Fashion designers are set to hold a two-day conference (March 29-30) in Nairobi to chart the way forward for the industry.

Since 1972 when Alan Donovan of African Heritage first put black models in barkcloth and porcupine quill costumes on the catwalk and was derided for it, interest in African textiles and jewelry has been phenomenal.

Thirty years later, Zindika Heritage of Elizabeth Sherri Eseri is bringing fashion designers together not only to celebrate the development through exhibitions but to also map the way forward for the industry. "The fashion industry is changing rapidly and we must keep abreast of the development," Eseri says. "We shall try to find bearing for the industry through this conference which will be held on March 29 and 30." Zindika has since 1999 been sponsoring beauty and fashion events including the Miss World (Kenya chapter) beauty pageant and Miss Kenya 2000 preliminaries. Eseri also designed for Jabali Afrika, Kenya's reigning kings of contemporary African music now based in the United States since 1995. Outstanding players in the industry-models, designers, sponsors, hosts- will be recognised and awarded special prizes. Participants will be drawn from the Designers Association of Kenya (DESK), Evelyne School of Modeling and Design, Kelu Modeling School, Department of Culture, Ministry of Trade, sponsors and financial institutions, and the general public.

The government will be expected to say how she is helping Kenyan dealers in African textiles and designs to reap from the American market through the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Back to Top