Meet RefuSHE's Fashion Challenge 2022 Designers
Fashion Challenge 2022: Destination Nairobi is right around the corner! Meet the talented designers participating in this year’s runway competition.
DAVID AVIDO
Mentee: Umutoni
Model: Pauline K.
Fabric: India Poolside
David Ochieng, also known as David Avido, is 24 years old, born and raised in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi and the largest urban slum in Africa. David is a street-made fashion designer who learned his designing skills on the streets and improved his skills at BIFA College. David later made his passion a career by believing in himself and his talent.
In addition to his academic work and passion for fashion, David’s brand, Lookslike Avido, has been able to build a significant following in Nairobi and abroad, making clothes for private clients like Don Carlos, Octopizzo, G money, Kelissa, Naiboi, Chronixx, Nasty C, Talia Oyando, Fenna Gitu, Ty Dolla Sign, Cecile, Bankslave, Hon Kenneth Okoth, Connie Nielson, Tarrus Riley, Buju Banton, Future Fambo, D major, Agent Sasco, Chris Martin, Romain Virgo, Everton Blender, and many more.
David's desire to do fashion isn’t just about creating beautiful clothes. His goal as an artist is to foster self-reliance and build awareness. In 2017, David launched The Avido Foundation as a way to give back to his own community in Kibera. By offering vocational training, school uniform manufacturing, scholarships, mentorships, and emergency relief, David and The Avido Foundation are inspiring and engaging young people across Kenya and the broader continent.
SIMONE MUBARE
Mentee: Nyajany
Model: Pauline
Fabric: Yvette Bougainvillea
Garments of Anchor Apparels by Imani Bijou Creations is a fashion brand based in Nairobi, Kenya that designs both male and female attire. Garments of Anchor aims to bring out the confidence in a person's character through what they wear. Simone Mubare brings a diverse cultural aesthetic appeal to her designs with an appreciation of western as well as African eclectic clothing.
As an individual, Simone loves to give back and encourage people to find their guiding light through creative expression.
IONA MCCREATH
Mentee: Denise
Model: Rebecca
Fabric: Nadia Sand Drift
Growing up as the daughter of renowned fashion designer Ann McCreath, Iona has apprenticed in the fashion industry from birth. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya as her mother founded KikoRomeo and appeared on the runway with her mother as a baby. She has always been surrounded by highly skilled tailors and artisans and even played dress-up with clothes in the shop after school. With time, she began to take a keener interest in her own role in fashion, earning a Foundation in Art and Design from UAL Central St Martin’s and a degree in Sociology from the London School of Economics.
In 2013, aged 17, Iona refashioned KikoRomeo subsidiary Kikoti, taking charge of designing and positioning the line. Kikoti was an affordable fashion-forward line aimed at youth. Passionate about animals, she decided to use fast fashion, to highlight the plight of animals facing extinction from poaching.
Iona’s journey as Creative Director of KikoRomeo has seen her design a series of collections, maintaining the brand’s aesthetic and artistic heritage. Through this time, she has also worked to redefine the brand’s representation and communication, bringing to the fore a lot of the social impact work that KikoRomeo has done. A long project, much of this will be seen in greater detail in 2021-22, as the brand celebrates 25 years.
ALEX MUCHENA
Mentee: Nadine
Model: Winfred
Fabric: Yvette Papaya & Pineapple
Alex Muchena is the head designer and founder of Afro Moda Kenya, a contemporary African lifestyle brand established in Nairobi in 2013. ‘Afro’ represents African Heritage and Culture while ‘Moda’ is an Italian Word for style.
Alex’s brand seeks to tell an African story about great cultural diversity and heritage through bold and vibrant colors, motifs, prints, and designs. Afro Moda Kenya's deep commitment to individuality and personal style can be clearly seen in the unique and edgy pieces he produces. Alex's signature aesthetic is bold fabric which has a global appeal and is aligned with the latest fashion trends.
SYLVIA YEGON
Mentee: Chantal
Model: Annah
Fabric: Angie Seaside
Sylvia Obogwe Yegon is a fashion designer by profession. Her brand, Zakia Designs, specializes in gentlemen and ladies' wear, kitenge outfits, wedding gowns, maid dresses, uniforms, and soft furnishings.
Zakia Designs also offers training in fashion design, interior design, event decoration, flower arrangement, hairdressing, and beauty therapy at Zakia College of Design in Kenya. While Sylvia’s mission as a teacher is to prepare her students for professional excellence in design and business, her broader ethos is to foster creativity, inspire leadership, impart a global perspective, and educate students to embrace inclusiveness, commit to sustainability, and engage with their community.
PEGGY ONYANGO
Mentee: Iman
Model: Lillian
Fabric: Nadia Blooming Vines
Peggie ‘O’s trademark is making beautiful things with great creativity that depicts the beauty of Africa. Her brand is inspired by women of influence to create designs that are sophisticated, elegant, and timeless.
Dynamic in its response to local and global trends and influences, Peggie ‘O’ prioritizes style coupled with expert use of fabrics and techniques, including surface texturizing garments of impeccable quality. Her collections promote garments and raw materials sourced from Africa and go a long way in proving that African fashion is versatile in all seasons.
Peggie ‘O’ has a wide range of collections for every occasion including luxury bridal gowns, elegant evening dresses, and stylish casual wear. All of her designs are understated yet elegant. Peggy knows the power of pairing a classic fit with an experimental fabric or print.
JOHN KAVEKE
Mentee: Aime
Model: Pretty
Fabric: Fartun Swahili Style
With over 15 years of expertise in the fashion industry, John Kaveke’s stunning masterpieces have graced an international platform of Fashion Week Events in New York, USA; London, United Kingdom; Sarajevo, Bosnia; Lagos & Port Harcourt, Nigeria; Port Louis, Mauritius; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Dar es Salam, Tanzania; Nairobi & Mombasa, Kenya.
A graduate of Woodgrove Fashion College in Kenya and Instituto Europeo di Mode in Barcelona; Spain, John Kaveke launched his fashion label in 1999 and is well known for his bold contemporary style.
John Kaveke is a free-spirited individual with a passion for reconstructing vibrations through his work. His creative designs have been known to bring about individualism, strength, and artistry. His major focus is on bespoke but contemporary garments for men and women.
MONICA KANARI
Mentee: Elizabeth
Model: Elizabeth
Fabric: Angie Golden Shower
Monica Kanari grew up surrounded by fashion and spent time coming up with designs for various outfits. Her interests grew over the years, and she later realized that a career in the fashion industry was fulfilling and lucrative both locally and internationally. Armed with a passion for fashion and great drawing skills, Monica decided to take her mother’s business to the next level.
MK Monica Kanari has been up and running for over 20 years. Her brand specializes in producing high-quality, custom-made evening, occasional, and corporate outfits with a contemporary African flair for men, women, and children. Ethnicity is an inspiration that will catch your eye in almost all her creations. Clients are dressed for weddings, funerals, interviews, cultural ceremonies, red carpet, prom dresses, and many more. Monica also recently opened a leather crafts line called Ngozi featuring bags, wallets, and accessories.
Monica takes a keen interest in making sure that her garments produce zero waste. The brand understands fabric, cut, fit, and balance with extra care to avoid fabric waste.
Monica remarks that seeing the happy expressions of her clients when they receive what they want gives her a lot of joy. What is important to them is important to her. MK Monica Kanari's promise is to give a great fit and a good finish on time.
SYLVIA MWANIKI
Mentee: Faustine
Model: Valerie
Fabric: Zahara Summer Sunset
Sylvia Wairimu Mwaniki is a fashion designer based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her brand, Sylvia Diva, specializes in women’s wear, but recently started designing men's and kid's wear. She draws inspiration from a garment’s details and enjoys working with colorful prints.
Sylvia graduated from Kenyatta University with a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing this year and is looking forward to taking her skills and brand to the next level.