East African fashion life show opens in Kenya to boost textiles, apparels trade

The second edition of East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show was officially opened on Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, drawing over 70 exhibitors from Kenya and China.

NAIROBI, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show was officially opened on Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, drawing over 70 exhibitors from Kenya and China.

Chinese enterprises are exhibiting textiles, packaging material, baby toys, personal care products and wigs, home decor, and gift wrappers during the expo that runs from Thursday to Saturday.

Yin Maolin, Party chief of Mudan District in Heze City, east China's Shandong Province, led a high-level Chinese delegation to attend the expo that will highlight the potential of East Africa as a hub for the fashion, sustainable textile, and apparel sector.

According to Yin, the fashion show offers a platform for deepening economic partnership between China and Kenya, focusing on trade in high-quality manufactured products and jointly establishing seamless supply chains.

Pius Rotich, general manager for investment promotion and business development services at Kenya Investment Authority, said the government has created a conducive policy and regulatory environment to spur the growth of the textile and apparel sector.

Kenya is committed to a partnership with Chinese investors in a bid to manufacture high-quality leather products for export in the African market and beyond, boosting foreign exchange earnings and job creation, said Rotich.

Gao Wei, managing director of Afripeak Expo Kenya Ltd., co-organizer of the 2025 East African Fashion Show, said this year's edition had grown bigger in terms of the number of visitors and exhibitors, reaffirming dynamism in the region's textile and apparel sectors.

The fashion expo, according to Gao, will run under the theme of "Inspire Friendship, Connect World," bringing together Chinese and Kenyan enterprises dealing with household accessories, cosmetics, and electronics under one roof.

Gao said the expo will also create a platform for Chinese business executives to network with their Kenyan counterparts, explore two-way trade in leather products.

Hundreds of Kenyan visitors thronged to the East Africa Fashion expo, with the majority acknowledging their appreciation of Chinese-made products, including wigs, cosmetics and fabrics.

Waceke Mwaura, a female entrepreneur, said that she was impressed by the wig showcased by Chinese exhibitors, adding that its high quality has made it popular among local clients.

Mwaura said she has been importing hair from China to supply to local retailers and beauty parlors, even as she scouts for distributorship arrangements with Chinese manufacturers.

Paul Munyua, a middle-aged pedicurist, said that he visited the expo to gain insight into new beauty products in the local market imported from China that are affordable to his clients.■