Maraka saves the best for Uganda
SHE has been Uganda’s fashion icon in the United Kingdom, where she has not only turned Iteso and Swahili outfits into desirable fashion, but has also packed full houses for her hot couture shows in London.
By Titus Serunjogi
SHE has been Uganda’s fashion icon in the United Kingdom, where she has not only turned Iteso and Swahili outfits into desirable fashion, but has also packed full houses for her hot couture shows in London.
Twenty-seven-year-old Brenda Maraka has decided to bring her talent back home. She has dressed up several fashionitas and company staff such as those of Paraa Safari lodge. She is throwing her weight behind the first painted silk and linen fashion show in Kampala next month.
The former student of Namasagali College now runs a small home-based fashion studio in Ntinda. Maraka solely makes lingerie, full-blown frilly skirts, tank tops, evening dresses, casual and dancing outfits, staff uniforms, chunky jewellery, shoes, hats and handbags. The prices range from sh90,000 to sh180,000.
Most of her outfits target women. “Whenever I try to make men’s high fashion stuff, I come out with this very crazy stuff like skirts, kilts and tops, which modern men think is outrageous,†Maraka says.
Little wonder she keeps men’s outfits to a limited edition. “My style is a mixture of gomesi and Iteso/Swahili traditional wear, touched up with trendy trimming and hems,†she says.
Maraka explains that she has a liking for linen, silk, blue and beige, and knows how to work with all the other colours and fabrics.
Maraka left Uganda in 2001. She has spent most of her time in London, taking care of her business, Brenda Maraka Fashion House.
Besides featuring at various fashion galas in London, she also made outfits that were sold for charity through the Iteso Welfare Association.
She once dropped by to showcase at the Uganda International Fashion week 2004 as well as Kampala Pentecostal Church’s fashion gala last year.
Born in Soroti to a flight engineer and an accountant, Maraka studied at Namasagali and Nabbingo colleges. One of her fondest memories is being picked upon in school to design costumes for plays and beauty contests.
In 2000, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she later graduated with a degree and diploma in dressmaking and lingerie design.
Maraka is an all-round-inspired artist — dancer, violinist, gospel vocalist, painter and prose writer. With her upcoming exclusive show of painted silks and linen, Maraka hopes to make Kampala a fashion hub.
Her outfits are on sale at Maraka fashion studio in Ntinda or they can be ordered online from www. Brendamaraka.com.
SHE has been Uganda’s fashion icon in the United Kingdom, where she has not only turned Iteso and Swahili outfits into desirable fashion, but has also packed full houses for her hot couture shows in London.
Twenty-seven-year-old Brenda Maraka has decided to bring her talent back home. She has dressed up several fashionitas and company staff such as those of Paraa Safari lodge. She is throwing her weight behind the first painted silk and linen fashion show in Kampala next month.
The former student of Namasagali College now runs a small home-based fashion studio in Ntinda. Maraka solely makes lingerie, full-blown frilly skirts, tank tops, evening dresses, casual and dancing outfits, staff uniforms, chunky jewellery, shoes, hats and handbags. The prices range from sh90,000 to sh180,000.
Most of her outfits target women. “Whenever I try to make men’s high fashion stuff, I come out with this very crazy stuff like skirts, kilts and tops, which modern men think is outrageous,†Maraka says.
Little wonder she keeps men’s outfits to a limited edition. “My style is a mixture of gomesi and Iteso/Swahili traditional wear, touched up with trendy trimming and hems,†she says.
Maraka explains that she has a liking for linen, silk, blue and beige, and knows how to work with all the other colours and fabrics.
Maraka left Uganda in 2001. She has spent most of her time in London, taking care of her business, Brenda Maraka Fashion House.
Besides featuring at various fashion galas in London, she also made outfits that were sold for charity through the Iteso Welfare Association.
She once dropped by to showcase at the Uganda International Fashion week 2004 as well as Kampala Pentecostal Church’s fashion gala last year.
Born in Soroti to a flight engineer and an accountant, Maraka studied at Namasagali and Nabbingo colleges. One of her fondest memories is being picked upon in school to design costumes for plays and beauty contests.
In 2000, she moved to the United Kingdom, where she later graduated with a degree and diploma in dressmaking and lingerie design.
Maraka is an all-round-inspired artist — dancer, violinist, gospel vocalist, painter and prose writer. With her upcoming exclusive show of painted silks and linen, Maraka hopes to make Kampala a fashion hub.
Her outfits are on sale at Maraka fashion studio in Ntinda or they can be ordered online from www. Brendamaraka.com.