If you have FAFA in your calendar as the event to attend this end of May, you are we dare predict, going to have a worthwhile experience. Whether it is your first FAFA gala or not, your number one reason for gracing the occasion is none other than our favourite F-word: FASHION. The Festival for African Fashion & Arts (FAFA) : Fashion for Peace is a gala dinner and show of top Kenyan fashion brands together with regional or Pan-African guest designers.
What is our take on this year’s list of participating designers? To answer this we may have to give a small commentary on fashion in Kenya over the years. Where the fashion industry in Kenya is right now, how far we have come and where it is heading? Indulge us, and try and remember any designers that have been in the limelight since ten or say twenty years ago. KikoRomeo just turned 18 years this month but how many more could you list? If I narrowed the figure to five years, an average Kenyan would still not be able to count too many household names in the fashion and design industry. John Kaveke would be another name you are likely to hear but the truth is even in these times that access to information is easier than ever only a few Kenyans are acquainted with their very own designers’ brands.
John Kaveke (Kaveke.com)
Joe Kisila in Kiko Romeo (Kikoromeo.com)
This is all visibly changing, we foresee a brighter future ahead. Any designer will tell you that theirs is not an easy job and for this reason we have to celebrate and recognize every designer out there leaving a mark in the Kenyan and African fashion journey.
Here is a list of FAFA 2014 Participating Desingers:
NIKU SINGH
WAMBUI KIBUE
ARYAM
ANKARA VINTAGE-NICK ONDU
KIKOTI
SHENU HOODA
KIKOROMEO
KOOROO
MUNA YEMANE
ANNA ADERO
JAMIL WALJI
AZRA WALJI
WAITHIRA KIBUCHI
RIRI
LE COLLANE DI BETTA
AMI DOSHI
MANCINY MIGWI
Source: coutureafricamag.com
