east Africa | Fashion | Kenya
Fashion: SUNO Style Fashion Made From Khanga Fabric
SUNO [Kenya]
[Image credits: SUNO Spring Summer 2009]
African flavour with a retro Americana twist is one way of describing the collections of SUNO, the brainchild of filmmaker and designer Max Osterweis who after spending over a decade collecting colourful vintage Kenyan kangas, decided to turn them into what has become a sought after fashion collection launched in 2008.
Inspiration taken from the way painters like Gustav Klimt and Wassily Kandinsky used colour and shape can be seen influencing SUNO’s creative and colourful experimentations. What is great about SUNO’s designs is the way the clothing can be easily mixed and matched creating exciting combinations for added individuality.
[Image credits: SUNO Spring Summer 2010]
Highly skilled tailors in the Kenyan-based workshop bring their artistry to the designs, which are developed in New York and then produced in Kenya. The fabrics used have expanded to included wool, wovens and tie-dyes from Kenya, Tanzania, Italy and Japan. Moving forward the company has also started designing and producing their own prints, currently seen in the Autumn/Winter 2010 collection and in conjunction with the Kenyan-based artisans is experimenting with incorporating intricate beading and embroidery into the designs.
[Image credits: SUNO Spring Summer 2010]
My personal favourite has to be the Spring/summer 2010 collection, there’s something about the colours and timeless 1940/50’s glamour I find especially appealing. The Spring/Summer 2011 lookbook is available to view online.
[Image credits: SUNO Spring Summer 2011]
Additional Details:
To find out more about SUNO visit: www.sunony.com
Prices on selected online retailers range from US$185-US$910
Purchase SUNO online at the following retailers: www.openingceremony.us who ship internationally; and
Barneys New York: www.barneys.com
To find out more about SUNO visit: www.sunony.com
Prices on selected online retailers range from US$185-US$910
Purchase SUNO online at the following retailers: www.openingceremony.us who ship internationally; and
Barneys New York: www.barneys.com
