Patricia Mbela first designer to rep at Naija Fashion Week

Kenya’s well-known fashion designer Patricia Mbela will be the first Kenyan to participate at the Nigerian Fashion week set for this month in Lagos. Patricia who is known for her fashion label Poisa, which means to make or craft in Taita, will also be taking a trip to Tanzania for the Swahili Fashion Week as well. She said, “I want Africa to know that the time for high fashion is here and its starts with Poisa,” adding that her designs are, “Wearable art.”

For the Swahili Fashion Week, to be held in  Dar es Salaam on November 10 to 12, she hopes to gain more East African exposure. Thereafter, she will be headed to the Nigeria Fashion Week, to be held in Lagos from November 16 to 19 to launch her fashion house in the most populous country in the continent. “Nigerians love fashion and are willing to pay for a good garment or accessory,” she says. For the Swahili and Nigeria fashion weeks, Poisa presents two different collections, totally 27 garments and plenty of accessories.

Dubbed 'Urban Warrior', Patricia says it “takes an individual on a fantasy journey exploring Africa all the while celebrating the rich heritage of our past and warriors and the connection that we share with the world. Turkana, Maasai, colonial explorers, gladiators and steampunk inspired the collection. The collection opens doors to the bright colours and the elegance of African beads.”

Drawing from her muses Grace Jones, an American singer and actress known for her unique outfits, the collection embodies hardness and fearless. For the menswear, her muse was Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, a British actor of Nigerian decent, who inspires confident and a man aware of his surrounding in the 'Urban Warrior' collection.

Before leaving for the fashion weeks, Poisa will hold a reveal show on November 5 to guests and fashion lovers at the Tipuana Gardens, Karen. ”It is my boldest collection. I am really excited to see how East Africa and Nigerians react to it. My aim is to bring out Poisa as an avant garde fashion house and popularise my niche which is Wearable Art,” says Patricia.