Kenyan New York-based fashion powerhouse The Wakilisha Collection unveiled their latest exciting collection in New York during the just concluded world-famous New York Fashion Week, which began on Thu, 7 Sept 2023 and ended on Wed, 13 Sept 2023. The 15 new prints which will become publicly available on October 15, 2023, are a combination of Kikoy, Maasai, and Kitenge fabrics, each with a unique pattern and design, available in each of the variety of suit styles that the Wakilisha Collection offers.
The Wakilisha Collection LLC is a premier clothing company that offers authentic, made-to-measure, African print suits. The print fabric is sourced from Kenya, designed by the Wakilisha team across continents, and the garments are then tailored in Kenya before being sent to clients across the globe. Founded by Justin Mungai, along with co- designer and CFO Linda Kieu and COO Gatere Kigamwa, The Wakilisha Collection adopted the African prints and have taken this authentic fabric from different communities in Africa to the global stage. During their latest offerings in the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) show, held at Runway 7 Spring / Summer 2024 Collections at Sony Hall on September 09, 2023, in New York City, The Wakilisha Collection also unveiled five new suit styles that will be added to its design offerings.
Justin – who grew up in Nairobi – was always into bold and colorful East African prints, something that become part and parcel of his life even in adulthood. Over time, together with his fiancé Linda Kieu – the CFO of The Wakilisha Collections -and lifelong friend Gatere Kigamwa – the COO of The Wakilisha Collections – they explored the idea of transforming this passion for African Print into a business. Today the business has become a premier clothing company that offers authentic, made to measure, African print suits.
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is a preeminent of shows destined at the forefront of shaping culture, trends, and the evolution of American fashion. The Shows provides leading designers from around the world with an unrivaled global platform to showcase their collections bi-annually every February and September. Alongside London, Milan, and Paris Fashion weeks, New York Fashion Week is considered to be one of the four major fashion weeks in the world attracting thousands and thousands of people from around the world who come together to celebrate the biggest designers and new collections as they enjoy runway shows, kickoff events, after parties and so much more.
The Wakilisha Collection’s New Designers.
Ladies Blazers
The Wakilisha Collection unveiled its new of ladies’ blazer – short blazer look. This style was unveiled in the new ‘Machakos Print,” a beautiful multi-colored Kitenge fabric and the perfect summer outfit.
The Wakanda Blazer
The Wakilisha Collection styled this new blazer in black and gold embroidery. The African-style blazer was inspired by traditional African outfits around the continent and, in-part, by the outfits worn by King T’Challa in Wakanda during the movie Black Panther.
Satin Lapel for Tuxedo-Style Blazers
The Wakilisha Collection has increased the scope of its tuxedo-style blazers to add an offering that customizes the lapel from fabric to black satin. This represents a further fusion between African and Western styles, embracing a lapel design that’s more traditional in western tuxedo styles with the bold and vivacious African prints.
The Moyale Print
The Wakilisha Collection team introduced one of the most unique styles to its catalogue – the “Moyale Print.” This design is half African Print and half solid black fabric. For its unveiling, the print was paired with the black and white Ndovu print in its catalogue.
The Men’s Shorts Suit
Following the success of the shorts suit for women that The Wakilisha Collection introduced las fall, the brand is getting bolder and introduced a version of the shorts suit for men, understanding that men too want to be stylish in the hottest of temperatures. The Wakilisha Collection unveiled this look at New York Fashion Week with the “Thika Print,” a tan Maasai fabric that’s perfect in virtually any suit-style.