Dar es Salaam — Kina Klothing is an African urban wear brand that launched its first collection in 2009. Many of the designs depict themes and images celebrating Africa in general, while others focus on images relevant to Tanzania. Kina Klothing is the brainchild of Tanzanian designers and entrepreneurs Mkuki Bgoya and Susan Mosi. While both were based in Texas they came up with the idea of starting a clothing line that reflected their style and backgrounds. Bgoya, who has a degree in design communication, began with designing graphic t-shirts in 2002 that were inspired by hip hop culture and his Tanzanian background.
In a recent interview, Bgoya and Mosi reflected on the lack of urban street clothing in the United States that reflected the experiences of Africans or the new African Diaspora – thus Kina Kothing was born. Bgoya and Mosi said they wanted to create a brand with a message, as well as one with a name that was easy to pronounce. Kina means "deep/depth" in Swahili. Kina Klothing translates into: clothing that expresses ones heritage.
Bgoya, whose degree trained him to use images to communicate ideas, is the lead designer. Mosi assists with the creative process and oversees marketing and distribution. The duo have managed to turn their company into an international brand with Bgoya heading operations in Dar es Salaam and Mosi managing business in the US.
The motto or tagline of Kina Klothing is Vitu vyetu ki vyetu, which, according to Bgoya, translates loosely into "our things, our way". The designers attribute Kina Klothing's growing popularity to its appeal not only to Tanzanians, but to the broader East African and African community as well.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Bgoya emphasizes that some designs are more popular than others in certain communities. For example, he says that while shirts celebrating Tanzanian independence may be more popular with Tanzanians, shirts with the image of Julius Nyerere, Tanzania's first president, are popular with a variety of people. The designs are being well received in Tanzania and abroad, with African and American celebrities endorsing the designs. Tanzanian basketball star Hasheem Thabeet, American hip hop artists Jay Electronica and Mos Def have all requested or worn shirts. Tanzanian hip hop artist Fid Q wore a Kina Klothing t-shirt on the cover of his latest album, "Propaganda".
T-shirts are currently available online through Kina's website: www.kinaklothing.com. Shirts can also be purchased at the Tanzania Publishing House on Samora Avenue in downtown Dar es Salaam. As of now, the shirts are being produced in the United States, due to printing and garment quality issues.
Bgoya and Mosi are working on their next collection, which they say will include more diverse designs, as well as incorporate other products and other types of cloth. They also aim to place their t-shirts in more retail outlets and may open a brand store.
