Co-founder David Avido shares his vision for the project: "There is no barrier if you believe in your talent and take the next step. I want to encourage and create beauty where people don't expect it."
Building on the triumph of its inaugural edition in November 2022, where models strutted their stuff on the railway cutting through Kibera, hailed as one of the most innovative events of the year, Kibera Fashion Week is here to stay.
Since launching its programs in March of this year, with a prominent presence at Nairobi Design Week, the project partners have conducted outreach activities across various areas of Nairobi, focusing on raising awareness about sustainable consumption and bolstering the local fashion industry. Designers chosen for this year's showcase have undergone extensive training, emphasizing peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange.
Contrary to the often depicted narrative of Kibera as a place of despair in need of assistance and "development aid," it is, in reality, a diverse metropolis brimming with creativity, consistently evolving, and innovating.
The project firmly believes in the creative prowess of Kibera's inhabitants, envisioning them as pioneers in a sustainable and ethical creative industry. Kibera Fashion Week aims to be a platform for the community to redefine fashion, share innovative sustainability methods, and bring together stakeholders worldwide to challenge unethical and exploitative consumption.
Attendees can anticipate a diverse program, featuring an exhibition at Goethe-Institut from October 11th-15th, a panel and film screening at Alliance Française on October 11th, as well as open studios in Kibera on October 9th-10th, all leading up to the main showcase on the 14th, which will include runway shows and musical acts at Olympic Terminus in Kibera.
