Three fashion brands to look out for from the Kavango Regions

The Kavango regions may be the most underrated in Namibia but despite the fact that many Namibians overlook the talent that comes from that part of the country, fashion creatives from the region have been a force to reckon with. From seasoned fashion designers who have helped to build the industry, to an explosion of fresh new talent that is ready to take over, the voice of the Kavango people is well represented in Namibian fashion.

I took a look at some of the most interesting creatives from the region who are making a mark.

POM Kouture

POM Kouture

Created in 2016, POM Couture is the brainchild of George Shiyepo Illarius who hails from the township of Sauyemwa some 2 km outside Rundu.

A brand that is growing in popularity within and beyond the Kavango regions, POM Couture is founded on the ethos of using fashion to tell Namibian and African stories. Consisting of mostly urban streetwear, POM Couture pieces feature captivating images of everyday life in Namibia.

George dreams of growing his clothing brand into a 100% Namibian luxury brand produced with locally sourced material.

Santia Poroto

Santia Poroto

Hailing from the Kavango East Region, Santia Poroto describes her design style as “experimental”. She loves to play with African prints, colours, shapes and forms and constantly looks for ways to make clothes that are extraordinary. “My brand name stands for self-expression, freedom, strength and independence. It celebrates individual identity and not being afraid to stand out, and it embraces life in all its colour,” she says.

For her, life comes around only once so living it her way is the only way.

Anyone looking to brighten up their wardrobe with Santia Poroto’s statement pieces should be happy to know that she is working on opening an online store. In the meantime she can be contacted via her Instagram page @santirocker.poroto.

Maria Caley

No stranger to the fashion scene, Maria is a seasoned designer, fashion and textiles lecturer and academic. Her 2020 Masters of Fashion thesis explored various Vakwangali traditional clothing and styles over time in order to “explain the lack of transformation of Vakwangali cultural clothing from traditional clothing styles to fashion clothing.”

Maria’s passion for Namibian cultures, not only the Vakwangali culture, has been at the core of her design style, and she draws from the decorative elements and techniques of traditional attire from different Namibian tribes in order to transform those elements into something modern. She has showcased collections from her Amakeya brand in Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, Nigeria and Germany.

Her signature style are natural dyes derived from local traditional baskets, with sustainability being essential to her design ethos.

Keep up with Maria’s work by following her on Instagram @mariacaley.

The Kavango Region is the gift that keeps giving in terms of music, fashion and arts. The long list of fashion creatives from that part of Namibia is just another reminder that fashion is truly alive in the country. We just need to look beyond the usual places to discover the abundance of talent Namibia has to offer.

Rukee Kaakunga is a Windhoek-based Concept Engineer, PR Consultant, and fashion writer. Contact her via email: rukeekaakunga@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter @rukeeveni.