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Ugandan labels to watch this year
Some of the designs that were showcased by the listed designers at the Kampala Fashion Week last year. PHOTOS BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
Fashion brands have benefited from the newfound celebration and respect from celebrities and influential personalities, wearing their designs at red carpet and social events. This has provided their work tons of media coverage on social and traditional media.
The following women’s wear labels were very consistent last year, and we believe people are watching where they are headed this year.
1. Beryl Qouture by Anita Beryl
Anita Beryl of Beryl Qouture has positioned herself as the go-to dressmaker for exquisite red carpet designs.
Her label which started as a bridal house dressed some of the best-dressed women last year, attracting massive PR in the process.
Her work was also featured at Accra Fashion Week and Swahili Fashion Week. We look forward to the surprises she has under her sleeve this year.
2. K-Rafael by Kasule Raphael
Kasule Raphael designed the outfit Uganda’s 2016 Olympic team wore to the opening ceremony of the sports event, and the team was later named one of the best dressed at the event.
He went on to design Sheebah Karungi’s costumes for her maiden concert held early last month.
The designer boasts a high attention to detail and inspiration from youth culture.
3. Bobbin & Seif
This dynamic design duo is based in Kenya, but last year, they managed to make their mark on Kampala’s design scene, first with their collection presented at Kampala Fashion Week.
They also featured their work at Accra Fashion Week and were named Best New designer at the Kenya Fashion Awards.
4.
Lukwanzi
The newly established label seeks to marry elegance with modesty, and so far, they have managed to impress. Their Kampala Fashion Week collection was received with rave reviews after they put the hijab on the runway. It will be interesting to see the direction they are taking this year. The label’s artistic director, Sheilah Lukwanzi is a Paris educated couturier.
5. TuRah
The label presented their collection titled mud blueprint at Kampala Fashion Week. It was inspired by African architecture in the process making classy and approachable designs. The label targets young women aged 25 to 40 in the middle upper-class category. So far, they have attracted an eclectic clientele of young women and are poised for a major takeover this year.
6. Kkoolo
Kkoolo, an afro-urban label made its KFW debut with a collection filled with Samurai inspired outfits, long coats and jumpsuits with dandelions, and lots of leather. We can’t wait to see what the youthful brand has up their sleeves for 2017.
7. NFK Clothing
NFK Clothing by Olivia Nanfuka was one of the break out brands of 2016. The designer was the winner of season one of the Seed show 2015, and 2016 was her first year in professional business, however, her work gained a lot of attention. 2017 is certainly going to be big for her.
Pairing bright colours
We are in the new year which is always a great opportunity to switch up your wardrobe. This can be through acquiring new techniques in your store of styling tricks.
One styling trick that’s picking up fast, and a favourite for style bloggers is the brights with brights styling. This is when bright colours are mixed with other eye-popping shades in unusual colour combinations.
Experimenting with playful hues not only boosts your mood for the new year, it’s the easiest way to stand out. What makes this even more exciting is, you don’t need to go shopping for new clothes, just play around with what you already have.
Injecting colour into your look is simple, but pairing more than two bright colours together can be tricky. Here are few tips to help you make it work.
1. Firstly, make sure the colours you want to wear match. Yes, bright colours create a playful vibe, but can be disturbing to look at it if put together wrongly. The easiest way to go about this, is by selecting colours from the same palette. Colours from the same family make for a cohesive look if put together. For example, an array of blues (aqua, turquoise, royal blue etc.) put together.
2. When you are in doubt, or afraid to go full on bright, use a black or neutral for assistance. This neutral helps to balance out the bright thus making the outfit look cohesive. It also helps you draw attention to only where you want. If it’s your hip area that you want to emphasize, keep that area bright and the rest of the look neutral.
3. Make this even more interesting by incorporating prints and patterns in the mix. Bright prints can turn what would otherwise have been a bland look into a beautiful mix. The bolder and more vibrant the prints the better.
4. Don’t be afraid to go bright even with your accessories and shoes. It’s the easiest way to put this styling trick to use. This can be jewelry, belt, bag, clutch or even scarf. Just make sure these accessories match the outfit.
5. While pairing all these bright colours together creates a stylish look, too much colour can go totally wrong. Keep the colours on a safer number of four. Too much colour will kill the beauty of the ensemble. Choose which of your pieces will be the bright ones, and keep the rest neutral.
