UP Fashion: Designer Profile- Walove by design
A short denim dress, long neat box braids, a brightly coloured scarf and dozens of beaded bangles is definitely the type of trendy look one would expect from a fashion fanatic. Neema Walove is her name and professionally refers to herself more of a fashion artist than a designer. And what exactly is the difference? “ As a fashion artist, I use fashion to bring out different ideas that are not fully about fashion, but derived from it. These depend on creativity and what the project really entails.”
Walove by Design started gaining traction in 2013 and has been driven by their love for fashion and style. It is an up and coming fashion/design house, whose main goal is to sensitize Kenyans on global societal issues using fashion as its key avenue. Neema’s inspiration is drawn from her mother, who once designed wedding clothes for her clients. Others include contemporary Kenyan designer, John Kaveke and fashion and jewellry designer, Patricia Mbela.
They are currently working on their first big project, which is geared towards environment and wildlife conservation and is set to debut next year. Through this, they will be able to reach out to the youth mainly in the form of a fashion exhibition, film and a photo shoot, all with a wild concept. So far, Walove by Design has managed to create two collections in the past few years. This include a ‘Butterfly Collection’, which was showcased at the Swahili Fashion Week 2012 and the ‘Dinosaur Collection’ which represents freedom.
The smiley 24-year-old emphasizes a unique and colourful touch on all her bespoke collections. Ever since she began Walove by Design, she has developed a unique understanding of the African culture which embraces colour and started creating coloured wedding dresses. “African culture has no white in history.” She says.
Her journey through the industry has not been as colourful as her collections, however, it is one she is proud of. She enrolled in a fashion school within Nairobi to master her passion driven profession. Neema therefore encourages upcoming fashion enthusiasts to follow their dreams professionally as there are schools for everything, including building ideas. Other challenges include sourcing capital and effective marketing, common to any other start-up.
Walove designs have graced several runways and exhibitions, some of which include the Swahili Fashion Week, Casino Malindi, The Nairobi Fashion Market and Strut It, and have been worn by renowned Kenyan models such as Jo Kisila and Paynette JoaN. Neema’s achievements through her fashion label has also opened doors for her to sit as a judge during some of the fashion events in Kenya.
The materials used for the clothes are not restricted and hence can be as random as her unique creations.
As a must have, she never misses a tape measure, pins and a lighter in her bag. These she says, are essential for any designer at any time of the day.
Neema is a daring ball of energy, open to new ideas and taking risks, regardless of the fashionable outcome. In years to come, she still hopes to enhance purposeful fashion that is creative and one hundred percent Kenyan.
When she is not designing or creating something, Neema enjoys bungee jumping, hiking or even adventuring on off-road driving!
Facebook: House of Walove
