Dressing mankind and saving mother nature

Nike Kondakis makes dresses, jackets, tops, skirts and underwear from discarded with original parachute — helping ease the menace of pollution, writes PROTUS ONYANGO

Some of us have probably seen and marveled at parachutes. What we do not know is that after years of bouncing the skies, they constitute an environmental hazard.

One lady, however, has found a way of helping rid the earth off the menace of parachutes.

Through her Kondakis Parachute Collection, Nike Kondakis makes leather wear from discarded parachutes.

Kondakis, half-Greek and half Danish and resident in Kenya, started her business early this year.

Her collection — dresses, jackets, tops, skirts and underwear — are made from parachutes that have the original parachute stitches. Some even have stamps revealing when the parachute was made and for who.

All the styles in her collection come in the colours of snow, desert, bush, lava and metal.

The fashion industry is estimated to contribute about 60 per cent of the world’s pollution. This is mainly during dyeing and bleaching.

The disposal of the same waste, especially that made from synthetic fibre, is known to add to the strain of pollution.

"I wanted to provide an alternative to this mode of waste disposal by recycling discarded parachutes," says Kondakis.

She integrates the original parachute stitches in her design; an effort she says is highly appreciated by her clients.

The fashion bug bit Kondakis during her tour of Kibera slums when she was working on a project to help Kenyan entrepreneurs set up their businesses as an intern.

"I found a discarded white parachute and decided to make a dress out of it… Nobody had done a similar dress before me," she says.

"Whenever I went to social gatherings in Muthaiga or at the Coast, people always enquired where I bought the dress and who the designer was. This inspired me to start my business," she says.

Kondakis now sells her parachute-inspired products in shops at Ramoma, Runda, Lamu, Shompole Lodge and Denmark.

The products go for between Sh3,500 and Sh60,000. Customers’ tastes and the high cost of shipping in raw materials from Britain, US and Australia also determine the final product pricing.

Last month, Kondakis was honoured when two of her items — the green cord dress and the grey jumpsuit — represented Kenya in the Face of Africa competition held in South Africa.

Even as she makes it big on the fashion runway in Africa and beyond, Kondakis thinks Kenyans are not given to easily trying out new stuff — something that has somewhat kept her art low profile.

"Most Kenyan consumers are prepared to try out new fashion trends. They fear to stand out from the rest," she says.

Kondakis also faces the challenge of getting adequate parachutes in different colours and the need to train people to deliver the tailoring aspect of her designs.

She is, however, taking the challenges in her stride. Besides her fashion business, Kondakis helps running a development project called Lorika Foundation to serve her Maasai neighbours who surround her home in Magadi.

"This project helps the Maasai create their own future through education, micro-finance and business training," she says.

"Also two per cent of my turnover from Kondakis goes towards educating Maasai girls. This way, these girls can complete their education against a culture that sidelines them."

She has already identified 150 girls in primary schools and is closely working with the teachers to monitor their performance.

"I want bright but not shy girls. Those who have good character perform well in class and have dreams. Girls who are ready to take society to the next level," she says.

The business training is closely tied to the micro-finance. Those who undergo the training are given loans to operate their businesses. So far, the organisation has given out loans to over 200 people including the salaried class.

Kondakis stay and business experience in Kenya has made her overcome the culture shock she suffered at first. She has also become tougher, can take sharper criticism and has the courage to work with Maasai men who sometimes don’t value women.

She has since employed three Kenyan managers to take charge of Lorika Foundation because she wants to concentrate on her fashion business.

She is currently working on selling her parachute designs in Tanzania and South Africa before she crosses over to other continents.

"As a designer, you can’t afford to promise something that you can not deliver. Before you go global, you must be sure you have enough raw materials, human resource and other systems set up to support the business," Kondakis says.

To young Kenyan women keen to venture into business, the 26-year-old Kondakis has an apt statement.

"Work on your self-confidence before you start the business. You will get a lot of mental slaps but when you are hurt, just know that you are worth the same as men. Don’t get married early. Business needs time to grow and when children become part of it, they complicate the equation."