arika

I come from an Indian family with roots for 4 generations now in Kenya. It has been inspiring growing up in Nairobi watching the mix of fashion and cultures where people wear a whole range of apparels everywhere you go. You will see someone in an Indian kurta having lunch with someone wearing a dress made from Kitenge A frican print fabric. There is no limit to fashion and style and I have always dressed depending on my mood, sometimes I am in an African print jumpsuit pairing it with my grandmother's Indian oxidized necklace and other times I'm in jeans and a t-shirt but my sandals are hand made with Masai beads and so is my sisal handbag. This has been the inspiration behind ARIKA. It's for everyone. It's for every day. I want to mix together the traditional with the modern styles and showcase this New Africa we live in - African Fashion is unapologetic, bold and diverse in its fusion. I conceived this idea more recently ; perhaps during my mid life crisis after I turned 40 - but nevertheless even though I may be late to the party I intend to leave my brand's mark on this world now and forever as a quality product that is unique and prioritizes comfort above everything else. I also look forward to introducing childrens' collections of my products in the future ; but, baby steps!