Mettā announces their third fashion product lab cohort powered by Hivos East Africa. The designers accepted into the program were selected after a rigorous multi-phase selection process which focused on the viability of their fashion businesses, creative designs and portfolio, and their potential to scale across the continent and globally.
Mettā Nairobi, in partnership with Hivos East Africa, is set to bring five fashion startups to Nairobi for its third boot-camp program – Fashion Product Lab 3.0. Selected from 300 applications all over the country, the 5 startups will kick off the program in August 2019.
Fashion Product Lab 3.0 is an 8-week intensive program helping entrepreneurs in the fashion industry launch their brands into local and international markets and develop new and diverse product lines. As part of the program, the 2019 cohort will have the opportunity to engage with high-profile speakers, experts, mentors, and a global network of support throughout the program as well as access to the Mettā space in Nairobi and the global Mettā community.
Under the concept of ‘Inspiring Change – Unleash the Potential’, Mettā will provide an intensive boot-camp program to the fashion designers using our expertise in the local business environment and financial services. This will help them to unleash their full potential and turn innovative ideas into practical solutions- Maurice Otieno, General Manager Mettā Nairobi
The Fashion Product Lab 3.0 will conclude in a one-of-a-kind Fashion Runway in September 2019, where entrepreneurs will pitch their companies and showcase their collections for funding and partnerships.
Meet the FPL 3.0 Participants
Joel Meshak
Brand: Naivaa Apparel
Naivaa is an up and coming fashion brand that seeks to create unique urban pieces and build an identity that reflects and resonates with Nairobi Culture.
Brand: Yvonne Asunnah Kenya
This fashion brand specalises in contemporary unisex designs. They predominantly work with local African prints that have a modern western twist.
Dorothy Ochieng
Brand: Chicolatta
Chicolatta is a Kenyan based fashion brand that offers quality and competitively priced women’s wear, with it’s Ready-to-Wear line as well as tailored Custom-made pieces for the upward discerning clientele. Chicolatta is a minimalist in classic silhouettes that use both contemporary and African fabric.
Brand: Caverroh
Caverroh we design and make Versatile, Comfortable and Stylish clothing for the modern woman for her to look fabulous and be empowered to live a wonderful fashion forward life
Brand: The Urban Gents Ltd (TUG)
TUG is a fashion brand who started in 2019 with the aim of bringing inclusivity, diversity, and creativity in the local fashion scene. At TUG, they pride themselves on the wide array of products and services which include Ready-To-Wear, Accessories and Made to Measure service. Their comprehensive product range continues to grow through research & development initiatives as well as the great wealth of knowledge and skills gained through working almost 10 years at Co-Be Nairobi.
About Metta
Metta is a members’ club for the entrepreneurial community to connect, share knowledge and bring ideas to life. Through the R.O.O.M program, Metta has partnered with Hivos East Africa to champion debate around sustainable fashion within a just and fair ecosystem.
Hivos East Africa’s R.O.O.M program supports the creative work of a new generation of artists, makers, musicians and critical content producers around the world who strive for openness and lead the resistance to shrinking civic space. R.O.O.M. provides financial support for the production of work and safe online and offline environments where they can create alternative narratives, question the status quo and imagine new realities through their practice.
This article was originally published by Metta.
