Did you recently see the powerful imagery shot by South African photographer Kristin-Lee Moolman and styled by Louise Ford?
Titled: Mokoro, this exhibition, currently showing in Paris explores the sanctuary of sisterhood. A multimedia show celebrating the Girls of the Warembo Wasanii Initiative, its founder Joan Otieno and the power of creativity to effect a positive change!
Warembo is based in Korogocho-Nairobi, Kenya. An art workshop and studio space in Korogocho slums. These innovative women clad themselves in outfits made from waste material collected at the Dandora landfill.
How can fashion impact the lives of those not able to afford the high-end private schools most creatives dream of going to? How can we change the negative stereotypes associated with artists based in the African continent? This is exactly what this powerhouse team set out to address-
Fashion is classified as: a popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behaviour.
Who said this can’t be made from a waste product, or support a cause? These strong and poetic images highlight the amount of creativity hidden away, out of sight- if this is what these young ladies can do with trash, I can only wait to see what they do with actual fabric—We are here for it!
Did you know there are some amazing vendors on JooJoo Stores, that are also making a socio-economic impact on how the world views Kenyan designers? My top 3 picks:
Urban Ranch. Did you know that 5% of proceeds from products sold goes towards the conservations efforts of Lion Landscapes. This effort is aimed at directly supporting the protection of Africa’s Lion population by working hand in hand with conservancies that support operations within the habitat that allow wildlife and cattle to co-exist hand in hand as opposed to herders who feel threatened by the wildlife that endangers their livestock and thus look to kill any animals that pose a threat their herds.
My Soul Tonic is an ethical fashion brand—a slow fashion brand that celebrates diversity in each form of a woman’s body. My Soul Tonic encourages artisanal entrepreneurship, this means your purchase directly empowers individual artisans while supporting the local creative communities. All their products are handcrafted with environmentally conscious materials and they aim to create responsible and eco-friendly products.
Mimi Pambo wants to take the Boldness of Nairobi to the World! As a social enterprise their first goal is to create optimum working conditions for their artisans, the second is to provide accessible tools for the teaching, learning and preservation of skilled jewellery craft in Kenya. All of Mimi Pambo’s jewellery is made from 18K Gold Plated recycled brass. All their other production materials are ethically sourced. As they grow, they pledge to continue working towards more sustainable practices and setting up more sustainable systems.
Fashion should never be defined by generational stereotypes!—Fashion is global, ever-changing and evolving!
Written by Pooja Joshi
Founder of Ocell Luxury
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