10 Made-in-Kenya Cloth lines You Can Watch out For

Buy Kenya Build Kenya.

I would be so questionable, to say I love fashion without noticing the efforts of my countrymen. In recent years, my fashion eye has taught me the growing fashion environment in the Kenyan Industry, from visual bloggers and stylists to designers and even made-in-Kenya cloth line owners. With this I’m not just speaking of clothes per se, but also in the spectrum of fabric choices, craftsmanship, sustainability, the timelessness of the products, and efforts put into every collection. I’d love cloth lines like Zara, Asos, Nakd, H&M, etc., to establish their flagship around the country so that some of us can access our favorite pieces without caring for shipping charges in this inflated economy. Kenyan fashion entrepreneurs have challenged consumers with a variety of affordable products.

Kenyan’s fashion scene is experiencing a vibrant and exciting moment, with numerous talented designers creating unique and stylish pieces that celebrate Kenyan culture and craftsmanship. From bold prints and contemporary streetwear to timeless tailoring and sustainable practices, there’s something for everyone. So, if you’re looking to update your wardrobe with pieces that are both fashionable and ethically made, be sure to check out some of these brands as listed:

Studio Fit

This is a brand I personally endorse if you’re looking to wear feminine and timeless outfits. Studio Fit is a boutique brand based in Nairobi Kenya. They create fashion solutions with their cutting-edge apparel to satisfy the diverse palettes in the region. Studio Fit is a clothing line that focuses on all women and girls and they specialize in exclusive everyday fashion. Their products include clothing, accessories, and swimwear. The founder, director, and chief creator Sheila King’ori whose cloth line was recently featured in Elle magazine after a successful New York Fashion Week spring/summer 2024 maiden collection. Mentioned that she is self-taught, and only birthed the idea of a fashion brand out of passion for style. She intends for her brand to remain niche, in a way that each piece of clothing is special to its owner. They make classic clothes, transcend time, and above all clothing that makes women feel good. They ship worldwide.

Zia Africa

Right now the world is focusing on climate change discussion, if you want to positively and fashionably participate in these discussions, Zia Africa is your place to shop. Since 2013, Zia has been a leading clothing brand in the Kenyan fashion industry. What started as a side hustle has become a movement to champion sustainable fashion in Africa. Zia is a made-in-Kenya sustainable clothing brand that provides quality, unique, and timeless pieces for aspirational women. Their mission is to create high-quality, sustainable clothing that is both fashionable and environmentally responsible. They believe that fashion should not come at the cost of the planet, and are committed to reducing environmental impact through every step of the production process. Zia’s sustainability strategy aims to drive the brand to become the leading platform for sustainable fashion in Africa by 2025, and through their collections, they hope you’re inspired to join the sustainable revolution.

KikoRomeo

I know this might be a new name to many people, but it’s a very old-fashioned house. This brand is a collection between Kenyan designer KikoRomeo and Italian designer Francesco Maglietti. They create unique and stylish clothing that blends Kenyan and Italian influences, resulting in truly one-of-a-kind pieces. This is a heritage brand, widely credited with transforming fashion in Kenya, and mentoring many designers and artisans over the last two decades, KikoRomeo meaning “Adam’s Apple” in Kiswahili, was founded in 1996. Transcending cultures and fashion trends, KikoRomeo puts sustainability at its core, striving to create longevity in each garment by using handmade and hand-dyed fabrics as well as hand-carved trims, sourced from the African continent. Their fabrics come mainly from natural fibers including cotton, linens, and silk, as well as explorations into alternative fibers such as those derived from sisal and orange peel. KikoRomeo’s silhouettes are effortlessly elegant, and with attention to detail, they are treasured as works of art by all those who wear them.

IKOJN

This is a made-in-Kenya women’s wear fashion brand founded by Chris Njoki. Ikojn( pronounced as eye con) is her name Njoki spelled backwards, Isn’t that cool? She created a ready-to-wear brand that has so far been known for its impeccable quality, accessibility, and exceptional customer service. From 2015 when Ikojn was born, Chris led her all-star women team to continue to offer a top-tier shopping experience for all feminine bosses worldwide. Ikojn collection of clothes includes dresses, skirts, shorts, tops, kimonos, stylish dresses, and belt designs. Her collection speaks for itself, from wardrobe staples every woman needs, to fancy looks you can wear to your next date night; it’s for all kinds of women looking to feel elegant and beautiful. Cop yourself something with the worldwide shipping experience.

Vivo Activewear

Vivo was founded by Wandia Gichuru and Anne Marie Burungu in 2011. Twelve years on, they’re East Africa’s largest ladies’ fashion brand, designing and manufacturing 100% on the African continent. More importantly, they aim to inspire a whole generation of African fashion entrepreneurs. Initially, Vivo imported a lot of its clothes but these days almost all the garments are made in Kenya. They design and produce affordable, widely accessible, and good-quality clothing specifically for women of color and curvaceous women. Vivo products are stylish, colorful, fun, and have a good fit. Their customers love the fact that they see them through critical stages of their lives and that their products make them look and feel great without sacrificing comfort or breaking the bank. They currently have 23 retail stores across Kenya and Rwanda and over 360 employees, of which 70% are women. Vivo’s mission is to create economic opportunities in Africa through fashion, while their vision is to see Africa dressing the world.

Katush

This is a made in Kenya brand brand by Katungulu Mwendwa. It all started with the need to investigate. Investigating the core of how people see each other and themselves within history and culture and how these perceptions look in the modern-day. The brand believes in collaborative effort because collaborating with and highlighting the individuals behind the craft of making our pieces serves as a reminder of the value of clothing. Each part and every person plays an integral role in their work. Every collection starts with that curiosity, and then comes the process which is just as important as the clothes in their final form. By working with a skilled community of markers, each collection breathes new life into traditional craftsmanship by humanizing the voices behind the craft. Katush is an everyday superhero- embracing respect for the environment, for people, and the history of Africa for the self-aware global citizen looking for quality, versatility, and original design. Ever the curious mind, she interrogates perceptions of the African and female identity and subverts preconceived notions of African design. Katungulu hyper hyper-specific insight into culture, both current and through history, leads the way.

Style by Neomi

I am going to get my money long just so Neomi can make me a gown before I wear anything Nigerian. This is a brand by Neomi Ng’ang’a who has been in the entertainment industry for 12 years. She has been at the forefront helping out plus-sized women feel a lot better and not get sucked into what society deems as the right figure or shape. She would be asked where she shops from as a curvy woman and how she manages to dress sexy daily, and that’s how she birthed her brand Style by Neomi. She saw the gap in the market and thought, why not fill it? Fashion is something she is passionate about, so starting it taught her patience to be able to overcome challenges. Her designs which include bridal gowns, plus-size ready-to-wear outfits, and red carpet gowns that have even been worn on international stages speak for her efforts. The brand’s goal is to make everyone feel beautiful in their bodies while killing it on the world’s runway.

Afrostreet Kollektions

Afrostreet Kollektions is a Kenyan-based fashion house founded in early 2012. The designs are mainly Ankara (The African Print Fabric-kitenge) mixed with lace, chiffon, stretch fabric, linen, and khaki to bring out the African culture with a Western touch to it. The fashion house has had the privilege to showcase at different platforms both locally and internationally that have helped the fashion house to reach greater heights like Swahili Fashion Week in Tanzania, The Nairobi fashion market, Casino Malindi Strut It Afrika Fashion Week, The Kenya Fashion Week and The Nairobi Fashion Week. The model cum designer Yvonne Odhiambo had the urge to start her own fashion house. This was after strutting on different runways both in Kenya and East Africa region for 8 years. She has since worked hard and focused on her clothing line, allowing nothing to stand in the way of her giving the best she can to everyone who has knocked on her doors of fashion for that gorgeous look they sought. The fashion has had the opportunity to dress the most notable celebrities in Kenya including Annabel Onyango, Kansiime and Vanessa Mdee.

Mzizi Clothing

This brand takes inspiration from Kenyan history and culture, creating pieces that are both stylish and meaningful. This Kenyan fashion house was founded in 2016 by Keloy Mutuma. The Mzizi brand is a lifestyle that encourages positive living and one love. The company’s headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya. It is making a kill in the diaspora, the brand in the business of antique baseball jerseys celebrating Kenyan reference numbers (63 for the country’s independence), and national colors are emerging as a favorite amongst streetwear fanatics. Appreciation of Kenyan history and events with itsy-bitsy effort, the line is simplistic in incorporating Kenyan elements such as the flag hues to stand out in the crowd. Their calligraphy and fonts are cool too. their goal is to grow and inspire Kenyan youth.

Metamorphisized

This is a brand by Daudi O’ Aims to emulate the cumulative aspect of one’s personal wardrobe, by pairing precise tailoring with an unwavering devotion to simplicity. Each collection newly introduces styles integrated alongside recurring staple pieces, embracing the Kenyan culture with relatable elements in each piece. The result is an ideal genderless wardrobe in the making, striking a balance between everyday essentials and streetwise elegance.

Let me know which one of the brands you have interacted with?, What is your favorite? Which one feels your wardrobe the most? And if you’re looking to cop any in the future. Kenya to the world!

Originally published at http://nanahsperception.wordpress.com on February 26, 2024.