Nairobi — Nicole Tikolo, a Kenyan fashion design student at Nottingham Trent University, has been named a finalist in the Womenswear Design category at the 2025 Fashanne Awards in the United Kingdom.
Her collection, titled Urembo wa Pwani (Swahili for The Beauty of the Coast), draws inspiration from her Taita roots and frequent visits to Kenya's coastal towns. The designs include custom prints featuring madafu and the Taita White Eye bird, presented in body-inclusive silhouettes intended to reflect the spirit of coastal locations like Diani and Lamu.
Tikolo's entry is now in the running for the People's Choice Award. She is encouraging support from Kenyans, East Africans, and members of the diaspora to vote for her collection, listed as Entry #62 on the Fashanne voting platform.
In an interview, Tikolo described the work as personal, noting that she aims to represent curvy women in fashion and connect her cultural heritage with contemporary design. Her collection emphasizes wearable volume, storytelling through print, and tailoring that accommodates diverse body types.
Tikolo acknowledged the influence of African designers such as Andrea Iyamah, Kim Dave, and Banke Kuku, who incorporate cultural elements into their work. She said the Fashanne nomination is her first appearance on an international platform of this scale.
The winner of the People's Choice Award will be announced at the Fashanne Awards ceremony on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
