Kenyans – feeling wasted away by the country’s unending political feud, have resorted to attending fashion shows as a temporary reprieve from succession tensions rife here.
A new crop of designers, struggling to carve a niche in the world of fashion, are drawing huge crowds away from enforced politics attention, in a dashing show which got underway here at the weekend.
The Kenya Fashion Week, a year-old ambitious initiative backed by the European Union and local corporate organisations, with inspiration from South Africa’s M-Net fashions, is the biggest showcase ever held in Kenya.
It sought to expand into east and central regions of Africa, the failing continent that has for some time deprived a considerable number of talents of the chance to market their potential.
”This is a good start for us. From the onset, we’ve got a smart response from Kenyans, and East Africans in general.
”With many travelling from as far as Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Uganda to grace this event, this is something and is kind of a powerful kickstart,” organiser Moira Tremaine said.
”Since it’s going to be an annual event in future, we anticipate potential sponsors to elevate it to continental standards,” Tremaine added.
The show, which attracted more than 5 000 people tightly packed in a shopping mall in Nairobi’s Westlands suburb, hosted an assortment of designs from east African fashion desiginers and beauty wares.
It was the right remedy that briefly cast away to oblivion the country’s multiple political ghosts.
”I’m tired of Kenya’s political intrigues, today you hear this, tomorrow you hear that, anything they say holds no water,” moaned Phillip Edmonds, a London resident, who has a taste for fashions.
”These days, I prefer browsing a website and reading some shameless London tabloids and go through some local newspapers to read lifestyle features, rather than following some obfuscating political stories awash in the media,” said Edmonds
”Kenyan politics is dull, but now fashion is gaining ground for the first time in decades dating back to independence when unilateral politics from the ruling Kenya African National Union party patronised everything,” he added.
With some 600 new designs from 40 fashion experts to be paraded for the three-day show, about 120 ambitious Kenyan models had the opportunity to impress high-flying beauty agents here, perhaps to strike a deal that would bring in a few greenbacks through contracts.
For such models, many without any political interest at all, a day at Sarit Expo Centre delicately cat-walking on white linen under 2 000 watt lamps and curiously mocking eyes, amid ululations and banal chants, is a day longer than usual.
”Look here,” Lydia Kogo (20) beckoned my attention to marketing designs prepared by Kenya’s Sue Muraya.
”I catwalk to promote African designs, and in the process, achieve my dream of linking up with modelling queens in Milan, Monaco, New York and London corridors,” Kogo said.
”Purists call this career immoral… but it’s a fact that we intend to make a day’s meal from it. What is wrong with that,” Kogo asked.
Whatever happens in any political setting doesn’t appeal to her, ”only if (Kenyan President Daniel arap) Moi decides to organise an harambee (fund raising) to promote us (models), then I will give politics a second thought,” Kogo mused.
Kenya Fashion Week, a new trendsetter for east Africa’s fashion-conscience youth, materialised only after the European Union’s Micro-Enterprise Support Programme, and local corporate backers injected megabucks into the event. – Sapa-AFP