This archive report was first published on 9 June 2020.
June 9, 2020, marked a significant milestone for Carol Kinoti, a former chef turned fashion designer. With 15 years of experience in the industry, she has built a reputation for creating unique and diverse designs that cater to the needs of her clients.
Although fashion was not her initial passion, Kinoti's journey into the industry was a deliberate one. After completing her culinary training, she worked as a chef but soon realized that this was not her long-term career goal. 'Growing up, everyone in my family knew I wanted to become a chef. I also wanted to do that,' she recalls.
However, Kinoti's passion for fashion eventually took over, and she went back to college to gain skills in the field. She trained at Woodgrove Fashion College and later attended Strathmore Business School. Her hard work paid off, and she established her own fashion brand, Carole Kinoti Brand, which focuses on women's fashion.
Carole Kinoti Brand offers a range of products, including contemporary wears, corporate uniforms, and interior design consultancy. 'My focus is mainly on women from the age of 20 and above in my ready-to-wear designs,' she explains. The brand also has two product lines: Carole Kinoti luxury brand, which retails between Sh8,000 and Sh15,000, and FOTRE commercial brand, which retails for up to Sh6,000.
In addition to her fashion brand, Kinoti has also established the Mavazi Elevate Programme, which trains young people in the creative sector with the aim of turning talent into trade. The programme has been instrumental in empowering women to compete in the international market.
Kinoti's company has also been involved in empowering women doing fashion based on beadwork in counties such as Kajiado. She notes that this is one of her achievements last year, where she prepared a fashion show to showcase the end product and how women should target clients while making their products.
With 10 permanent staff and more on contract, Kinoti's fashion brand has come a long way. She attributes her success to her ability to monitor trends locally and internationally, as well as her willingness to drive change and trends in the fashion industry.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kinoti made a number of innovations, including designer masks that range from beaded to special fabrics. The pandemic has also changed the way she deals with customers, increasing her engagement on digital platforms.
When asked about her greatest achievement, Kinoti reveals that it is being able to share her talent for trade and empowering people and changing lives. Her advice to upcoming artists is to go to school and learn how to do business, as this will enable them to run their careers successfully.
