KENYA: Meet the Internationally Acclaimed Fashion Creative With Kenyan Roots Responsible For Dressing South Africa's Finest AKA and Khuli Chana, Find Out What He's Doing in Kenya

Ngugi Vere is a name that has become internationally acclaimed with style. The Zimbabwean born fashion stylist and creative consultant started his own consultancy called ‘Be Bold’.

Through his consultancy he’s created unique styles for his clients all over the world most notably popular South African rappers AKA and Khuli Chana who you can’t deny are among the best dressed celebrities in Africa.

And as you could guess from his name Ngugi, he has Kenyan roots and this weekend he’s back home to give back to our local fashion industry at the Kiambu Fashion Week that will be happening this weekend.

Born in Zimbabwe Ngugi went on to pursue an education in South Africa like most Kenyans these days do but wound up falling in love with the fashion industry there before setting up his own enterprise.

Incidentally South Africa is one of the biggest and most successful fashion industries in the continent racking up 5.6 billion rands a year compared to a figure of just 1 billion only two years ago, a figure that dwarfs what the Kenyan fashion industry makes a year.

We recently had a chance to chat with Ngugi to find out what he thinks of the Kenyan fashion industry and what needs to change in Kenya so we can catch up with our neighbors South Africa.

“There’s still a long way to go in Kenya,” he told us. “It has to start with the policy makers. They have to support it, embrace and endorse it. From educating young designers and creators, to supporting the technology field of fashion.”

He also told us that he had the chance to visit various malls in the country where he realized that most of the shops only sold foreign products.

This he said needs to change. Local shops need to start selling local products in order to support the local fashion industry.

Ngugi Vere is playing a key role in organizing this weekend’s Kiambu Fashion Week and if his vision for the Kenyan fashion industry is anything to go buy, we suspect the event will live on in our memories for years to come.