4 minute read
Exploring Martina Karny’s fashion journey
Raised in the former Central European state of Czechoslovakia, Martina Karny embarked on a life-changing journey to Namibia back in 2005. An academic turned fashion stylist and avid lover of Namibian fashion, Martina’s heart was captured by Namibia’s beautiful landscapes and the warmth of its people, particularly those in the creative sector.
When I met the stylish Martina for an afternoon interview over drinks, I was captivated by her immaculate presence. Draped in impeccable hand-made jewellery, she was the picture of understated sophistication in a crisp white buttondown, snug denims and a wide-brimmed hat.
The jewellery she wears, she says, is almost always locally sourced – something she encourages more Namibians to do, given the amount of talent and craftsmanship that is found here.
THE BEGINNING OF A STYLE STORY
As a teenager in the late 90s, Martina says she didn’t care much about fashion. Anything that her mom didn’t pick out was good enough for her.
“Now that I look back, I realise that even though I didn’t feel like I could dress well, I actually had my own sense of style from a very young age,” she says.
As she grew older, her style evolved, shaped by various cultural influences, including the hit TV show Sex and the City.
THE BREAKTHROUGH
Although Martina’s style has always been appreciated within her close circle, it took a few years before she gained national recognition. In a 2018 interview for the Best and Worst supplement of the newspaper The Namibian Martina's friend and Song Night founder, Lize Ehlers, called her the most stylish person she knew. In 2019, Lize solidified her admiration by enlisting Martina to style RMB Song Night contestants for the stage.
“We were always concerned about the way participants in the event looked. Working on this project gave me a lot of confidence because my work was being recognised. I started to get a lot of compliments on my styling work”, Martina says.
After she was nominated to sit on the model casting panel for the Windhoek Fashion Week, Martina’s work was recognised outside the music circles. In 2022 she worked with Miss Supranational as a co-stylist and she refers to the Drag Night Love Yourself campaign as one of her career highlights.
PROMOTING LOCAL TALENT
Martina’s career has flourished mainly because of the support she receives from her peers, which she values deeply. She actively strives to source most of her fashion pieces from Namibian designers, jewellery artisans and accessory designers. "I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with designers like Nikola Conradie, Ingo Shanyenge and Melisa Poulton. Working with them has been a joy, and I deeply admired the late Cynthia Schimming”, she emphasises.
Having lived in Namibia for almost two decades, Martina has fallen in love with Namibian culture. “There is so much creativity, we have amazing designers and so many great jewellery designers, I just wish more Namibians could support them.” Considering herself an ethical fashion consumer, Martina despises fast fashion and she encourages fashion lovers to prioritise original Namibian designs.
There is so much creativity, we have amazing designers, I just wish more Namibians could support them.
THE FASHION AGENDA
Like most Namibian fashionistas, Martina’s fashion calendar for the rest of the year includes the upcoming Fashion Week. This is where she usually scouts for emerging brands and the latest trends from local designers.
On a personal note, Martina is looking forward to a longoverdue trip to Europe, where she plans to visit her family.
And on the work front, Martina is preparing to launch her very own clothing line in the near future. “I want to learn how to sketch and how to sew so that I can start an upcycled fashion brand. After all, I can’t always be bothering my fashion designer friends”, she chuckles playfully.
