Kenya's fashion industry is booming. With a growing number of
the country's designers showcasing their work at international fashion
weeks, the demand for new clothing – and events to wear it to – is
on the upswing in Kenya.
The Fashion High Tea event was a chance for Nairobi’s finest to get dressed up/ photo/ all rights reserved
One
of the most high-profile outings of the year so far was the second
edition of the Fashion High Tea event held in February at Nairobi's
swish Zen Gardens.
Putting in an appearance were celebrities, media personalities
and politicians – including aspiring presidential candidate Martha
Karua. Bringing together home-grown designers such as Coco Chic and
sandal makers Maasai Treads, as well as stylists from abroad, the event
showed just how far the industry has come.
The political instability that followed the 2008 presidential
election saw the fashion industry take a setback. "Just two years ago
you could count the number of professional stylists on one hand," says
Grace Makosewe, chief executive of Nairobi VIP Parties, co-organisers
of the Fashion High Tea.
Now, as economic growth has picked up again, Kenya is brimming with
fashion and lifestyle publications, from inserts and supplements in
national newspapers to an increasing number of fashion blogs such as
Nancie Mwai's Fashion Notebook and the online community fashionboma.com.
"Kenya is a very cosmopolitan environment with a growing middle
class," says Ann McCreath, chief executive and head designer of Kiko
Romeo, a Kenyan fashion label. "People are aspirational and want to look
like the people they see on TV." KikoRomeo held its own
007-themed fashion show in February for the launch of its new line of
mens wear, modelled by the Kenyan rugby team.
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