KAVEKE TAKES THE KENYAN SAVANNAH TO AT THE LONDON FASHION WEEK

Kenyan fashion designer John Kavekeunveiled designs from his Kaveke label at the Spring/Summer 2012 London FashionWeek, which opened Friday, where he took center stage for InternationalEmerging and Independent designers.

Kaveke was one of seven ‘A La Mode’designers at the Charing Cross Hotel in London’s Strand. Introducing hisstunning Swords of the Savannah Collection to an audience of consumers, pressand buyers. A La mode" is an important platform for rising internationaltalent making their way into the international fashion stage. 

The WoodvaleGroove Fashion College in Kenya and Instituto Europeo di Design in Barcelonagraduate, said his Swords of the Savannah collection were inspired by AskariKangas who were locally recruited African soldiers who fought and diedgallantly in both the world wars for British, German, Belgian and Italianarmies.

Kaveke said he worked really hard onthe show for the past two months adding, “I am really happy that I took part inthis, but me being here has come at a cost, my partner and stylist EddieKirindo and make-up artists Muthoni Njoba could not make it as they were deniedvisas.”

The new collection is mostly in whiteand blue, with designs that celebrate the kanga fabric and is quite differentfrom any of his previous works.

“This is me at my most creative, andthe military detail is a nod to those brave and valliant soldiers who playedsuch a crucial role in the various empires and also ultimately began theprocess that led to the independence of my country, Kenya,” Kaveke elaborated.This was also the first time Kaveke unveiled Sandstorm bags, a brand he is keento work with in the future. The bags were designed as safari travel bags, withmodern looks and textures.

On the catwalk Kaveke chose STL’sLookie Lookie mixed with house tracks saying he likes her style and chose it togo along with his new works.

Behind the Kaveke brand is style guruConnie Aluoch, fashion stylist Eddie Kirindo, body paint and make-up artistMuthoni Njoba, photographer Emmanuel Jambo and Brussels based make-up artistSaima Rashid-Bargfredde. The chunky beaded jewellery, inspired by Turkana andMaasai cultures, were designed by Patricia Mbela of Poisa.

Connie who owns the Connie Aluoch StyleHouse added, “It was a very emotional show, the thing that most peoplecommented to us was how vibrant and colourful the collection was and I was veryproud of Kaveke and how hard the team including Quintessentially have worked tomake this dream come true. The sky is the limit and I now see that we can havea Kaveke in the New York fashion week as well.”

The guests at his show included actressGenevieve Nnaji, celebrity designer and stylist Zed Eye, buying director forDavid Pun Harvey Nichols, model Lauren Budd and West Ham Footballer John Carewamong others.