If you are a fan of Hollywood actress and style icon Lupita Nyong’o you may have wondered whether the star would ever grace an item from a Kenyan or East African fashion house.
Recently on a trip to Uganda to shoot the film Queen of Katwe, Lupita was photographed in a beautiful dress from Ugandan brand Kwesh. Images of Lupita back in East Africa have circulated the internet notably wearing a dress by a local designer.
Kwesh is a contemporary brand launched in 2012 in Uganda. It stands out for its feminine, minimalist silhouettes.
Her work combines structure and form to create edgy ensembles for the young modern woman.
Just four years in the business and the designer is already making waves in the industry. I caught up with the designer for the brand, Juliana Nasasira.
Nasasira is a 28-year-old Ugandan fashion designer, founder and creative director for the brand, Kwesh.
She attended the prestigious Istituto Marangoni, Milano in Italy, graduating in 2011 with a diploma in Fashion Design.
Her work is currently stocked by concessions stores, Kung’ara (Nairobi) and in Bold (Kampala)
After school you could have chosen to stay back and work in Italy, why the decision to come back home to Uganda?
I studied fashion design with the intention of creating a brand based in Uganda. Coming home was always part of my plan. I debuted my first collection, ‘Controlled Chaos’ under my brand Kwesh.
What does Kwesh mean and whom do you target?
Kwesh is my nickname, derived from a word that means playful in my language. My designs are for the open-minded, daring, and effortless with a youthful edge.
What are the significant milestones for your brand?
Kwesh started out as a strictly women's wear brand, and has since evolved to provide menswear. In 2014 we had our first big event by showcasing at Kampala Fashion Week as well as the Bujumbura Fashion Week in the same year.
Most recently, dressing Hollywood actress and a style icon I love, Lupita for an event in Uganda last week.
The dress Lupita wore.... how did this happen? How did you hear about it?
The Maisha Film Lab team contacted Bold Kampala, requesting for dress options for Lupita for their fundraising event the following evening. Bold presented Lupita with options from a variety of designers.
I was thrilled to hear that one of my pieces got selected; it was such a huge honour.
What are the significant collections you have designed?
Since launching, I have designed four collections;
‘Unafraid’ (ss15) collection
‘Mod Baroque’ (ss14) collection
‘Graphic Heritage’ (fw13) collection
‘Controlled Chaos’ (ss13) collection
You choose to distribute your clothing through concession stores. Where can Kenyan readers buy your clothes?
Yes, we currently have two stockists; ‘BOLD Kampala’ in Uganda, and ‘Kung’ara’ in Kenya.
Are there any plans to open your own store?
Not at the moment, but we have a showroom in Kampala where we sell ready-to-wear clothes from our collections, as well as take custom orders.
Can you say your your brand been successful? How do you measure this?
After a few years in the industry Kwesh has created a strong presence for itself, so I do believe the brand has been successful. I’ve designed four collections which have all been quite successful.
The decision to showcase in Bujumbura allows visibility in a new market that we hope to enter.
My vision for Kwesh is to be a distinct internationally competitive brand that will continue to grow and evolve.
Iconic shows you’ve participated in?
Kampala Fashion Week 2014 and Bujumbura Fashion Week 2014.
What was the inspiration for your new collection ‘Unafraid’ and what should we expect?
My ‘Unafraid’ (ss15) collection is minimalistic, daring in its uniformity and faint androgyny. Structured silhouettes were contrasted against soft drapery, alongside the use of a monochrome palette and a play with unique yet subtle textures. This collection is a celebration of the fearless, strong, feminine woman.
