The 2025 Nairobi Fashion Week to Feature Dynamic Showcase of African Designers

Fashion

January 24, 2025

The anticipation surrounding the 2025 Nairobi Fashion Week is palpable, as it prepares to highlight Africa’s rising stars in regenerative fashion. Scheduled to run from January 29th to February 1st, 2025, at the Sarit Center, this seventh season promises to deliver groundbreaking collections that fuse bold creativity with a deep commitment to environmental and social impact.

This year’s event is set to showcase a new wave of African designers who are courageously challenging the status quo. These talented individuals are not just showcasing their aesthetic visions; they are redefining the very essence of what fashion can represent in today’s world. The designers featured at Nairobi Fashion Week are setting a powerful example for the global fashion community, demonstrating that it is possible to create covetable fashion collections while promoting sustainability and innovation.

The concept of regenerative fashion goes far beyond merely minimizing environmental damage. It emphasizes the active renewal and replenishment of natural resources, the revitalization of ecosystems, and the empowerment of local communities through ethical production practices.

As the global fashion industry grapples with pressing sustainability issues, African designers are leading the charge by embracing these essential principles. Their innovative approaches to sustainable practices are shining a spotlight on the potential for fashion to contribute positively to our planet.

Brian Kihindas, the Creative Director of Nairobi Fashion Week, articulates the event’s overarching goal: “The theme aligns with our vision of positioning Africa as a global leader in sustainability. We are working to establish a platform for sustainable designers across Africa, rooted in the region’s cultural values. Our goal is to promote organic fabrics and sustainable fashion, and we believe this platform will help us reclaim and celebrate our story.”

Models walks the catwalk during the 2024 Nairo Fashion Week - Fashion Police Nigeria

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This commitment to sustainability and cultural integrity illustrates a profound understanding of fashion’s role in broader social narratives. Nairobi Fashion Week is not just a platform for showcasing garments; it is a transformative experience aimed at integrating traditional values with contemporary innovations.

“Throughout history, African communities have embraced sustainable fashion by crafting garments from locally sourced, natural materials and utilizing traditional techniques that prioritize longevity, cultural significance, and environmental harmony,” he added.

In addition, Lisa Kibutu, who is the Sponsor and Production Lead at NFW highlighted the need to showcase the designers who are environmentally conscious with their collections. “This year’s Nairobi Fashion Week is a celebration of a new era in African fashion,” says Lisa.

“We are looking for designers whose ethos is about the restoration and healing of the planet from sourcing textiles to the disposal of waste and knowing the end of life of their creations. These rising stars are proving that Africa can lead the world in regenerative fashion, with creativity and purpose driving every aspect of their work.”

Among the highlights is LaOculta, a womenswear brand rooted in Kenya and Colombia. Founded in 2021 by Catalina and Sofia, LaOculta is dedicated to slow fashion, collaborating with artisans from both countries to create unique pieces that merge cross-cultural artisanal techniques with sustainable production.

There is also SOKOLATA, a high-end and eco-responsible ready-to-wear created in 2022 by Sikoti Mbaitjongue from Senegal. The brand uses natural materials of African origin in their creations, including organic Senegalese cotton, raw cotton from Benin as well as various West African fabrics traditionally woven by hand.

The fashion minimizes its environmental impact thanks to the choice of its materials and its suppliers and their entire value chain is based in Africa, thus contributing to the development of a new ethical African fashion.

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Also featured is Maisha By Nisria, a non-profit fashion and design studio based in Nakuru, Kenya. Known for its unique, handmade clothing, Maisha By Nisria specialises in upcycling and creative reuse, transforming discarded textiles into contemporary handmade pieces that stand out for their innovation.

Kenyan womenswear designer Eva Wambutu returns to the runway after her impressive debut at Nairobi Fashion Week Season 6.

Known for her silhouette-focused designs, she has quickly emerged as a designer to watch in the fashion scene.

Jewellery and accessories brand Apar Gadek will add its unique flair to the event. Led by designer Shirley Anyango in collaboration with artisans from Kibera, Apar Gadek offers distinctive pieces made from materials like brass, recycled glass beads, and upcycled cow horn and bone, each item telling its own story.

“I believe people are slowly becoming more concerned about their garments and where they are coming from. People are trying to go back to originality and not to be wearing the same outfits as everybody else. I believe there will be a rise in local handmade artsy garments rather than just consuming fast fashion apparel that is ruining many things from economics to culture to environment,” Maisha by Nusria, the founder of Nur M Nasria concludes

“Nairobi Fashion Week is not just about showcasing beautiful clothes—it’s about telling the story of our planet and the people who inhabit it.”