Creative DNA and the London Fashion Week 2021 edition of The Nairobi x London Sessions, presented fresh perspectives of conversations on creativity during crisis, the influence cities’ infrastructure has on fashion, as well as the ever so important impact designers have on social change.
FILM: “LOOKU”
Celebrating Nairobi’s love affair with style
The film is a culmination of the WAUZINE project, the much-acclaimed digital publications which are catching the eye of International Press and Media (Vogue It, Marie Claire, Fashizblack, Nataal Media, Afrodyssee, Manju Journal and many more).
View this post on Instagram
Here the Co-Directors, Sunny Dolat and Noel Kasyoka, together with the Film Producer Njeri Gitungo captivate us with the essence of Nairobi’s style and street culture, delivering energetic and powerful film which celebrates the work on the 11 designers, who were part of the Creative DNA Programme. This is more than just a fashion film, it’s a storytelling in its finest, a story about a city, its culture and creativity and the thriving arts and fashion scene that is emerging out of East Africa.
WAUZINE
In December 2020, Creative DNA and Fashion Scout launched WAUZINE – a digital showcase featuring 11 emerging designers from Kenya, including 3 limited edition digital publications – bringing together cross-cultural collaborations between writers, illustrators and creative teams in both London and Nairobi. (Full interview and designer profiles, including the three digital publications can be found here) As the UK partner of the British Council’s year-long Creative DNA programme, Fashion Scout spearheaded this online platform, in order to present the designers work to a global audience, whilst celebrating a diverse variety of voices and creativity.
View this post on Instagram
Creative DNA programme supported by the British Council is focused on promoting alternative and innovative approaches to the global fashion system with the ambition of demonstrating that the fashion sector in Kenya is a professional choice for young
people and a valuable contributor to the creative economy. The programme conducted work in six major areas: Research and Insight, Policy and Advocacy, Business Support, NESTA Creative Enterprise Programme, Fashion Incubator as well as #FashionFridays (read more here) As part of the Fashion Incubator programme, British Council is working with local
fashion designers in Kenya to boost the growth of a sustainable creative industry in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic through a programme aimed at developing their skills, knowledge and global networks.
View this post on Instagram
Creative DNA project is delivered by the Kenyan partner, Metta Nairobi and the UK based partner Fashion Scout, 11 fashion businesses have been immersed in a 12-month incubator programme between February 2020 and February 2021 – including a business bootcamp, personalised mentoring, competitive seed funding and will be showcasing on Fashion Scout’s digital schedule during London Fashion Week.
Creative Enterprise: the British Council offers individuals and organisations training in business and digital skills, networking events, access to new markets and connections to resources.
View this post on Instagram
CREATIVE DNA PARTNERS
Fashion Scout:
Fashion Scout, is a leading international consultancy and platform for nurturing, empowering and showcasing the future of fashion. Fashion Scout’s showcase events in London, Paris, Kiev and other fashion weeks have presented a whole generation of designers to international media, buyers and influencers. With 20 years of experience in the industry our consultancy creates and delivers bespoke mentoring and development programmes for designers and organisations around the world – enabling designers to adapt and build sustainable businesses in these challenging times – and providing them with the opportunity to showcase their work to the international market.
https://www.fashionscout.co.uk
View this post on Instagram
Mettā Nairobi:
Metta is Nest Groups’ physical and digital entrepreneurs’ network, where they bring together founders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics and investors to collaborate. Nest Group is committed to creating collaborative environments that help corporates, start-ups, and our investors scale and succeed.
https://metta.co
HEVA Fund:
HEVA Fund is an East African fund that invests in the transformative social and economic potential of the creative economy sector in the East African region. Since 2013, HEVA has innovated financial models specifically for the East African creative economy and has invested in more than 20 creative businesses in the fashion, digitalcontent, crafts and decor value chains.
http://www.hevafund.com
Comments
