Wednesday 22nd of April 2026

Nairobi, Kenya

Tag: Fashion Designer

C.R.E.O.L.E. Men’s Spring 2024 Vincent Frederic Colombo Sets Out To Dismantle Preconceived Ideas Of African Fashion

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

Fashion label C.R.E.O.L.E. debuted its Spring Summer 2024 collection, which pays homage to Guadeloupean director Christian Laura’s 1979 movie “Coco La Fleur, Candidat.” At the conclusion of Paris Fashion Week, on June 25, the presentation took place at the Palais de Tokyo.
Coco La Fleur, Candidat, the first Antillean (French Caribbean) film in French cinema history, directed by a Guadeloupean director in Guadeloupe, served as inspiration for designer Vincent Frederic-Colombo.
In the current French overseas territories, its message is still pertinent. This movie pits technocratic elites against populist ideals, stirring up a sense of revolution during election season.

Designer Vincent Frederic-Colombo, a Guadeloupe native who was reared in Paris, said, “The whole collection is very much inspired by where I come from.”
Guadeloupe is a Caribbean archipelago that is part of France’s overseas department and region.
According to Frederic-Colombo, his clothing is intended to reflect the rich history and historical crafts-making from Africa, “and doing things in a very slow way.”
Additionally, it emphasizes the alternative African narrative. People frequently have preconceived notions about what African fashion is like.
I wish to dispel those ideas and demonstrate the diversity of African fashion.
Similarly to that, the term C.R.E.O.L.E. can stand for “Consciousness Relative to Emancipation Overcoming Obstacles.”

In an effort to decolonize his style, Frederic-Colombo said that it is inspired by not only a specific location but also by the music he listens to, the art, and the movies he likes.
By combining several universes, the designer hopes to develop a fresh look.
His designs and silhouettes draw inspiration from classic clothing, yet they propel him ahead rather than backward.

The core of C.R.E.O.L.E. is workwear, yet some tailoring and sewing methods, including lace and crochet, refer to femininity. Brown shorts with a similar trim were shown with a sheer men’s shirt with silver paillettes.
Long shorts and a blouse with wide, vertical colored stripes in greens, yellows, oranges, and reds were worn together.

A black blazer with tall, broad mock lapels and matching loose pants were two of the more fashionable items. Another was an olive-colored blazer with a longer, more conventional style.
The 1979 French movie “Coco-La-Fleur, Candidat,” about a Guadeloupian man who becomes involved in an electoral scam concocted by Parisian officials, was an inspiration for the spring collection.

Content courtesy of WWD & NFH

 

 

A Fashion Exhibition In Congo Aims To Promote Harmony And Creativity In A Conflict-affected Region

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Congo, Goma (AP)  A clothes designer in the Congo views the pinning, stitching, and ironing of her most recent collection as a means of communicating with the rest of the world.
Flore Mfuanani Nsukula declares in her Goma workshop that “through art, all the colors that we will express, through our clothes, it will be full of emotions, trying to explain what we are going through in our country.”

As numerous armed factions battle for control of lucrative mineral resources, there has been conflict in the eastern Congo for decades. Mass murders occur often, and the unrest has led to a refugee exodus.

The ninth Liputa fashion show was conducted on Saturday. According to the organizers, this was a chance to advocate peace and peaceful cooperation throughout Africa.

“Africans must unify as one. Although we do have a very diverse range of cultures, Délia Ndougou, a fashion designer from Cameroon, emphasized that this diversity must help us come together. She displayed a collection that was based on the flag of her country.

“We really wanted to convey joy in the clothes, peace in the clothes, very cheerful styles, a question of making the world smile,” remarked Kinshasa-based creative stylist Chadrac Lumumba.
Designers, models, and artists from Cameroon, Senegal, Burundi, France, the United States, and other countries participated in the Goma event.

Nsukula said after her new collection made its runway premiere, “We think we have sent a message to say that all these people who have come from elsewhere, that means that the situation is already improving.”

“We had visitors show their collections who came from the Central African Republic, Cameroon, the USA, and France. That implies that there is comfort and optimism that things will become better in due course.

The program aims to generate a more favorable perception of the continent in addition to spotlighting Congo’s fashion sector.
According to the collection’s organizer, David Ngulu, “We showed these collections not only to promote the creators’ ideals but to demonstrate that in Africa, in the (Congo), the areas that are deemed “red,” we can carry out the same activities as in other peaceful nations.

He stated, “I believe that each creator contributes to love, peace, and coexistence.

Content courtesy of AP & NFH

 

Kenyan Fashion Tech Shopzetu Raises $1.0 Million In Pre-seed Funding To Revolutionize Africa’s Fashion And Lifestyle E-commerce Landscape

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

To meet the rising demands of young, fashion-conscious women in Africa, Kenyan fashion e-commerce company ShopZetu is expanding its portfolio to include beauty and home décor categories.
To this end, it has raised pre-seed capital to support the expansion of its marketplace beyond Kenya.
In the next few months, it plans to develop geographically while luring in worldwide fashion labels and more than double the number of sellers on its platform to 1,000.

Equipped with a $1 million pre-seed fundraising round that it recently finished, the firm intends to expand beyond Kenya, where it debuted in 2021, to test regional distribution services in Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

“The objective is for ShopZetu to emerge as the top lifestyle site.
We want to provide more options in the areas of hair, skincare, beauty, and home décor all areas where a person may show their individuality. Our goal is to become a one-stop store,” stated Marvin Kiragu, CEO of ShopZetu, who, alongside Wandia Gichuru, co-founded the well-known Kenyan fashion company Vivo.

Chui Ventures led the pre-seed investment, and Launch Africa, Roselake Ventures, and Logos Ventures also participated. The CEO of RT Knits Kendall Tang, the co-founder and CEO of Nadine West Ben Munoz, and the CEO of Estée Lauder Inc.
Sumit Bhasin, the CEO of WPP Scangroup Patricia Ithau, and the CEO of Twiga Foods Peter Njonjo are among the angel investors that participated in the round.

According to Kiragu, who spoke with TechCrunch, ShopZetu was created in response to the demand for a multi-brand marketplace to connect a severely fragmented market with “hundreds of thousands of sellers” both offline and online, including on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. He pointed out that this results in a difficult purchasing process that lacks client trust and pricing visibility.

He went on to say that because there are an endless number of different stock-keeping units, it is practically impossible for any one person to hold the whole selection in one physical area.
“ShopZetu aims to address this issue by consolidating the existing inventory of fashion and lifestyle items into a single location,” he stated.

There are presently over 20,000 goods listed on the ShopZetu marketplace, with over 300 sellers, mostly consisting of small and major local producers and traders of imported fashion products. Onboarding of vendors is free of charge; however, they get payment for extra services, such as delivery, and for sales that are made on the platform.

We also provide warehousing, digital marketing, last-mile delivery, content creation, and return management to our vendors. To guarantee that vendors are successful online, these services are provided at a fee, although they are heavily subsidized,” Kiragu added.

“We want to make it easier for anybody to launch and grow a fashion company by utilizing ShopZetu’s extensive network and resources.
He stated, “We have excellent case studies of firms that were nurtured and introduced on ShopZetu before expanding online and opening physical locations.

The startup stipulates that, among other requirements, retailers selling on the marketplace must offer inclusive sizing, high-quality items, and be well-stocked.
According to the firm, within the last 24 months, it has catered to more than 30,000 clients, sold over 100,000 items, and seen a 400% rise in monthly orders since January 2021.

ShopZetu claims to be keeping an eye on the expanding sub-Saharan African fashion market, which is now dominated by used apparel.
Startups such as ShopZetu, however, are relying on the expanding fashion-conscious and tech-savvy population in Africa as well as reasonably priced new apparel alternatives to fuel their expansion.

“We think there is a huge market for fashion because clothes are a basic human need.”
Although a significant portion of this is now satisfied by used apparel, Kiragu noted that as more reasonably priced choices become available, there is a slow transition to new apparel.

“We think that the largest e-commerce category in Africa will be online fashion retail, surpassing formal retail.”

Content courtesy of TechCrunch, ShopZetu & NFH

East Africa Textile And Leather Week (EATLW) 2023 Accelerating East Africa’s Sustainability In The Textile And Leather Industries

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Nairobi, Kenya, Sarit Expo Center, Wed., June 28th–Fri., June 30th
With a projected market value of $31 billion in 2020, the fashion and textile business is Africa’s second-largest industry after agriculture. Growing annually, it has the capacity to produce millions of jobs across the continent, particularly for women and young people.
The eagerly awaited EAST AFRICA TEXTILE AND LEATHER WEEK (EATLW) 2023 edition is the most prestigious gathering venue for the home textile, leather accessories, and footwear sectors and is ready to revolutionize the East African textile industry.

Leading African and international decision-makers from all points along the fashion value chain will gather in June to assess upcoming trends and costs.

Key industry players and thought leaders are brought together by EATLW to have in-depth conversations, look into business opportunities, and see the incredible potential of the garment manufacturing industry in East Africa.

with an emphasis on innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Three thousand five hundred wholesalers, retailers, chains, manufacturers, and dealers from East and Central Africa will attend the event along with 150 exhibitors from East Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Carvico Ethiopia Plc, Leather Masters Kenya, Starsewing Dubai, Desta Plc, and Josef Seibel are a few notable exhibitors. The three-day RUNWAY KENYA ready-to-wear fashion show will include clothing and accessory designers from all over East Africa, hosted by Couture Africa Magazine in partnership with Ajuma Limited.

The Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry, EPZA, The Leather Apex Society of Kenya, Ubunifu Association, Women in Business, and Fashion Agenda Africa are a few other significant partners.

The CEO of Trade & Fairs Consulting GmbH, Mr. Skander Negasi, said, “We are delighted to host East Africa Textile and Leather Week, a platform that highlights the rich tradition, craftsmanship, and tremendous promise of the East African textile and leather sector.
“EATLW is more than just a conference; it serves as a catalyst for the industry’s development, cooperation, and advancement. We cordially encourage all interested parties, international investors, and fashion fans to join us on this remarkable adventure.

Sarit Expo Center, Main Hall / Nairobi, Kenya
Daily 10.00 am – 6.00 pm EATLW Exhibition
Changes in program structure or exchange of speakers or referees remain reserved | www.eatlw.com

CONFERENCE PLAN
DAY 1 28th June 2023
9.00 am – 10.30 am Registration
11.00 am-noon Inauguration and opening ceremony
Principal Secretary, Department of Industry
Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry
Exports Processing Zones Authority (EPZA)
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm LUNCH BREAK
2.00 pm – 2.45 pm A critical analysis of government policies and initiatives; Agenda to boost production and create employment in the leather and textile industries in the region
Speakers: EPZA
Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry
3.00 pm – 4.00 pm BRAND IDENTITY AND SOURCING SME Dialog session: Establishing a brand name that speaks
to the market to enable scaling and enhancing the taking of large orders for international markets
Speakers: KENIVEST
Moderator: Ms. Grace Mbugua, CEO of Jeilo Collections and Chairperson, Ubunifu Association
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm Fashion Show
Runway Kenya by Couture Africa

 

CONFERENCE PLAN
DAY 2 29th June 2023
9.00 am – 10.00 am Registration
10.30 am – 11.15 am Women‘s economic empowerment in the textile, apparel, and leather industries: Strategies for
promoting gender equality and empowerment in the industry
Speakers: Women in Business
Caroline Ngumba – Program Manager Sustainable Manufacturing – Textiles & Apparel (IDH)
Catherine Ndungu – CE0, Design 365 / Ubunifu Association
11.30 am – 12.45 pm PRESENTATION Combating counterfeits in East Africa: A comprehensive approach to
enhancing local sourcing in the textile and apparel industry
Speakers: Anti-Counterfeit Authority EPZA
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm LUNCH BREAK
2.00 pm – 2.30 pm Opportunities in the leather, textile, and apparel industry: Financing and investment prospects for industry growth
Speakers: KenInvest KEPSA
2.45 pm – 3.30 pm The rise of African fashion: Sustainable textiles pioneers from East and Central Africa region
Speakers: Ms. Akinyi Odongo, OGW – President & Founder, Fashion Agenda Africa (FAA)
Ms. Aulgah Nato – International Multi Award Winning Fashion Designer
Moderator: Ms. Connie Aluoch – Award-Winning Stylist, Connie Aluoch Styling Management
3.45 pm – 4.20 pm Protecting intellectual property in the Textile and apparel industry: Strategies for
safeguarding designs, trademarks, and patents
Presentation: KIPI
4.20 pm – 5.00 pm Fashioning sustainability in design-led businesses: Systems for sustainability and the role of
diversity and Inclusivity in shaping wearable design
Speaker: EPZA
David Avido, Kibera Fashion Week
Olive Gachara
5.00 pm – 6.00 pm Fashion Show
Runway Kenya by Couture Africa

 

CONFERENCE PLAN
DAY 3 30th June 2023
9.00 am – 10.00 am Registration
10.30 am – 11.15 am Leveraging government support and exploring new markets to promote growth and
competitiveness in the East African leather sector
Speakers: Leather Apex Society of Kenya
Ministry of Livestock
11.30 am – 12.45 pm PRESENTATION Strategies towards overcoming challenges such as high investment costs
and the need for incentives to attract investment in the leather industry
Speaker: Leather Apex Society of Kenya
1.00 pm – 2.00 pm LUNCH BREAK
2.00 pm – 2.45 pm Panel Discussion by Couture Africa
3.00 pm – 5.00 pm Fashion Show Mega Final
Runway Kenya by Couture Africa

Kenya’s Textile And Apparel Sector
The nation’s current textile and clothing businesses create a wide range of goods.
While integrated mills provide a wide range of goods such as yarn, fabrics (knitted and woven), canvas, school and travel bags, blankets, sweaters, shawls, uniforms, towels, baby diapers, and knitted clothing, spinning enterprises generate yarn (including industrial) and sewing thread. On the other hand, garment producers provide a variety of clothing for both the domestic market and export.
Men’s apparel is produced by about 46% of the garment factories, while the remainder makes woven chemise and robes, slacks, Kaunda suits (for men), and knitted, and woven clothing.
Investments in cotton farming, cotton ginning, spinning, weaving, as well as the manufacturing of clothing and other goods, are guaranteed to have ready access to local, regional, and global markets. Kenya offers advantageous production incentives and enticing investment incentives.

Only 15 of Kenya’s 52 textile mills are now in operation, and they only use less than 45% of their total capacity. In Kenya, there are thousands of clothing businesses. There are over 170 middle and big businesses and over 74,000 small and micro businesses.
The Export Processing Zones are home to twenty-one businesses, each of which employs 1,800 people on average.

Content courtesy of Couture Africa, East Africa Textile And Leather Week & NFH

 

 

Beyoncé And Naomi Campbell Wear Clothing From The Senegalese Brand Tongoro.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

There is a Beyoncé before and after for Sarah Diouf. Before 2020, Tongoro, which the now-36-year-old woman founded four years earlier, was growing with the measured pace of a new Senegalese label. Then, everything picked up speed with the release of Beyoncé’s musical feature film Black Is King at the end of July 2020. In the midst of pink flamingos, the American celebrity may be seen here sporting a pair of black and white pants that are labeled Tongoro.
The film, which was broadcast on Disney+ and had more than 11 million viewers in only two days, then strengthened the still-confidential brand and increased sales.

Dakar’s passion for fashion in the midst of the revolution
In the hallway of an apartment in Scat Urbam, a contemporary building in Dakar, where the designer has set up her office and her clothing workshop, the image of the queen of pop music can be seen alongside those of the American pianist and singer Alicia Keys or the British supermodel Naomi Campbell.

This is because Sarah Diouf employs clothing, fabrics, cuts, and volumes to convey the tale of her region, which is why these VIP brand ambassadors joined the company so soon. She claims that his clothes designs depict “Africa on the move” and that this is what draws her most attentive audience.

The young woman, who was living in Paris at the time, had the intuition that an African Renaissance was still in progress, but it was her contact with “Dakar the creative” that helped him improve his proposal.
full fire on craft in Dakar
The person who considers themselves to be “a child of Africa” notes, at the start of the 2010 decade, that “the craze for African fabrics allows a reappropriation of traditional cultures and encourages the emergence of contemporary designers Africans.” She was born in Paris to a Senegalese-Central African mother and a Senegalese-Congolese father and was later raised in Ivory Coast.

Though he is inspired by the fervor surrounding Africa and its exports and the enthusiasm for what the continent produces, it will take him a while to find his true calling.

By “Embodying African Pride”
She started her career as a communication specialist in 2009 with the launch of a webzine called GhubarA, which she named as a “space for the promotion of African and Arab artists in the world of art, culture, and fashion.” She holds a master’s degree in marketing and communication management from the Sorbonne in Paris. She continued in 2015 with Black, a lifestyle publication that discusses fashion and beauty in Africa. She enters the fashion industry through this back door.

One of the best shoemakers in Dakar is “Momo le Bottier”
She is gradually coming around to the notion of developing a Made in Africa brand, which she sees as a platform for the continent’s expertise.
According to Sarah Diouf, “I have long wished to embody African pride in priceless creations.”
Consequently, she is the writer and director of a narrative that promotes sub-Saharan Africa through her collections. Fashion seemed to her to be the right vehicle for this narrative, imposing itself on her like fabric.

She relocated to Dakar in 2016, when she fell in love with the city’s ubiquitous street tailors who worked nonstop to create the unique clothing that everyone ordered.

This undeveloped talent, which Sarah Diouf finds “fascinating,” is what she feeds off of and uses for her label. She immediately surrounded herself with four tailors, who in her workshop produced between one and 200 outfits every month.
She pulls out essential pieces from her closet, including dresses with long sleeves and broad shoulders and jumpsuits with wide legs. Noble pieces that respected the freedom to move and improved movement.

Sarah Diouf bases her visual identity on monochromatic prints of flowers or other patterns taken from traditional African imagery. Malick Sidibé (1936–2016) and Seydou Keta (1923–2001), two Malian portrait painters known as the “Father of African Photography,” served as inspiration for this design.
Tongoro, which translates to “star” in Sango, the language of the Central African Republic, adopted this design immediately. Sarah Diouf recently increased the chromatic spectrum of her works and the variety of items she produces at her customers’ request.

She also adds head jewelry and large earrings with highly styled contours to the colors that come to change her basic textiles. These accessories can highlight a hairdo and improve the posture of the head. According to the designer, who seeks to highlight in her clothing “the presence of a subtle Senegalese poetry of the volumes,” “the cultural mix in which I grew up infuses my brand.”

The challenge of producing locally
She wants to create attractive, well-finished clothing with Tongoro that can be worn anywhere, including America, Europe, and the Middle East. Additionally, the company that communicates in English currently generates 60% of its revenue in the United States, ahead of the United Kingdom and France, for the sake of efficiency.
Its primary markets on the continent are South Africa, where the company will soon expand, and Nigeria, far ahead of Senegal, which is developing slowly.

“The Africa World”
All Tongoro works are sold only on the company’s website thanks to Sarah Diouf’s use of her marketing expertise to develop the company’s digital business model.
Why limit yourself to physical stores, she wonders, when you can reach a larger audience of consumers online and do so across all continents? Since 2022, Tongoro has also been sold on the upscale products marketplace Net-à-porter, a distribution channel that has introduced it to a new Middle Eastern customer.
Due to the Covid-19 epidemic and the brand’s inability to produce two collections of 1,000 pieces each annually, the collaboration, which was supposed to begin in 2020, was delayed for two years.

In Senegal, increasing output continues to be difficult. Similar to other fashion designers in the nation, Sarah Diouf had to mentor her tailors in patronage. She intends to establish a bigger clothes unit in Senegal in order to obtain autonomy and boost production to 500 pieces per month. She is also establishing a collaboration with a Senegalese textile business that already employs 100 tailors.
“There is no fashion industry here due to a lack of formalization of the sector, but rather an ecosystem to which we must adapt,” she laments, regretful for this unrealized potential. Sarah Diouf, however, is determined to persevere and believes that other artists will be motivated by her story.

Content courtesy of  Globe Echo & NFH

 

 

The Top 10 Celebrities Who Rocked The Red Carpet’s Best Outfits At The 2023 Met Gala

Posted on by Fashion Police

This year’s theme, “In honor of Karl,” pays homage to the life and career of Karl Lagerfeld, the formidable and frequently contentious designer who transformed some of fashion’s most illustrious houses. In contrast to last year’s theme, which leaned into the opulence of the Gilded Era. When Lagerfeld passed away in 2019 at the age of 85, he was still in charge of Chanel and Fendi, where he headed design for more than 50 years, as well as his own namesake label.
During the decades he worked as a creative director, Lagerfeld became identified with Chanel.

Penélope Cruz, who made her Chanel runway debut shortly after Lagerfeld’s passing, Dua Lipa, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer, and Penélope Cruz are the co-chairs of this year’s event alongside Vogue’s global editorial director Anna Wintour.

The first Monday in May of 2023 was the date of the Met Gala. At the event honoring the late, great Karl Lagerfeld, celebrities paid homage to the designer in a variety of ways. Some wore vintage pieces created by the man himself, while others wore pieces inspired by his aesthetic as rival fashion houses reinterpreted some of his most well-known pieces.

There were many monochromatic outfits on the red carpet, with black and white dominating. We also saw numerous references to the camellia, loads of pearls, a hint of tweed, and hundreds upon thousands of crystal embellishments.

1.  Naomi Campbell in vintage Chanel
The night called for a little vintage Chanel, and Naomi Campbell, along with many other Nineties supermodels, gave Karl Lagerfeld a wink by going out in one of his designs. She selected a sophisticated, exquisite pink satin dress from Chanel’s spring/summer 2010 couture line with embellished accents.

2. Anok Yai in Prabal Gurung
One of the night’s best outfits came from Anok Yai and Prabal Gurung, who played with tulle, crystals, and the most beautiful silhouette. She accessorized her tiny dress with edgy sunglasses and silky opera gloves that reached her elbows.

3. Michaela Coel in Schiaparelli
Michaela Coel had a huge night because she was one of the hosts of the event. Because of this, she needed to look amazing on the red carpet, which she most surely did. For the occasion, the actress and director wore a Schiaparelli gown embellished with 130,000 crystals.

4. Rihanna in Valentino haute couture
Rihanna consistently ranks among the Met Gala attendees with the best outfits, and she did not let us down in 2023. The singer went for a stunning white haute couture ballgown by Valentino that came with a flowery headpiece that referred to the Camellia, the emblematic Chanel flower.

5. Lily Collins wearing Vera Wang
We also had the chance to witness how different designers interpreted Karl Lagerfeld’s creations, and we particularly liked Vera Wang’s interpretation. Actress Lily Collins donned a beautiful Karl Lagerfeld dress, which had a white bodice and a flowing black skirt with the word “Karl” embroidered on the train.

6. Nicole Kidman in vintage Chanel
The Met Gala is about more than simply looking amazing; it’s also about using your ensemble to tell a story, and Nicole Kidman may have had the best one of the evening.
The actress wore the same Chanel couture dress that she had debuted in 2004 for the renowned Baz Luhrmann-directed Chanel No. 5 fragrance commercial.

7. Camilla Morrone in Rodarte
On the Met Gala red carpet, there were many monochrome outfits, but one of our favorites was actress Camilla Morrone’s stunning Rodarte dress. The dress had a dramatic train and cape element, and it was constructed of white lace and black velvet. In a very Rodarte sense, it brilliantly nods to Lagerfeld’s aesthetic.

8. Anne Hathaway in Versace
It’s always wonderful to watch fashion houses show respect to one another, and this topic provided many examples. The outfit worn by Anne Hathaway, which was the ideal mash-up of Versace and Chanel, was one of our favorite interpretations of this.
The actress donned a floor-length, tweed gown with safety pins by Versace that was made in one color.

9. Lily Aldridge in Oscar de la Renta
Lily Aldridge consistently pulls off easy chic. Her 2023 Met Gala ensemble reflected exactly that, with Oscar de la Renta designers adding their own flair to Karl Lagerfeld’s creations. The pink train and eye-catching shoulder bows on the black gown stood out.

10. Allison Williams in Patou
Allison Williams chose to wear a Patou creation as a reference to some of Karl’s earlier moments.
She accessorized the dramatic and elegant bright orange satin dress with black opera gloves and a complementary hairband. It had a large bow on the shoulder and a statement belt.

Content courtesy of  Harpers Bazaar & NFH

 

Regi Reveals Stunning Chic Collection ‘Rebirth” With Eye-catching Photos!

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

Following the release of a sneak preview of their current collection to commemorate the brand’s rebirth, Nigerian womenswear label Regi has released more gorgeous images of the collection dubbed Rebirth.

“Rebirth can also mean; Renaissance, the emergence of something new, an awakening, a new era,” says designer Olufisayo Dayo-Oyelakin. Just a few words to express the emotion and creativity that goes into creating these ageless, adaptable, useful, and spontaneous creations. All of which are undeniably energizing, energizing, and stunningly appealing.

These pieces offer a preview of what the rebirth collection will include. Trust that it will be the perfect wardrobe refresh.”

The exquisitely crafted outfits have remarkable designs ranging from floral print corset tops with tie-back designs to rare but magnificent skirts to match. They are also available in a variety of colors.
REGI RTW’s latest fashion products are suitable for everyday wear and are ideal for women who value simplicity and comfort.

Content Courtesy of Designer: Rebirth by Regi & NFH

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ikojn Announces a Partnership With Ncba Bank, Introduces the Ikojnic Club, and Unveils a Cover Feature in Couture Africa Magazine.

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

The IKOJNIC CLUB, the brand’s exclusive loyalty club, was launched on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at a cocktail party and magnificent pop-up at The Social House in Nairobi.
Celebrities and fashion enthusiasts, like Pinky Ghelani, Joy Kendi, Sonal Maherali, and Victor Peace, attended the event.

Customers who use THE IKOJNIC CLUB receive free benefits for doing business with IKOJN. Every transaction a member makes results in points that may be exchanged for savings, free shipping, and other benefits.
The initiative aims to increase customer value and foster a sense of community among IKOJN supporters.

IKOJN announced a relationship with NCBA Bank in addition to the creation of THE IKOJNIC CLUB.
Customers of IKOJN will receive a 15% discount on all NCBA Card purchases as a result of the cooperation. This alliance demonstrates IKOJN’s dedication to giving its customers the greatest shopping experience possible.

“IKOJN is a womenswear brand that is 100% made in Kenya and it has a focus on sustainability. We love our customers at IKOJN we have been serving our customers for 8 years now. Our growth has been because of our customers and I thought we need to find a way to reward the IKOJN consumer who keeps coming back. They’re loyal to us and we need to give them something exciting in return,” said IKOJN’s founder, Cris Njoki.

Finally, IKOJN unveiled its cover story and fashion spread in Couture Africa magazine. The article is a significant accomplishment for the company and a reflection of its expanding reputation in the East African fashion sector.

IKOJN founder and CEO Janet Mbugua expressed her excitement about the introduction of THE IKOJNIC CLUB and her company’s collaboration with NCBA Bank.
“These alliances are proof of our dedication to giving our customers the finest purchasing experience possible. We are also delighted to be highlighted in Couture Africa.

This is a significant accomplishment for our company and a reflection of the dedication of our team.

Since its launch in 2015, IKOJN has become increasingly well-known. In addition to its bustling online store, www.ikojn.com, the ready-to-wear business has three more store locations in Nairobi Westgate Mall, Imaara Mall, and Greenhouse Mall. It is the height of femininity, with clothes that range from colorful dresses to chic co-ord shirts and bottoms. Given their superb construction, use of eco-friendly fabrics, and constantly flawless tailoring, it is easy to see why the brand has had such significant market growth since its inception and especially over the past few years.

“The IKOJNIC woman has a strong sense of self. She desires to have style. She wants to use her clothes as a means of self-expression, but she doesn’t want to stand out too much.

She wants to look classy with a bit of playfulness,” added Cris Njoki

Pinky Ghelani, Joy Kendi, Sonal Maherali, Brian Babu, and Victor Peace, to name a few renowned fashionistas, were among those present at the event held at The Social House in Nairobi, which was a big success.
IKOJN’s devoted clients had the opportunity to speak with Cris and her staff during the event while learning more about the company.
Visitors began to arrive around 3 pm and began to drink some Tusker Cider and Gordon’s Cocktails compliments of EABL as they went about their Sunday socializing and shopping.

IKOJN has established itself as a strong player in the Kenyan fashion sector, and we can’t wait to watch where they go from here.

Content courtesy of Couture Africa, Ikojn, NFH

Ikojn Kenyan Fashion Designer: Fashionistas Congregate at the Social House for an Event With Ikojn and Couture Africa

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

The Kenyan Fashion Brands Redefining Style And Glamour, Ikojn, and Couture Africa, two additional fashion and lifestyle brands, gathered together Kenyan fashion enthusiasts and supporters on Sunday, May 7th, 2023, at The Social House. EABL, who provided some cocktail service and had some chic bars, also sponsored the event and contributed to its gloss and glam.

We also got to witness a blown-up replica of the impending “comeback” print issue of Couture Africa Magazine. Ikojn, who are now selling at the hotel, had their creations on show.

We’ve taken a long break from publishing during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic, so we’re happy to be back. I think there’s still a place for print in the East African market, especially for specialized magazines, and this collaboration with IKOJN is a great opportunity to reenter the market. Founder and Chief Editor Olive Gachara made a point.
The Social House will still host the pop-up, which will stock limited-edition selections that are exclusively available there.

IKOJN, which was founded in 2015, is the perfect embodiment of seductive femininity and ladylike strength. The company’s mission is to build the continent and its fashion sector while teaching the world about cultural tales via design in the form of flawless tailoring and excellent construction.

Fashion and beauty entrepreneurs, celebrities, members of the media, content creators, and influencers from all walks of life mingled while they snacked, drank, and shopped in the Social House garden and the nearby event space, which had been converted to be worthy of the fashion content.

The chance to interact with the businesses, learn more about their vision and mission, and keep up with their most recent developments was fantastic for the guests.

The ninth issue of Couture Africa Magazine, which is currently distributed throughout East Africa, will be available in June both in print and online through the Issuu Digital Magazine Newsstand. The platform also manages the website: mycouture.africa, which hosts online content, and they just created the YouTube channel COUTURE Africa TV.

In addition, the group organizes fashion shows including the Couture Style Awards.

Content courtesy of Couture Africa, Ikojn & NFH

Nairobi Brings Fashion and Art Together: Nairobi Fashion Week And Chez Sonia Collaborate To Host A One-of-a-kind Afternoon Event On April 21st.

Posted on by Oscar Alochi

On April 21st, 2023, Nairobi Fashion Week sponsored a one-of-a-kind afternoon event that blended the worlds of fashion and art while presenting the “JUST fashion” campaign at Chez Sonia.
This event promised to be a feast for the senses and delivered, with spectacular visual art displays from Little Art Gallery, live music, and a fashion show featuring five selected designers, Deepa Dosaja, Inna Design, Kenya Nashipai Leather, Normand Ayats, and Maisha.

Nisria brought together outstanding artists and designers to create an extraordinary day of creativity and beauty.

The event also included a panel discussion on sustainable fashion moderated by media personality Yvonne Ndege, with Katrin Aidnell, the Regional Environment and Climate Change Specialist, Betterman Simidi, the General Manager of Africa Collect Textiles, and Deepa Dosaja, a pioneer in a sustainable fashion.
The conversation centered on the necessity for a fair and environmentally friendly transformation of the country’s fashion industry.

The Nairobi Fashion Week campaign “JUST fashion,” the ultimate aim of which is to support the country’s fashion sector in its JUST, i.e. environmentally sustainable and socially equitable, transition feature’s four advocacy and promotional areas throughout 2023,

focused on Just transition, sustainable fashion, and the protection of the Nairobi National Park.

Credits:
Video by Valde
Photography by: Levi King

Content courtesy of Nairobi Fashion Week & NFH

 

 

 

Made In Cameroon: The Brand Shoes By Vidal Produces Hand-made Luxury Shoes.

Posted on by Fashion Tribe Influencer

The VIDAL boot factory was founded in September 2016 in Douala, the brand offers men a range of shoes: Hand Grade.
The VIDAL manufacturer has kept the original case which guarantees the durability of its know-how. The specificity of the Goodyear fitting of these shoes, which combines style, comfort, and longevity, goes back to the techniques of the 19th century.

It requires special expertise to carry out more than a hundred manual operations requiring around two weeks of work.
As a local Cameroonian company managed by a young entrepreneur, VIDAL is committed to maintaining the highest standards of traditional craftsmanship, quality, and service that its customers have enjoyed for some time.

We re-connect with designer Vidal Kenmoe to discuss his bespoke, high-end shoe line based in Douala. Former British Royal Army soldier Vidal Kenmoe switched his military expertise to shoe soles.
He continues to advise the army, but he now spends the majority of his time in Douala, Cameroon, creating, cutting, and polishing exquisite shoes. In 2016, Kenmoe established Shoes by Vidal, claiming to make each pair the highest possible levels of craftsmanship. The whole style of his business makes it clear why these sneakers have been in such high demand. In a fashion market where its citizens seek out high-end goods elsewhere, Kenmoe thrives.

To learn more about Kenmoe’s motivation, creative process, and other topics, we re-connect.

Rene Khan: Where did the desire or passion to make shoes come from?

Vidal Kenmoe: My passion for shoes comes from two things mainly—my mother’s love for shoes and fashion, as well as my time spent in the Royal Army, where a special interest was taken towards dressing.

RK: How long have you been making shoes?

VK: I have been making shoes since 2015. I learned the craft in 2013 and I’m still perfecting it.

RK: What does it mean to you to employ the use of local artisans?

VK: It feels good being able to contribute in that sense and to share my experiences with them and vice-versa.

RK: Creating one shoe takes two to four weeks and involves over 100 steps. Is this true?

VK: Yes, it does take a few weeks on average to design and manufacture a pair of shoes, but with experience, that time can be reduced in half.

RK: Where are the majority of your customers based?

VK: My customers are spread out around the world but the majority are based in Douala, Cameroon.

Talk to me about the process of making a shoe that boasts such a high standard of craftsmanship.

It all starts with forming the right shoe last for the design required. Once the last is done, the next step is pattern cutting followed by clicking the leather (upper), followed by the sewing of the upper with the under and then molding (also called lasting), and lastly, the finishing.

RK: Do you have partnerships with raw material sellers to access genuine leather, suede, velvet calfskin, and various fabrics?

VK: No, I simply purchase what I need.

AgA by Vidal appears to have come later. Tell me about the line.

AgA is the sandals and accessories line. AgA does both male and female sandals and we’re hoping to move into belts, watch straps, wallets, key ring holders, and many other leather products. The motivation for AgA is the need to satisfy customers’ demands for leather accessories (other than shoes) at an affordable price.

RK: In 2017, you made a pair of shoes for Samuel Eto’o. Have you worked with any other notable figures?

VK: Yes, I have provided shoes to several diplomats, professional athletes, MDs, artists, and politicians.

RK: What challenges do you face, apart from power outages, that halt your use of sewing machines and finishing bands?

VK: Not many these days. We purchased a power generator, so power cuts are no longer an issue. My biggest challenge remains people’s lack of education on handmade shoemaking.

RK: You dwell in a country noted for a 1 percent that travels abroad for luxury goods and yet you create luxury shoes. How do you fare? What sets your shoes apart?

My designs are unique, and my mix of materials includes leather, suede, denim, and African fabric—the discipline I put into the making, my attention to detail, and my focus on functionality which is mainly comfort and durability.

RK: What else do you hope to accomplish as a young entrepreneur?

VK: As a young entrepreneur, I would love to see my brand spread across borders and become a standard for shoemaking worldwide.

Kenmoe recently marked Shoes by Vidal’s second-year anniversary in Paris with a meet and greet and the launch of a new suede collection.

Learn more about his new collection, his lines ShoesbyVidal and AgAbyVidal on Instagram and his website.

Content courtesy of D Fashion Magazine & NFH

 

 

 

 

Plus Size Model: The UAE Is The Latest Market For Plus-size Lifestyle Wear Brand MULU.

Posted on by Ann Mumbi

The launch of a new office in Dubai as part of MULU’s intentions to expand in the MEA region, a lifestyle fashion company that caters solely to plus-size women, was announced today.
The Netherlands was the previous home of the fashion label, formerly known as Kanessa, where it started its e-commerce business in 2018. The company sells its product all over the world, and its products are popular in North American and European markets. Due to the rising demand for plus-size clothing in the Middle East and Africa, MULU has recently relocated its headquarters to Dubai.
For MULU’s on-the-ground activities, the new office in Dubai offers a prime location that will assist the company to establish a local and regional footprint.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyVn8sAPg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

In order to fulfill rising customer demand in the area and Africa, MULU has also established a warehouse that will act as the regional hub for operations. This warehouse will function as the brand’s second location. To broaden its reach and better meet the demands of customers, MULU intends to launch a retail location in Dubai this year.

The most recent statistics show that 42 percent of women in Saudi Arabia and 31 percent of women in the UAE are currently plus-size or larger. A significant issue in the area, meanwhile, is finding clothing that fits plus-sized women well.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmtawq3sSvu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

About MULU
“After five years of growing the brand from The Netherlands, we are eager to take MULU to the next level,” stated Kanessa Muluneh, founder and CEO of MULU.
We are very happy to begin this new chapter for MULU from Dubai. We have listened to our clients in the area and Africa, and we are very cognizant of their demands. When you’re a plus-sized woman, your consumer buying cycle and experience appear different, and it needs to be treated differently.
MULU is here to fix this issue in the region with unique shopping experiences and creative technology. We understand our consumers’ physical and psychological concerns when it comes to apparel.”

MULU is a movement, not just a clothing brand. We have a strong sense of community and education, and we use fashion and cutting-edge technology to address issues in our neighborhood.
Our goal is to inform women about the direction of fashion and how they can contribute significantly to the expansion of the internet, specifically by using Web3.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmYyy4TMSgA/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

More than ten countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, the UK, the United States, Canada, and Ethiopia, sell our products.

Content courtesy of, D Fashion Magazine, MULU & NFH

 

 

 

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