FAFA Kenya, is making a debut in London. Having opened a pop up shop of Kenyan Fashion on10th November at 53 Monmouth St. Covent Garden London, FAFA hopes to take London by storm. Designers who will be selling until the end of November include; Deepa Dosaja, Kooroo, Anna Adero, Niku Singh, Suave Bags, KikoRomeo, Embody Accessories, Riri Jewellery, Nick Ondu, Kepha Maina, Patricia Mbela (jewellery), Jamil Walji, Maasai Treads and many more. In addition on Thursday 21st November, FAFA will be at Victoria Embarkment Gardens, London for ‘Whatever the Need Charity Dinner’ where six renowned Kenyan designers will showcase their work. These are Anna Adero, Jamil Walji, John Kaveke, KikoRomeo, Kooroo & Katungulu Mwendwa, together with jewellery by Niku Singh, Le Collane di Betta and Riri Jewellery and Ajuma Nasenyana will lead the models.
Brussels basedSaima Rashid, formerly of Nairobi, will coordinate the Hair & Make Up look withcelebrated Kenyan make-up artist Muthoni Njoba, and hair stylist IwonaSveruga from Toni & Guy. Photoshootsfor the Kenyan designs will be handled by Emmanuel Jambo, and Joseph Hunwick.
Designers with great products were urged to send their products to London.
DHL,as FAFA’s official logistics sponsor,has shipped goods to and from London. Shaftesbury Property Company, through ‘Wherever the Need’ has provided FAFA space for the three weeks.
Ann McCreath noted “I would like to see Kenyan fashion being the latest buzz words in London, given that we have a store in such a prominent place, we would like to get people knowing more about it, as London is mainly dominated by Nigerian and Ghanian designers, as seen at Africa Fashion Week London.”
It is part of FAFA’s mission to be a regular feature of the London scene that is, at least once a year. FAFA’s main goal is to take Kenyan brands to the world.Now beinga recognisable brand in itself, and known for quality product and production FAFA is now using this to leverage market visibility internationally and locally and promote the Business of Fashion. Earlier this year FAFA entered a 3 year agreement with CBA, specifically to further fashion businesses.
“Above all, we want to see fashion being listed on Kenya’s GDP. This is just the start. Let’s use this golden opportunity to test our products on the high streets of London, learn, adapt, and keep coming back with more to sell. At the end of the day London is a huge, cosmopolitan market, which can also introduce us globally, as people of all cultures shop there,” explainedAnn McCreath, FAFA Chair.
In addition, FAFA is very grateful to ‘Wherever the Need’ (WTN), who, inspired by our use of culture to bring people together, have opened doors in London. We would like the sophistication and quality of our fashion brands to show the new face of a Kenya at 50, which is the Kenya we all love and aspire to build.”
In the spirit of flying the Kenyan flag high, Kenya Airways, through its’ London office, is the main sponsor of the event. Proceeds from the charity dinner will go tothe WTN Water Project in Laikipia.
FAFA has also been invited byEsthetica, which is the sustainable fashion platformat London Fashion Week, to share a fashion video in their virtual fashion show at the next edition in February 2014.
FAFA Gala in Nairobi is scheduled for the29th March at the Nairobi Arboretum, with main sponsors JAMESON, The Sarova Stanley and Safaricom. Closing date for additional sponsors in 31st January 2014. For those who are looking for a special Christmas gift, early bird tickets will be on sale from end of November at 5,500 and 7,500 KES from ticketsasa.com
