PICTORIAL: Designers Tells African Stories At The FESTAC Show

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Attendees at the ongoing FESTAC Africa Festival were treated to a display of beautiful colours on Friday, August 30. As different designers projected African culture with their various fashion pieces.

Models of different sizes strutted the runway at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, Kenya. As they exhibit the works of some Kenya-based fashion designers.

One of the designers and FESTAC fashion ambassadors, Brenda Onono. Had said that she was inspired by the need to tell the African story with her designs.

Onono, who owns the brand, Marumara Creations, said, “My pieces were inspired by Africa’s rich cultural heritage and diversity, as well as environmental conservation by recycling.”

The duo of Faith Achieng and Christine Apondi, who own the brand, Afychrys, stated that their collection incorporated designs in West, East and South Africa.

Speaking on how long it took them to prepare for the show, Achieng said, “It took us about two months to come up with this collection, consisting of traditional attire.”

Apondi added, “African fashion needs more marketing and re-presentation. It is still under-represented. Many Africans are still putting on Europeans, and neglecting their own. Meanwhile, we have beautiful fabrics and lots of designs that fashion designers can work with to better project African fashion.

“FESTAC is a very good platform because it celebrates African culture, food, fashion and music.

“However, I noticed that some people were putting on Western wear. Because I would have thought that anybody coming to an event like this would put on African wear.”

Emphasising her belief in the growth of the continent’s fashion space, she said. “So there is a lot of potential for African fashion. There are over one billion people on the continent, and African designers can make clothes for them. There is no point producing garments in China and importing them to Africa.”