One of the many takeaways from the recently concluded Collection MoDA in Kingston, Jamaica, is there’s always a pool of great, new talent emerging, that we can talk about and expose. This year, we saw some rising stars take to the runway with fresh new ideas and a renewed spirit that’s always a welcome treat in the fashion arena.
TROPICAL FLAVOR
Today we focus the spotlight on KAHINDO, a New York-based, African born fashion designer who made her MoDA debut to favorable reviews. Kahindo spiced up the runway with a fresh, colorful collection that definitely had a tropical flavor. Her bold colors were balanced by a free and easy silhouette, that showed casual wear in a new vibrant element. Known for some signature pieces like her Mutongo dress, the Koma Bubble dress, and her Kivu Kimono, Kahindo saw her debut at Collection MoDA as an expansion of her brand. “I really want to enter the Caribbean market and looking for retailers to carry my brand,” revealed Kahindo when we caught up with her at Collection MoDA Marketplace in Jamaica.
KAHINDO
Congolese ROOTS
Although in business for herself for some nine years, Kahindo is relatively new among fashion insiders. She is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and migrated to the US at a young age. Kahindo studied design at the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago, where she obtained two degrees – one in fashion design and the other in International Business and Economics. After doing a series of internships, and, work with an Indian based clothing line, Kahindo was inspired to start her own fashion design business under her name. Kahindo competed in Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s Residence Program in 2011, and in 2013, landed a spot as a contestant on Season 12 of Lifetime Network’s Emmy Nominated show “Project Runway.” Essence Magazine just named Kahindo as one of the 5 New Designers to watch in their July/August 2018 `Take Your Joy Back’ issue. She’s also enjoyed notoriety in Harpers Bazaar and British Vogue. Kahindo said; “Now, I sell online and I do a lot of pop-up shops in New York. `Dreams on Air’ in SoHo carry my brand as well as `In Her Shoes’ in New York City.
INSPIRATION
For her Jamaican debut, Kahindo was moved by two trips she recently took. “I was inspired by the same colorful houses I saw in Vienna, Italy, and the Bocaha houses in Capetown, South Africa…..my heritage, my culture, my mother are all very inspirational in my design process. I am always very African aware.” Kahindo’s movement of bold colors, vibrant prints and rich textiles made for a great runway situation that was bubbling with new energy. I asked Kahindo who are the top designers that she admires and gets inspiration from. “Dolce & Gabbana…I love the color and silhouette of Versace. I love the familiar, easy, breezy esthetic – they are not afraid of color.”
SIMILARITIES
On her first Jamaican sojourn, Kahindo noted the familiarity of the Caribbean and her hometown of Goma. “It felt like home, going up to Strawberry Hill really felt like home in the Congo, my father has a farm, so all of the greenery was familiar. Then visiting Hellshire Beach reminded me of my family going to the beach when I was a kid.” For sales and more information visit: www.kahindo.com.
