Female designer who holds men’s fashion close to heart

Faith “Manciny” Migwi knows what men want – in their wardrobes anyway. This designer admits that she has a bias towards menswear over women’s attire, and it is all business.

“It is a niche market. A major change in the way men view style is positioning the menswear market for major growth,” says Ms Migwi. The Kenyan man, she says, is trendier and more fashion conscious. He is willing to spend to look good hence her interest.

Her debut menswear collection called Clash of the Patterns, shown at the Festival for Fashion and Arts (Fafa) gala night in May, was inspired by tribal patterns, symmetry and geometry. It was a collection of ankle-length kaftans, jackets in bright patterned fabrics and punk-inspired beaters with leather bags as accessories.

“Being male is a matter of birth; being a man is a matter of age, but being a gentleman is a matter of choice. This is the principle that inspires and guides brand Manciny’s Urban Gentleman collection, which caters to the modern day gentleman to develop a certain wardrobe style that complements his personality,” she says.

The Manciny man’s style is timeless, classic, ballsy, minimalist, retro, vintage, non-conformist and effortless. Manciny Designs sources sustainably and manufactures all its products locally.

As a female fashion designer doing menswear, Ms Migwi says positive feedback has been forthcoming especially with men’s newfound appreciation for style. Counting her muses as her faith, an artsy neighbourhood, the bedrock of creativity in Pawa 254, costume directors of movies/series, international fashion icons and creative peers in the industry locally and abroad, Manciny continues to create.

“Being a woman has its advantages. Who better to understand men’s style and fashion than a woman?” she says.

Ms Migwi started her fashion business four years ago after a short stint as a personal assistant to a fashion designer. Her first business step was an eco-friendly bag line “Eqo-Chique”, then “Nyadhi” womenswear before she started “The Urban Gentleman” where she designs and shops for men as a style concierge.

“To me, Manciny represents infinite style and diverse taste. This caters to everyone as it cuts across trends, and yet still remains relevant in the current fashion-charged environment,” she says.

“Men are less fussy and they are willing to pay more to get quality. Their body types usually fall in only three categories – ectomorphs, endomorphs and mesomorphs unlike women, who are a different ball game,” says the fashion designer.

Women’s line

This does not mean that she has stopped designing for women, whom she says shop regularly as their trends change often thus keeping designers busy. She is currently working on a womenswear collection that she hopes to launch soon.

“Even when shopping men and women differ,” points out Ms Migwi.

She explains that that men and women fall into two distinct categories – hunters and gatherers. Women shop like gatherers, taking time to browse until they see the right item at the right price. They regard shopping as a leisure pursuit in itself and are happy to roam through shops until something catches their eye.

“Men see shopping as a hunting mission. Around 70 per cent of them decide on their target beforehand and go straight for the kill. They know what they want to buy and go directly to a store they know will stock it,” she explains.

Ms Migwi says every Kenyan man needs a capsule collection of classic, versatile, practical and quintessential pieces that seamlessly integrate within their wardrobe regardless of where they fall in their personal style spectrum, formal or casual.

She feels that there is a void in the market place for a stylish and practical wardrobe designed with men in mind. She likes to think that Manciny caters to that need by ensuring its clients maintain a timeless, sophisticated aesthetic look.

[email protected]