KikoRomeo

KikoRomeo, which means "Adam's Apple" in Kiswahili, was created in 1996 and is generally regarded for revolutionising fashion in Kenya and training numerous designers and artisans over the following two decades. KikoRomeo transcends cultures and fashion trends by employing handmade and hand-dyed textiles, as well as hand-carved trims imported from the African continent, to create durability in each outfit. Their fabrics are made primarily of natural fibres such as cotton, linen, and silk, but they also experiment with alternative fibres like as sisal and orange peel. KikoRomeo's silhouettes are effortlessly exquisite, with attention to detail; everyone who wear them see them as works of art.

 

Their mission is to bring various peoples together for the sake of mankind via the use of fashion and art as a channel. Their designs promote dialogue and greater understanding across nations and cultures.

They are passionate about the arts and use our language and fashion talents to mentor and motivate others to be open-minded and to make a career through their creativity. The beautiful objects they make empower the wearer, opening new doors and giving them the confidence to express themselves authentically. Their  items are handcrafted by East African artists, many of whom have been with them for over two decades. They frequently cooperate with others in the visual arts, literature, theatre, film, and music, and their abilities improve their work.

 

They use natural materials and textiles such as rainfed cotton and Kenyan silk. They choose to work with natural fabrics that are readily available locally and biodegradable. Wool and leather are examples of byproducts of Kenya's thriving livestock and fish industries. Many of their fabrics are handloom woven, with others being hand spun or knitted. Except for the dyeing process, none of these processes need water and require little to no electricity. Aside from that, they employ fabrics classified as excess manufacturing, which are readily available in Kenya. They utilise handcrafted coconut buttons or laser-cut horn logo buttons to accessorise our clothing. The horn ones are created in Ethiopia utilising cutting-edge technology in a zero-waste horn processing facility.

 

All of the thinner fabric offcuts are recycled. Small pieces are supplied to the Friends of Kaimosi in Kenya's Western Province, where they are used to make patchwork by their 15 women's groups. They repurchase some of their finished patchwork cloth.