It is Wednesday, September 3rd. 3.15 pm. We walk into Aga Khan Hall Poolside. We find Kisumu Fashion Week Founder and CEO, Kysh Roberts in deep conversation with Dan Ozzy, the Director of Programmes, Kisumu Fashion Week. Our shuffling feet distract them and they both look up at the same time. Simultaneously. Almost as if it’s a choreographed action. They take a break from their conversation to welcome us warmly. Inviting us to have seats and settle down.
Kysh Roberts,CEO and Founder KFW
We settle down and introduce ourselves. Unbeknown to us, our seating arrangement resembles the ones that are found in group therapy sessions. A circle. With everyone having a clear view of the other. However, our conversation for the next hour or so is anything but therapeutic. It is a conversation that retraces the journey that Kisumu Fashion Week has been on so far. Right from its conception, inception, growth and now maturity. It is a conversation that provides us with new insights, understanding and knowledge of what it takes to build and put together the premiere fashion event in Western Kenya.
We talk about what Kisumu Fashion week is about. Its aims and objectives. Its purpose, which Ozzy explains passionately,that it seeks to highlight the best of fashion and design in Western Kenya. That fashion plays a significant role in peoples lives,whether its consciously or subconsciously. He goes ahead and to mention their aims as Kisumu Fashion Week, which remains positioning Kisumu as a fashion destination in Kenya and beyond and-perhaps when everything else works out-too ignite the industry and economic sector of the local community that can improve the society and the economy of this region.
Dan Ozzy(right) and Kysh Roberts(centre) and Yvonne(left) during KSF press briefing
Enock Ndede, the Director, KSF joins us as Kysh Roberts is called aside by one of the many crew who need directions on what to do with the tickets that have just arrived. These are the last days, 3 days before the big day. In 72 hours or so, every sweat, hard work, sacrifice and setback will culminate into an event that the whole city is looking forward to.
In the preceding 3 months, Kisumu Fashion Week together with their sponsors undertook three community outreach programmes. This would be in accordance with this years theme of Fashion with a purpose. The first outreach saw them visit Mama Ngina Children’s home in Kaloleni. They then held open sessions with KMET and Omega Foundation respectively at Alliance Francaise. These open sessions were to educate the youth on reproductive health and HIV testing. Enock and Ozzy recount these outreach initiatives with glee.
Fast forward to this week. The lat week before the event takes place. We ask what has been different about the preparations. Ozzy,the Director of Operations say this week has been about stringing together the different aspects of this event together. Making sure that the venue is ready, invitations are sent out, designers are set and all the bases are covered. So we ask about the Guest list and performing artists. And our jaws drop. Because apart from the expected mix of County government officials and local artists performing, Kysh informs us that Owuor Arunga, Mackelmore’s longtime trumpeter, will be present.
Founder and CEO of KFW, Kysh Roberts with Director of Programmes and Production, Dan Ozzy speaking during KFW press briefing
That piece of information, more than anything else, is testament to the growth and maturity of Kisumu Fashion Week. That it is an event that can attract a gifted and celebrated Jazz Trumpeter who rubs shoulders with the big boys in the international music industry. Add to the support that Kisumu Fashion Week continue to receive from Kisumu County Government, Alliance Francaise, KMET, Omega Foundation, Page Concepts, Pambo School of beauty and SWAP and we get an event worth it’s salt.
Saturday’s event will also see the launch of Heart Models, a new and fully-fledged modelling Agency based in Kisumu already boasting of 20 models who have signed up. Kisumu Fashion Week have also partnered with BlackGirls Killing It, a modelling agency based in Nairobi to offer models opportunities to show their talents and expose them to corporate partners especially for work that involves western Kenya region.
KFW Director of Programmes and Production Dan Ozzy
It’s about 4.20 when we wrap up our conversation. The passion with which Kysh,Ozzy and Enock speak about KFW is openly evident. And we couldn’t help but be impressed by the team. We look forward to Saturday, hoping that this year’s Kisumu Fashion Week will be an event so glorious in its magnitude that it will be celebrated far more widely than Kisumu and Western Kenya
Dala57 Magazine 