Johari Designs Archives

Johari Designs Artisans have developed a stunning collection of dresses, separates and accessories. Customer and Retailer feedback has been used to form the basis of the collection, giving it wide appeal.

The creative talents of the Johari Designs team have been put to good use and the quality and workmanship of the garments speak for themselves.

The Sarah dress is destined to be the next 'iconic little black dress' with a difference. A band of bold Zebra print fabric has been sewn into the waist-band to give the outfit a wow factor! The dress is extremely versitile and can be worn with sandals for a casual lunch time get-together with friends. Add a pair of high heels and piece of statement Jewellery (Johari of course) and you will have an elegant evening look.

To view the new collection visit Johari

Screen Printing is one of many techniques used to print fabrics. At Johari Designs we have used this type of printing as the method for producing authentic, high quality prints. Our latest collection highlights the success of this methof of printing and the precision required to get the best quality print.

Eliud Ngojo, has come through the Johari Foundation's Outreach Programme in Kandara. He is now working and Johari Designs and has recently been developing some new skills by learning the art of Screen Printing. He has been working very closely with a professional printer who has been helping to train Eliud. You will hear from Eliud in a subsequent blog, where he will highlight his experience so far.

The short rains season is Kenya usually lasts from March to late April, but this year the rains have continued right through May and it's unseasonably cold. With the cold weather set to continue in June and July, we at Johari would love to encourage you to buy a beautiful Naima cardigan that will help you to stay warm throughout the season.

If you are planning a visit to Kenya then it would be a piece worth buying to wear during your stay, or why not buy is as a gift for someone.

For more details visit Johari . Or call 020 271 3065, 0721 874 219
We are on Studio Hse 6th Floor
Off argwings Khodhek Rd
Opp Chaka Place.

There must be something in the water in Kenya as baby fever takes over Johari!

Two of our Johari Designs artisans both gave birth to beautiful baby girls last month and our Social Development Manager, Regina is now a proud Mum to a healthy baby boy, only born a few days ago! Business Manager of Johari Designs, Lydia Chege is also due to give birth to her first baby at the end of this month. At this rate a Johari Nursery will need to be opened!

Huge congratulations to all of our lovely new Mummy's!

Johari Designs hosted two apprentices from a Kiranga polytechnic (Carol and Eliud). The two teenagers have come through the Miale outreach programme and have recently finished a course in dressmaking .They sat their industrial training exam last December, passed and were awarded a certificate in dress making level 3. They are now looking for experience in other fashion and designs techniques. So where better to get this exposure than through visiting Johari Designs and getting some hands-on experience.Their tutor commented, “It’s amazing to see how Carol and Eliud are interested in learning fashion and designs skills; they are having fun as they learn”. Johari Foundation's aim is Empowerment through Opportunity!

Red or Purple this valentine?

Traditionally Valentine day has been known to be a day to give the one you love something red as well as the day to wear red to celebrate love. Perhaps the red represents the colour of the heart which is a symbol of love and where love dwells. Another school of thought proposes purple for different reasons.

Whichever way you choose to go we have something for you at johari to pour out your love this month to the one you love.

Wear Johari or give out a Johari gift.

And remember to make everyday a day of sharing love.

Visit us at studio house, 6th fl off Argwings Khodhek rd for a discounted Kenya Price

The lovely new Johari Seedlings collection has been making it's debut at school Christmas Fayre's throughout the country. The printed t-shirts, bags and beautiul Halima Doll with Baby have all been proving popular!

Thank you to Bo'ness Public, Craigclowan and Kinghorn Primary for show-casing the products hand-made by Johari Designs in Kenya. The profit made from the sale of Johari products will help to fund the Johari Foundations Miale Programmes.

Check out the Johari website!

At Johari Designs we have already been getting in to the Christmas spirit whilst creating some fantastic gifts for the festive season. We have stunning tablewear which includes; a table runner, napkins and napkin rings. For those of you who like to look stylish in the kitchen we also have some handmade Johari aprons.

Our aprons which have the johari tree line trademark

Table Napkins with a tree line too…

All of these products can be purchase on the Johari online store, through some of our retailers and at the Johari studio in Nairobi. Look out for the new addition to our Seedlings range which is a sweet doll called Halima. She comes complete with change of clothes and baby. A wonderful stocking filler for the younger ones in the house.

4th & 5th September so johari exhibit its elegant fashion at sarit center one of the best shopping mall in the city of Nairobi, in fact it’s among the premier shopping malls in Kenya.
From the exhibitors it clearly was a top de top event with its theme clearly stating, that it’s all about setting the trend in Kenyan fashion.
Johari was very present and it was a great weekend…….

Be set to catch us at Nairobi Fashion market in October and enjoy discounts on our elegant items.

The Jewelry had to be the best and the most unique

The Miale Earrings and the Plump

Our friendship with Hillcrest school experienced some remarkable moments this year that were of great benefit to both parties.

We enjoyed showcasing and selling our products to the Hillcrest family at different occasions as well as sharing our expertise with the students who may grow to be the renowned world fashion designers of tomorrow.

In sharing our expertise, we hosted the Year four students in a half day workshop experience. This was a lovely thought by Ms Jan Grimmer the Director of Studies

The idea was to give the students a "hands on" experience in design/making of clothes and an exposure to ethical trading.

Keenly following up

"Yes I can too"

The Pupils made some lovely bags and bought gifts to take back home.

And as you can see, they were quite happy!

Kenya Utalii food fair 2011 was in celebration of Southern Sudan, the newest African Nation. The event was all glamorous with numerous activities such as a very entertaining Sudanese dance and an exquisite fashion show.

This annual event is organized by Kenya Utalii College a premier Hospitality and Tourism training institution. The event gives the students a chance to practice what they have learnt in class through appreciation of the dynamism of the various cultures of the world.

We were happy to be part of this year’s event to support this noble course and to showcase our products.

Our newest collection Johari Julia collection 2011 was applauded by the crowd which consisted of young and old.

Alive & Kicking is an African social enterprise that manufactures sports balls to provide balls for children, create jobs for adults and promote health education through sport. Because of the quality of the products produced at Johari Designs and the work Johari Foundation does in the community they have asked Johari to produce a range of T-shirts for the Alive and Kicking, Kenya sports roadshow programme. www.aliveandkicking.org.uk/index.html

The road show will visit 40 secondary schools in the Butere-Mumias district and the Alive and Kicking balls will have catchy innovative messaging printed on them to encourage children and young adults to stay safe from HIV/AIDS and to lead a healthy, happy life. Johari Designs are delighted to be printing the t-shirts for the road show which will be used to help reinforce the slogans printed on the balls.

Safaricom Foundation are funding the road show as they support community involvement through the integration of education and life skills into sports www.safaricomfoundation.org/.

Johari will be exhibiting yet again at this year’s Nairobi Fashion Market. This is an event the brings together top fashion retailers in Nairobi for an affordable fashion extravaganza graced with music, entertainment and fun.

This year’s event will be held on 5th and 6th March 2011 at the Impala Club grounds in Nairobi.

Last year’s NFM was a great feat for Johari and we are looking forward to an even better experience this year.

We will be exhibiting most of our collections developed to date, with many creative new ideas. Among the ‘must buy’ pieces will be men’s T-shirts with a variety of Johari prints and gorgeous hand made brass jewellery pieces.

See you there!

Chui Butterfly Top at NFM 2010

Neema Dress at NFM 2010

The progress of the Johari products in Tokyo Japan is remarkable!

As per the display inside Mr. Imazawa's (Hiden) shop- Maasai Market in Tokyo and the sales recorded, it’s apparent that the clothes have fitted well into the Japanese market. Mr. Imazawa is happy with the progress saying that the performance of the clothes has surpassed his expectations. His clients have commented that the collection is unique and suitable for a day to day wear.

He has sold out most of the pieces and reported a remarkable response on the rest.

Some of the pieces that have been sold out are the Japanese pants. This are the traditional Japanese pants made from locally sourced fabric endowed with johari prints.

We are currently working on a variety of ideas which we have received from Mr. Imazawa on new designs that could be added to this collection. These are basically Japanese styles with an African touch.

Yes Johari in the streets of Tokyo!

We recently produced a collection for the Japanese market courtesy of Mr. Imazawa (Hiden) of Maasai market in Tokyo. Hiden was introduced to Johari Designs by a friend who loved our work. Likewise upon seeing our 2009 and 2010 collections Hiden could not resist the temptation of buying our clothes to sell in his shop back home. He adored their uniqueness particularly the African story depicted on the various prints. He was convinced that the clothes will do well in the Japanese market.

We customised various designs to fit the Japanese style and to suit Mr Imazawa's requirements.

This has been an awesome experience for us at Johari; developing the collection and finally having it ready for the market.

Lookout for Johari in Japan 2 for an update on the progress and pictures.

Youth account for the 61% of the unemployed in Kenya, Which is more than 2million youths. Another 750,000 join this lot every year from educational institutions. This is a great disaster in the waiting if nothing is done to empower the youth to ensure that they are self reliant. One of the initiatives that the Govement of Kenya has started off to face this menace is the Enterprise Development Fund established in year 2006 with the sole purpose of reducing unemployment.
The sad side of this is that the majority of the unemployed youth have formal education hence a worse predicament for those without formal certification. Johari Apprenticeship program aims to create a solution to this national hitch by empowering vulnerable talented young adults. The program empowers young adults by equipping them with fashion and entrepreneurship skills.
I recently visited a Youth enterprise fair organized by the Enterprise Development fund where a number of Fund beneficiaries were exhibiting their wares. It’s quite evident that youth poses great potential in form of affluent creativity. What they lack is knowledge and availability of channels to grow their potential. Johari thus endeavors to grow its apprenticeship program to see to it that many more talents are nurtured to stability.
A recent youth enterprise fair

Johari current collection

produced by the apprentices

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