Fashion is beyond appearance, it is an identity

Fashion is the one thing that transcends time and keeps on evolving and revolving for anyone who has a keen eye and who loves that glamorous look. Fashion has created legends and their names live on even long after they are gone. In fact, fashion has fiercely been fought for in the past and has led to deaths, betrayals and of course success, leisure and pleasure.

In its own way fashion is balanced, the upper class, the middle class and even the lower class have their own way of viewing fashion. Each of that class is fashion on its own. Fashion is anything you get to put on. To some, it that new thing on the market, that new thing that everyone seems to be running after. In many cases, fashion has been associated with cloths and mostly for ladies but in the recent years, men have also strongly embraced this fashion thing.

I have a soft spot for fashion that is deeply rooted in the African traditional culture. 
Kitenge, Ankara…name them, are some of the words that might pop into your head when you get to hear about this African fashion.

For many years, the Nigerians have been considered as the champions of traditional fashion and this is often depicted in their films. In films and in reality, Nigerians seem to love their traditional dresses and this has often identified them from every corner of the earth. South Africans, especially the Zulu are other lovers of traditional attire that has always made them stand out.

Kenya does not have an attire that strongly identifies them as Kenyans. The Maasai community though has never disappointed the world with their traditional shuka that is known all world over. This is the only community is Kenya that seems to have stuck on a regalia that identifies them as a community. Other communities have been influenced by the western culture and only do what is being done in the western countries. Do we need a national attire? One that will identify us as Kenyans?

Article by Juma Fred.