Nairobi Fashion Week, Kenya’s premier fashion event, returns for its seventh edition with a bold new theme: Regenerative Fashion Renaissance: Restoring Culture and Nature.
This year’s event, which will take place from January 29th to February 1st, 2025, at the Sarit Center, will spotlight fashion that minimises environmental harm and actively restores ecosystems, communities, and cultures.
Shifting beyond traditional sustainability, this year’s theme emphasises regenerative fashion, focusing on replenishing resources, revitalizing ecosystems, and empowering local communities throughout the fashion supply chain.
“This theme aligns with our vision of positioning Africa as a global leader in sustainability,” says Brian Kihindas, Creative Director of Nairobi Fashion Week. “We aim to promote organic fabrics and sustainable fashion, rooted in the region’s rich cultural values.”
Addressing the Urgent Need for Change
The fashion industry, a major global player, faces significant environmental challenges. Due to its overconsumption and linear model, it contributes significantly to textile waste, carbon emissions, and plastic pollution.
- Textile Waste: The industry produces an estimated 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually, equivalent to a truckload dumped every second.
- Carbon Emissions: Fashion accounts for approximately 10% of global carbon emissions, exceeding those of international flights and maritime shipping combined.
- Plastic Pollution: Millions of synthetic clothing items are exported to countries like Kenya annually, contributing to plastic waste and environmental degradation.
Nairobi Fashion Week 2025: A Platform for Regenerative Change
This year’s event will showcase designers who are leading the charge towards a circular fashion economy. Key highlights include:
- Showcasing Innovative Designers: Featuring rising stars who integrate regenerative principles into their collections, from sourcing to production and end-of-life considerations.
- Promoting Circular Fashion: Demonstrating how recycling and upcycling can be integral to fashion production and consumption.
- Fostering Industry Dialogue: Providing a platform for industry leaders, environmentalists, and experts to discuss the future of recycling and the potential for a circular economy in fashion.
Showcasing Regenerative Fashion Brands
- LaOculta: A womenswear brand merging cross-cultural artisanal techniques with sustainable production, collaborating with artisans from Kenya and Colombia.
- SOKOLATA: A high-end, eco-responsible brand utilising natural materials of African origin and supporting local African production.
- Maisha By Nisria: A non-profit studio specialising in upcycling and creative reuse, transforming discarded textiles into contemporary handmade pieces.
- Eva Wambutu: A Kenyan womenswear designer known for her silhouette-focused designs and commitment to sustainable practices.
- Apar Gadek: A jewellery and accessories brand offering distinctive pieces made from recycled materials, showcasing the creativity of Kenyan artisans.
Nur M Nasria, founder of Maisha by Nusria, emphasises the growing consumer awareness: “People are seeking originality and ethical choices, moving away from fast fashion. Nairobi Fashion Week is about showcasing not just beautiful clothes, but the stories of our planet and the people who inhabit it.”
Nairobi Fashion Week 2025 will serve as a crucial platform for showcasing the power of regenerative fashion, inspiring industry change, and positioning Africa as a global leader in sustainable and ethical practices.
