business in Nigeria, I’m the one who brought Nollywood to Asaba! But I wanted to grow outside Africa, I know we can do it. I see so many talented people in Africa and they need to be out there to expose!

AM: What techniques do you use? Tell us about the process.

DO: If we are talking about production techniques – we use only the latest technology of production. It’s about IT control, it about the latest machines for patterns, for stitching. We are very keen on everything the best, and invest a lot in production and people.

AM: How did you learn/master this technique and why do you use it? 

DO: We try to learn from the best, of course, as well you never learn better than from your own mistakes. But we learn from others as well

AM: What challenges did you face?

DO: The main and the biggest challenge for any business is a team. It’s not easy to find people who will be there with you in water and fire. But it’s possible. So we always keep looking for the best team.

AM: How did the obstacles make you feel? 

DO: There is nothing you cannot do in this world. So you only become stronger.

AM: What were your achievements? 

DO: Our main achievement is to win 3rd place in the World Fashion Awards, which we are very proud of. we were the first African company ever that took place and we were right after Italy. which gives us so much courage to do more, we are limitless.

AM: Favorite moments? 

DO: Once per year, we do African Fashion Party, that’s such an amazing moment, where we invite our customers, all team and partners from different countries, and we make a crazy party in African style with all D&D Clothing dresses.

People can choose any of the designs, we create them and it becomes one of the favorite moments of the year not only for us but for our customers as well.

Check our latest in Dubai

The next one we are planning to make it in Kenya!

AM: How do you get dressed in the morning? 

DO: I have a plan for my dressing for one week, and of course, I wear only my own brand. As well once per month or two, I have days when I test our new designs, It’s the biggest test control in our company! I’m very strict about dressing, it should not be only stylish, but it should be comfortable, you should feel on top of the rook on it.

AM: What’s your take on the Kenya fashion industry? 

DO: We have seen a lot of talented people in Kenya, amazing designers, models, but they are lacking practical education. I hope in the future we will create a base and education for designers to blow all over the world.

AM: How different is the Kenya fashion industry compared to East Africa and Africa’s fashion industry at large? 

DO: I think the main difference is opportunities, in East Africa, it is so easy to blow if you do professional things, Not only in fashion, a lot of opportunities that people don’t see.

AM: Any future collaboration with Kenyan or International fashion designers?  

DO: We hope in the future to collaborate with talented fashion designers

AM: If you were given the opportunity to work with a local or international fashion designer who will you love to work with? 

DO: We would work with Philipp Plein. I hope next year we will do something together.

AM: What are your thoughts on fashion in Africa? 

DO: I think it’s at the peak of demand now. It’s a culture that did not die like in any other country. Where do you see people in Europe wearing traditional clothing?

Even by the way officially they don’t even have anything traditional. So African fashion will be growing only all over the world.

AM: What has changed during this period of Covid-19? 

DO: The main challenges are to change the business strategy for the next 1-2 years. Keep all the team while the profit was reduced. But it’s a good time to do more.

AM: How has D&D Clothing Company adopted the new technology virtual fashion show during and after the Coronavirus pandemic? 

DO: VR fashion shows is not a new technology but it’s something that people have seen just now, during covid. New technology is for example Augmented reality. Its future fabrics with molecular structure, different Self-healing materials with the ability to heal after being wounded. That’s the new technologies.

AM: How are African fashion designers influencing fashion in the western world? 

DO: They are influencing by their creativity. Our African people are more creative than westerns. So if you see African person in the western world, they have every chance to be number 1

AM: What can the Kenyan fashion industry learn from the western world? 

DO: They can learn how to do business. Management, timing, any operational area, sometimes I can request for information or quotation from the company and they will send me after 3 days.

Like you are begging people for you to send them money. You will never see this kind of way of doing business in the western world.

AM: Over the last few years have you noticed any significant changes with the African fashion trends? 

DO: African fashion will always be trendy

AM: When dealing with Africa is it important for the fashion world to be ethical and socially responsible, and put in place strong corporate social responsibility governance? 

DO: It is important, but if you will check, it’s not so easy to do in Africa like to say.

AM: Tell us about The JW Show or Kenyan Fashion week and your experience at the Show.

DO: Amazing creative guys, I adore their ideas, they have a big future.

AM: Where can we find your designs? 

DO: You can find our designs on our website danddclothing.com

AM: Share with us your social media platforms or a website

DO: We can be reached through our social platforms.

Website: danddclothing.com
Instagram: @danddclothing
Facebook: @danddclothingandtailoringllc
YouTube: D&D Clothing
WhatsApp: +254 701 223333

AM: What does eCommerce mean to you and your business?

DO: It’s a must. If you are not online – you don’t exist.

AM: Do you think eCommerce is important for African fashion designers that are trying to get recognized and reach a global market? 

DO: Highly important. It’s a must. You supposed to start yesterday

AM: How does your strategy change when running an online store to an offline store? 

DO: The strategies by themselves are different for online and offline stores.

But offline is dying, The companies that have been on the market for more than 240 years now like Debenhams they just shut down and filed for bankruptcy. And in Africa after 5-7 years, people will stop buying offline.

AM: Where do you see African fashion in the next 5 to 10 years? 

DO: I see it number 1 by popularity among all people in the world

AM: What 5 pieces of advice would you give to young African fashion designers wanting to enter the fashion industry? 

DO:

  1. Don’t be afraid
  2. Show, don’t tell
  3. Do everything and anything
  4. Don’t do it alone
  5. Don’t listen to anyone

AM: Is there anything else you would like to add?

DO: I would like to say that I’m proud to be an African and I want all people around the world to be proud of wearing MADE IN AFRICA. And all of us have a chance to do it!

Content courtesy of D&D Clothing & Nairobi fashion hub 

 

 

 

Last chance for South Africa local Designers to enter New Talent Search

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Time is ticking, and if you haven’t entered the South African Fashion Week New Talent Search 2021 now is the time to do so.

With only two weeks until the applications close, South African designers are urged to join in the movement of changing how we look at fabric design within fashion design.

The New Talent Search is open to ladies’ wear designers whose businesses are based in South Africa. All designer applicants must supply a minimum of one store (this can include your store or online store) and must be under 10 years in business to qualify to enter.

To give their consumers something different, this is what the designers must look into:

  • Consider fabrics that have the least impact on the environment.
  • Natural linen, cotton, and sustainably sourced fabrics.
  • Fur and leather-free.
  • Their Designs must include print on at least 50% of the garments.
  • Zero-waste cutting such as draping, knitting, or using a zero-waste pattern.
  • Provide consumer care instructions to lengthen the garment’s longevity.
  • Create a timeless and trans-seasonal collection.

Designers must also research slow fashion to make sure they understand it in a way that they can live it and play a role in shaping the future of sustainable fashion.

They must also base their designs on 2021 world trends by combining contemporary shapes, styles, and construction with their inspirations and design talent.

The winner will walk away with prizes to the value of ± R455000

Content courtesy of   & Nairobi fashion hub 

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