Key fashion events to keep the sector alive

The country’s fabric sector is one of the most vibrant in the region. Majorly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry is once again looking up. Mwangi Alberto looks at some of the fashion shows that have been vital in shaping the sector and keep it roaring post-Covid

1. Fafa

The Festival for African Fashion and Arts (Fafa) has for years aimed to draw attention to the immense creativity and sophistication that exists in Kenya and on the African continent, while portraying the wonderful richness that exists in cultural diversity. A brainchild of renowned Scotland-born Kenyan designer Anne McCreath (also founded KikoRomeo fashion brand in 1996), the annual event showcases designers from across the continent and beyond. It also holds runway shows, arts exhibitions, masterclasses and business workshops on all matters fashion. It was set up after the post-election violence in 2008, with a desire to show creativity and solidarity in the face of adversity.

2. Nairobi Fashion Week 

The Nairobi Fashion Week (NFW) is a creative idea targeted to be a meeting place for the nation and Africa’s most creative fashion talent. It’s an event created to showcase East Africa’s designers, stylists, producers, commentators, sponsors and everyone in between to a global audience. NFW has been conceptualised to provide a leading platform for the Kenyan fashion industry to grow. It brings together all the necessary components under one roof to provide an opportunity to incubate and grow the sector.

3. Fashion High Tea

The event prides itself on being one of the few local events that combine fashion and charity, by collaborating with philanthropists. The contemporary ‘high tea’ theme is slowly changing to accept pants, flashy colours and even elegant outfits that don’t necessarily fall under the ‘high tea’ dress code. Fashion High Tea has proven itself time and again to be one of the premiere fashion events in the country, by bringing together designers from all over the world to showcase their work to the local market.

4. The JW Show

Founded by Jeffrey Wilson in 2013, the show aims to connect Kenya, Africa and the world through fabric and design. This style-studded fashion extravaganza congregates men and women who are pushing the envelope of sustainable local fashion brands that have transcended borders and caught global attention. The event, where style will meet elegance, mostly offers a platform to young up-and-coming designers to showcase their craft, and for the established Kenyan fashion designers to pass on skills and expertise to the younger peers. 

5. Kenya Fashion Awards

Established in 2012, the Kenya Fashion Awards celebrates the contributions of the designers, fashion photographers, models, fashion stylists, make-up artists, hair stylists and creatives in the fashion scene. The event provides a stepping-stone for emerging talent into the highly competitive fashion arena through networking, promotion and guidance. 

6. Fashion Couture Affair

Fashion Couture Affair is a runway event started in 2016 and its managed by the 254 brand. It’s a platform for designer, models, exhibitors, artists and any other business related to fashion. The event traces its roots to Nairobi Railways Museum where most of the editions have been held in the past years.

7

Samantha’s Bridal Wedding Expo

The expo is a bi-annual three-day event where all wedding service providers in the industry come together and showcase the latest in wedding trends. It is one of Kenya’s most dynamic and effective places to meet leading industry players in the wedding, beauty, honeymoon, Kenyan fashion giants and affluent women and their families. The event spans a couple of days with close to a hundred vendors in attendance to showcase and promote their brands. There’s a runway segment that give a better view at how the wedding attires look like.

8. Entrepreneur Fashion Week

EFW runs on three key elements; fashion shows, mini expo and master class. All this pulls together business owners, industry insiders, exhibitors and fashion lovers in East, South and West Africa across fast fashion, contemporary luxury and trends for the world apparel production and supply for both European and African buyers and an opportunity for brands to meet and spark possible business opportunities and collaborations.

9. Tribal Chic

Tribal Chic is one of Nairobi’s most respected fashion shows. The annual event is hosted by the Tribe Hotel with aims to showcase the best Kenyan and international designers to local fashion players. The fashion event has over the past few years become a flag bearer for promoting Kenyan fashion infrastructure, thanks to the show’s curator Alina Haq and choreographer Sunny Dolat. It accommodates both local and international fashionistas. It was founded with an aim of helping the less fortunate in the society.

10. Turkana Fashion Week

Founded by Ignatius Wafula, the fashion property aims to recreate Turkana culture using fashion beyond Kenya. It is aimed to re-script the Turkana basin narrative using fashion by engaging Kenyans and friends beyond Kenya in providing effective local responses to environment challenges. It looks at not only demystifying the regions’ jewels to the world, but also illuminate the new dawn of a unique, diverse and culturally rich resilient populace. In its past editions, the event has received recognition and support from internationally celebrated Kenyan supermodel Ajuma Nasenyana.