Nairobi Style
October 12, 2009
Jamhuri wear clothing is hot like fire and this is why it’s hot. It’s coming from the most blazing continent on earth, Africa, and transcending an evolutionary fashion statement.
For a long time, I’ve been waiting for an African inspired street wear company to give us clothing that screams freedom of expression. Jeffrey Kimathi, designer and owner, is inspired by two worlds juxtaposing in fashion, style, culture and creative interpretations of the cities, Nairobi, Kenya and NYC, NY. For those of you who don’t know about Kenya, let me give you a first hand experience. African people beat the streets in a hustle and a bustle, businesses, culture, clubs, matatu’s (Nairobi’s fast and furious mini-bus transportation system) and all that exudes a typical city life in Africa.
This is particularly important because finally, it is cool for Africans to represent their diversity in cultures, history, philosophers, freedom fighters and the African plight for equality, justice and expression. Many people only are exposed to one side of Africa, the poor and famished side. Everyone wants to go to Africa and feed the children. But Africa is so much more than that. African youth, like Kimathi, would make the elders proud because his clothing tells the story of Africa and why it is so important not only to Black people of African descent but to the entire world. There was a time, where showing an Afro-centric style or a love for Africa was ridiculed. Now, it’s not only cool to show off Africa in fashion but it makes a statement that says, “ I am African-and proud!”
Kimathi not only gets his inspiration from his native Nairobi but he also gets it from, “ New York City and the 8 million stories that we encounter passing us everyday.” Jamhuri wear is definitely international as well with having shipments being shipped to as far as Japan. Jamhuri has a diverse customer base of “global thinkers and no-limit type of people.” Jamhuri is unique because its inspiration comes from the everyday life in two lively, upbeat and diverse cities. It also shows Kimathi’s visions for a creative outlook of the world around him.
I asked Kimathi to tell me something about his line of clothing that ultimately represents his story. Here’s what he said, “ Inspired by two worlds and two different cities, New York ad Nairobi, it’s the beginning of the Jamhuri wear journey. My life, in design, is to provide a more clear and hopefully a HD clarity picture and open communication and dialogue between Africa and the rest of the world. [I aim to] paint pictures that help clear out questions between stereostypes and human types, perceptions versus reality.” That is absolutely astonishing so when you want to feel proud, diverse, unique and comfortable check out Jamhuri clothing. You can come to their co-op store in Harlem called Bebenoir and check out their new collection, Heritage Rich, on 2164 Federick Douglass blvd. ? ? ? ?
Written by: Shamarla Rasheda McCoy
Freelance writer for Nomadic Wax
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