The rise and rise of Fashion stylist, Sara Karay

Betrayed by a grungy pixie cut, her warm smile draws me to the corner booth where she is seated and I’m excited to finally meet her alone.

This is contrary to rumours that she is always in the presence of her mother.

“My mother is my brand manager. Because I go to school, I can’t go for all the meetings and she handles that for me. She takes care of the business side and I do the fashion side,” the soft-spoken 23-year old says, adding that her mother is bubbly and young, a person who enjoys the entertainment industry.

As she sits here, dressed in a well-pressed white top with matching black pants and flats, her simple style becomes a subject of interest.

“My style is unpredictable just like my collections. Like now, I’m feeling boyish and I’m doing the side cuts with my hair for now just to see. I like dressing but not myself. Fashion has helped me in that. I like seeing my outfits on other people,” she says.

For a final year student at USIU pursuing a degree in international business administration and marketing, the challenge of balancing both worlds has not deterred the ambitious designer.

“I love that school. The flexibility has helped me because I was able to choose my classes, which helped me plan my day. There were times I wasn’t around and I was allowed to sit for my papers when I returned,” she reveals.

From way back in her high school years, her creativity took centre stage when she made an outfit for Miss Msongari, kick starting her passion and what would later be a career in fashion.

“My parents encouraged me and from there I started making outfits. When I officially started in 2012, I made a PowerPoint presentation for my parents and they were interested. They invested and I did my first collection which was the Earth Collection that I showcased at the Hilton,” she explains her progression.

Once that ball started rolling, it has been one success story after another showcasing at several local fashion and international shows like the 2013 Africa Fashion week in New York, which finally got the nation’s attention.

“Last year was big for me. I did the 2014 Catwalk in the Sky in Singapore as the only African designer. It was very exciting. They saw me in New York and asked me to participate. Then from there I went with two models to showcase in Atlanta, Baltimore, Las Vegas and Maryland during their different fashion weeks,” the excited designer enumerates.

It is not a cheap affair travelling from one continent to the next and she humbly downplays this aspect. So, does she manage to do this because she comes from a wealthy family?

“No. We are good; I can’t say we are rich. My parents pay for tickets and other expenses but some people help,” she says.

Sara Karay plans to set up shop at an ideal location by the first quarter of this year; things are certainly looking good on the financial front of the business although the costs are also high.

“The costs come in making new collections. For the first show, making the clothes and hiring the venue was expensive. For the rest, I was helped me for free, for example my friends modelled. At the moment, I’m making money from individual orders and corporates. “The first year was slow but it’s getting better and I’ve managed to pay back my parents,” she says with a smile.

She reveals that she is currently in talks with an agent from Las Vegas, a great opportunity that may see the young designer’s swimwear and other pieces selling in the United States, which is a big boost after the Safaricom choir wore her designs last year.

“I did their outfits and I am also working on something else I can’t disclose yet,” she adds. Away from matters design, Sara is in a relationship with someone a high school friend.

“The industry is growing fast, it’s crazy. I keep seeing new designers everywhere. My only problem is Kenyans not buying. They want an outfit for Sh1,500 with so much detail yet they will buy a simple imported dress for Sh6,000. Designers are on their own, doing their own thing, which is not a bad thing but it would be better if we all ?came together,” she opines.