Kenya: Kikoromeo Unveils its New Couture Line at Africa Fashion Week
By Henry Neondo
NAIROBI---KikoRomeo, Kenya’s leading design house will be representing Kenya this week at the prestigious Africa Fashion Week in the fashion capital of the world, New York.
The new award winning 22 piece couture line is bright, bold and cotemporary. Inspired by East African culture, colours and uniqueness, the collection is a strong illustration of the leaps and bounds that have been taken by East African designers in putting Africa on the map in terms of high-end fashion.
The collection is also the embodiment of a movement within African designers and artists that is led by the fashion industry which embraces and embodies ethical fashion and the values it upholds.
KikoRomeo, which has been operation for 15 years is considered the pioneer of Kenyan high end fashion. KikoRomeo distinct style focuses on incorporating community trade materials and craftsmanship.
Their unfailing commitment to fair trade and to working with local artisans to promoting community development through economic empowerment is evident in their strong brand and in their local, regional and global success.
KikoRomeo collections have been shown and won accolades in Kenya and overseas including Italy, Cameroon, South Africa and the Seychelles.
“At a time when world designers are becoming known for their product development in Kenya, it’s important that we Kenyan designers show the world what we are doing and have been doing for a long time. Africa Fashion Week offers us a global platform for designers from the continent to show the world what we have to offer and the role that we can play in driving the global ethical fashion industry”, says Ann McCreath, Head Designer and CEO of KikoRomeo.
Held every year since 2008, African Fashion Week NY includes over twenty one runway shows featuring designers from various African countries as well as from within the African Diaspora.
New York, Paris, London and Milan continue to be the major cities of the fashion industry and the fact that one of Kenya’s leading fashion houses will be showcased lifts not only the designers to a new level but it also brands Kenya as a emerging fashion powerhouse.
The event attracts over 2,000 people, mainly big name fashion house buyers from all over the world and industry influencers who get a chance to meet and discuss trends with the African designers.
This year’s event will be the first to feature Kenyan and other East African designers in this prestigious show.
Ann McCreath, KikoRomeo Head Designer will be joined in New York by Norbert Ochieng who will be presenting KikoRomeo’s men's line. KikoRomeo, will be joined by Blackbird Designs, represented by two of Kenya’s young, vibrant and emerging designers – Zeddie Lukoe and Sidney Owino -who have designed clothes for Kenya’s leading entertainers like P-Unit and Sauti Sol.
Africa Fashion Week runs from 11-17th July, 2011 and Kiko Romeo will be showcasing its collection on Thursday 14th July.