Driven by a desperate need for self-employment after working in various corporate jobs, Mohamed Awale was inspired to create Suave Kenya by his frequent visits to the Gikomba flea market. The young entrepreneur’s company makes bags out of up-cycled clothes, such as jeans, jackets, and shirts, turning them into one -of- a- kind bags. He was able to set up Suave Kenya in 2013 with the help of his cousin, who had stopped his small leather bag business to focus on another business.
Up cycled clothing, an increasingly popular trend, entails repurposing old, worn out or damaged materials into brand new pieces. Manufacturing bags out of used clothes is a unique concept that is also environmentally friendly.
“Initially, it was because it was the cheapest and best fabric available out there.” Mohamed Said. “Over time, I realized the potential it had both as an eco-friendly alternative and the unique nature of the fabrics as well.” He added. When it comes to sourcing the materials, they would make frequents visits to the Gikomba market and hand -pick the clothing, especially during the earlier years of the business.
However, over the years, they established a relationship with some of the vendors at the market who derive the materials on their behalf and send it to them. The materials used to make the bags include tweed, wool, cotton, linen, leather and denim among others.
The up-cycled bags, with beautiful pattern and colors, are unique as Suave does not repeat a design twice. The bags are sold on the https://suavekenya.com/ website as well as on their Instagram page, https://www.instagram.com/suave_ke/. They are also available at The Souk Karen. The bags are sold to both local and international customers. They have a range of different designs, including backpacks, cross body, messenger bags, totes, and sleeves. They also make small goods, such as wallets and pouches.
The fashion industry is very competitive both locally and internationally. However, Mohamed was able to find a niche and succeed. He credits this to his circle of supportive friends and his very talented team. “I would say a combination of good fortune, a supportive circle of friends and a team of ateliers who are very good at what they do; we have managed to stand out from a competitive field.” He said.
According to The Fast Fashion Global Market Report 2021: CovidOVID-19 Growth and Change to 2030,; The global fast fashion market is expected to grow from $25.09 billion in 2020 to $30.58 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.9%. The growth is mainly due to the companies resuming their operations and adapting to the new normal while recovering from the impact of Covid-19. The pandemic had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities, which resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $39.84 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 7%.
Suave Kenya prides itself in being an eco-friendly company by sourcing their raw materials from the Gikomba flea market, where if the clothes were not used, they would have ended up in a landfill. “The accelerated global warming has put a lot of things into perspective, namely the need for a complete shift in the way we produce and consume across industries,.” Mohamed Said. “Our biggest priority should be conserving the earth.”
However, like many businesses locally and around the world, 2020 was a challenging year for Suave Kenya. “2020 was a shock to the system. It made us realize that things happen that are completely out of our control, and you have no other way to deal with them other than to let them run their course”. He said.
Apart from that, most of the struggles they have experienced have been common for an upcoming fashion brand. In spite of the challenges, there is an upside to running your own business. “You get to make decisions as you see fit, hence you are able to see out your own vision”. He said. “Sure, there are plenty of sleepless nights, but it is worth it.” He added.
Mohamed’s advice to anyone interested in starting a business in the fashion space is to “just do it, then learn to do better as you go along. It is what we did”.
By: Leila Adam
