Fashion designers to access Equity Bank’s Sh100 million facility

 

From left to Right Chairlady Association of Fashion Designers Kenya Sally Karago; winner of  Vijana na Equity Campaign Arnold Muriithi; Equity Group Foundation Chairman, Dr James Mwangi; Leading Fashion Designer, Katungulu Mwendwa; and Managing Director “in the bag” Linda Muriithi during the graduation ceremony of the  top 40 budding fashion designers.
From left to Right Chairlady Association of Fashion Designers Kenya Sally Karago; winner of Vijana na Equity Campaign Arnold Muriithi; Equity Group Foundation Chairman, Dr James Mwangi; Leading Fashion Designer, Katungulu Mwendwa; and Managing Director “in the bag” Linda Muriithi during the graduation ceremony of the top 40 budding fashion designers.

A group of 40 upcoming fashion designers have graduated from an Equity Bank,organized financial literacy course, setting the stage for their formal entry into the world of business.

The 40upcoming designers, who were also the finalists in the bank’s Vijana Na Equity;Design your Destiny, fashion design competition, successfully underwent a 30 hourscomprehensive financial training program custom designed for players in the creative sector. The Bank, recently launched the Vijana na Equity campaign geared at providing support for youthful creative entrepreneurs’ aspiring to make their mark in various fields.

Following their graduation, the fashion designers are now ready to claim a share of the local fashion design and apparel retail market estimated at more than US $330m a year, according to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), will also enjoy access to a KShs 100Million seed fund to support the whole clothing and textile ecosystem which includes agriculture, ginneries, spinners, fabric traders, and fashion and design through lease hire and asset finance facilities from Equity Bank.

Equity Group Foundation Chairman Dr. James Mwangi with Sally Karago, Chairlady Association of Fashion Designers Kenya
Equity Group Foundation Chairman Dr. James Mwangi with Sally Karago, Chairlady Association of Fashion Designers Kenya

Speaking during the graduation event, Dr. Mwangi, said that the clothing and textile industry holds enormous potential and value for Kenyans in creating employment, supporting tourism, and urged Kenyans to support the “Buy Kenya Build Kenya” initiative by the government.

The Bank, he said, will provide tailor made financial solutions for local fashion designers among other players in the local creative arts scene. He further pledged that the bank will partner with the fashion industry in Kenya in taking it to the next level through supporting initiatives like the proposed Kenya International Fashion week which will provide a marketing platform for local fashion designers.

“By providing financial literacy lessons to such a talented and youthful group, Equity Group is seeking to equip them with the necessary skills required to navigate through the dynamic financial environment. Fashion Designers equipped with financial literacy skills, we believe will be better placed to exercise prudence and even harness available financial resources including credit products,” Dr. Mwangi said.

“Through the Vijana na Equity initiative, we are setting off on a journey to nurture the youth and transform their dreams to be entrepreneurs in the creative scene” Dr. Mwangi said. “This is aligned with Equity Bank’s purpose to transform lives by maximizing opportunities for our existing and prospective clients,” he added.

Patricia Mbela; Fashion Designer and Arnold Muriithi winner of the Vijana na Equity Campaign.
Patricia Mbela; Fashion Designer and Arnold Muriithi winner of the Vijana na Equity Campaign.

During the graduation ceremony, Arnold Muriithi (23) a budding fashion designer was picked for the tophonour, managing to walk home with KShs 150,000. Arnold, who also got an all-expenses paid invitation to attend this years Hub of Africa Fashion Week in Ethiopia from Equity Bank. The other winners included Sheila Omondi, LatifMuqqadam and Chebet Lesan who were picked for the first, second and third runners’ prizes respectively while Kevin Ouma and Chebet Lesan won the most promising designer awards.

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Vijana na Equity Judges from left to right:- Sally Karago, Chairlady Association of Fashion Designers Kenya; Franklin Seiyalel, Fashion Blogger; Katungulu Mwendwa, Fashion Designer; and Linda Muriithi Managing Director “in the bag”.

 

The top 40 aspiring fashion designers were picked from over 195 entrants in the online contest. A panel of five judges from the industry worked with Equity Bank in developing the contest, in selecting the top 40. They also took them through practical sessions in fashion and design during the FiKA training. The five were, Sally Karago, Chairlady of the Association of Fashion Designers of Kenya and the managing director of Mcensal Fashion House; Diana Opoti a fashion media professional, avid blogger, founder and executive producer of the television series Designing Africa;Katungulu Mwendwa a young, enthusiastic Kenyan fashion designer; Franklin Saiyalel a fashion blogger based in Nairobi and Linda Muriithi managing director of In the Bag – a company that organized two editions of a Fashion Week in Ethiopia.

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