Life & Work

Creative free-style mitumba fashion coming to town

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A close up of the Kogelo hat from the Chokora Wear. PHOTO | MARGARETTA WA GACHERU

Opening at the Goethe Institute on the February 26, is the three edition of the Chokora Wear III, Ma-looks – a contemporary fashion research fashion research project, initiated by the Maasai Mbili Art Centre – in Kibera.

It “explores how fashion can be used as a vehicle to reclaim a hidden culture or identity”.

Fashion

The two artists involved Kevo Stero (Kevin Irungu) and Otieno Gomba, both members of the centre, started working together in 2004 and in 2010 started on Chokora Wear as a public art project which they showed in the streets.

“It is about showing freedom in our fashion instead of relying on shops or even mitumba [second-hand clothes] and still not finding what you want. You can just take it [the garment] to a fundi and create your own.” says Kevo.

With Chokora Wear, the artists assisted the models come up with 20 pieces; two for each model, all fashioned from mitumba. While some fashion designers like John Kaveke have upcycled mitumba or one of his collection with denim or the young upcoming designer Angela Ola who uses them to make new clothes, the Chokora Wear creations are not wearable.

Chokora here, as Kevo explains, has two means “how people have to go through a heap of clothes to find something they want to buy” and “the mix-match of the clothes that makes one look like a street boy/girl”.

Creations

Totally an expression of art, the Chokora Wear, is deliberately torn, ripped, painted on and patched up each with a story. Each model is to explain their creations and the inspirations behind it like cut-out green cowboy hat called Kogelo.

“It is an art installation with videos of interviews with the models and the backstory behind the making of the clothes, the designs on the mannequins and photo booth for those who want to wear the clothes. We wanted the exhibition to be interactive and memorable,” says the artist.

He adds the new element is able to show both the videos, the clothes and models on the opening, then the clothes will be on the mannequins for the rest of the exhibition duration.

Designers

The exhibition is a continuation of the previous two and the only difference is that the artists have held it in different places; Kibera, Austria and now, Goethe.

“It is how people can express themselves through fashion by making their own designs and not leaving it to the designers to decide for them,” says Kevo.

Fashion is a form of art as it does follow the common principles of art; emphasis, contrast, movement, pattern, balance, unity, rhythm, proportion, harmony and variety. And like art it is open to interpretation and people can either agree or disagree on how they see it.

The exhibition runs until March19, 2015.