Fashion with an African touch
There was a time when the kitenge, kikoyi or lesu could not be mentioned in the same breath as the word fashionable. Over the years, with more home-grown fashion designers coming onto the scene, a lot has changed and African fabrics have found their place in modern fashion.
There was a time when the kitenge, kikoyi or lesu could not be mentioned in the same breath as the word fashionable. Over the years, with more home-grown fashion designers coming onto the scene, a lot has changed and African fabrics have found their place in modern fashion.
Two weeks ago, OP Events, Models and Fashion, launched their Afro-Urban collection at Gatto Matto, Bugolobi, on a wet and cold evening. That did not keep the fashionable crowds away.
Patricia Otoa, the managing director of OP, says the collection was designed to help people fall in love with their roots and embrace African-laced fashion. Because of the cosmopolitan nature of many Ugandans, OP has chosen to fuse global design staples with African fabrics to create an edgy wearable collection of outfits suitable for the office, weekend outings or that special occasion.
The fashion show featured several designs from the collection that was colourful and trendy. The models sashayed down the runway in lovely evening gowns in beautiful prints, dramatic hair and statement jewellery.
“OP is re-inventing African fashion to match the needs of younger consumers and offer new styles to the older generation. The goal of OP will be to make African-inspired clothing part of the daily menu for people who want an affordable signature look,” says Otoa.
On the night, an outfit was auctioned and it fetched sh150,000 that went to the Moto Moto Foundation, a charity organisation that supports low income single mothers in Kampala’s suburbs. Moto Moto was started by OP last year.