Business Daily (Nairobi)
Beatrice Gachenge
26 May 2008
Nairobi — Kenyan designers hit the runway alongside top African designers over the weekend to showcase their creations. From high quality linen, to African fabric, to the conventional lesso, the designers were not short of creativity.
Organised by Festival of African Fashion and Arts (FAFA) in collaboration with the Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), the fashion catwalk was dubbed Fashion for Peace, an initiative geared towards raising funds for victims of political violence.
The masterpiece signatures were either unique embroidery, beadwork, shells, gourds, bronze work and patchwork with a splash of colours. Shades ranged from natural colours and earth to white.
And both sexes were well represented in the apparel collection. Most of the designers were Afro centric while others were a manifestation of art on fabric. Among the top African designers that joined local designers in displaying their creative masterpieces were Paris-based designers Alphadi of Niger, Imane Ayissi of Cameroun and Paul Herve Elizabeth of Martinique, as well as Pathe'O of Ivory Coast, and Modela Couture of Nigeria.
Participating Kenyan designers included Moo Cow, KooRoo, Sally Karago, John Kaveke, and KikoRomeo. Other than apparel, footwear was also ion display ranging from simple slip ons to high calibre hand crafted shoes and boots.
KTB has embarked on innovative strategies after the negative hit the country suffered following the post- election violence, and hosting Africa's most reputable designers and models was one of the many tactics deployed. Concerted efforts from players in the sector has seen 200 international journalists hosted in the country after normalcy returned.
The marketing arm of the government has been involved in several exhibition s and tours to revamp as well as promote Kenya as a premium tourist destination. Players in the tourism sector say that it will take at least six months of marketing the country to regain its status in the international arena.
A major chunk of the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the "Alternatives to Violence Project", Kenya, which runs training on conflict prevention and reconciliation in affected areas of the country, while some amount will be channelled towards other peripheral activities such as a designer exhibition.
Held at the Nairobi National Park, about 400 people attended the fashion gala night. Speaking during the show, Mrs Ida Odinga, wife of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, urged Kenyans to embrace our cultural diversity.
FAFA is a newly created association, which is made-up of a multi-disciplined coordination team dedicated to the promotion of peace through art, fashion and music.
FAFA was created in response to the post election violence and seeks to promote African fashion and the arts through different events.
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