Fashion and Style

The more time I spend in Kenya, the more cool brands, places and events I stumble across.  Madafu Moxie  is one of those brands, and when you see their stuff, you'll realise why I needed to feature them! And for those lucky readers who're based in Nairobi and its environs - you have the chance to win Ksh. 2,500 worth of Madafu Moxie items! Read on to meet Heer Raja, Madafu Moxie's founder, and to find out more... When did you start Madafu Moxie? Around 5 years ago How did Madafu Moxie start? A few years ago, three girls were sitting at home and looking for ways to add character to our wardrobes � wardrobes that were filled with the same generic garb that everyone wore. We decided to revamp our existing wardrobe using bits and pieces of material lying around the house. Soon enough, we started receiving boxes of waste material from clothing stores and tailors � bits and pieces of African and Indian prints. It was fun to rummage through bags and bags of materials to pick out m...

I remember being at the Sankalp Forum a few weeks ago, when Sonia Iraguha walked into the room. I was awestruck by her earrings, and had to ask where she got them from. That�s when I learnt about Kipato Unbranded� Some of Kipato Unbranded's pieces Kipato Unbranded is a social enterprise that works with local artists from informal settlements like Kibera and Dagoretti Market who make jewellery, promoting their skills and allowing them access to markets. Independent jewellery makers (like Elijah and Ojiko who work with Kipato) in lower-income neighbourhoods like these rely on employers to give them access to larger markets. While the industry thrives on work from artists like these two, their salary is entirely dependent on their employers, and often they only receive a small proportion of the profits their work generates, despite the fact that their pieces are mostly aimed at high-end luxury stores, selling at prices that are often out of reach for many Kenyans. Out of the need for ...