Fashion designer Patricia Mbela is on a journey of reinvention. After 13 years in the industry, she hopes to win the hearts of African women and men through her new fashion house, Poisa (which means “to make or to craft” in Taita).

Being an award winner is certainly putting the wind in Patricia’s sails. The first Kenyan to showcase at the Nigerian Fashion Week this November, she also scooped the East Africa’s Fashion Designer of the Year Award at Swahili Fashion Week.Poisa marks Patricia’s return to an “avant-garde-wearable- art” style that incorporates hand painting and beading, in addition to focusing on intriguing garment construction. The line is meant to introduce people to a new world of adventurous dressing that is neither conservative nor “safe”. “I want Africa to know that the time for high fashion is here and its starts with Poisa,” says Patricia. This is evident in her new “Urban Warrior” line that she showcased at both Swahili and Nigerian Fashion Weeks. Inspired by Turkana and Maasai tribes, colonial explorers, gladiators and “steampunk”, the collection takes one on an exploratory journey of fantasy across Africa. It celebrates the rich heritage of these influences and the connection that we share with the world.

“I’m happy that I have gone back to my original style. [This] collection is designed to flatter all sizes and to accentuate a wearer’s preferred body parts. It offers bold textures and structures in a strong colour palette. I used Ankara (kitenge), checks (tweed/plaid), leather for spats, cotton, linen, silks, georgette and chiffon. ‘Urban Warrior’ is large and varied, which speaks of our unique and growing culture, “ says Patricia.

Her collection consists of 27 garments and plenty of jewellery. “I want to build my name here (because) the continent is the next investment frontier,” she adds. And international fashion brands certainly get this. For example,the Maasai shuka (blanket) was a prominent fabric in Louis Vuitton’s Menswear for Spring 2012. Suno’s, a high-end American fashion house, makes its garments through Soko Kenya at the coast. With such competition rearing its head in a market that still gravitates towards international fashion, Patricia is rolling up her sleeves for the battle ahead. “Participating in these fashion weeks is my way of getting the Poisa name out there,” she says.

An avid user of Facebook and Twitter, Patricia taps into such platforms to help get her name out to the younger generation. At her shop in Cathy Flats on Lenana Road, clients are allowed to walk around the studio to understand the process of her work. She is also collaborating with other local designers. Her jewellery line was used to complement John Kaveke’s debut showcase at the London Fashion Week back in September. “It is my boldest collection to date. I am really excited to see how Africa will react to it. My aim is to bring out Poisa as an avant-garde fashion house and popularize my niche, which is wearable art,” says Patricia.