'How I got to dress Lupita Nyong'o'

Recently, Kenya’s Hollywood star Lupita Nyong’o was in the country and too much excitement filled the air following her visit. It was a dream for every Kenyan designer to get to dress her.

When she arrived at her village in Seme in Kisumu, Lupita looked stunning in a pink jacket matched with a hand-embroidered and printed flowered skirt. So who was behind that beautiful look? It was none other than Deepa Dosaja.

Dosaja is one of the most dynamic, creative and beautiful people you will ever get the privilege to encounter. Today, she is making major waves and turning heads on the runway with her designs, the latest being dressing Lupita.

“It was wonderful and exciting that she chose to wear us. In Lupita’s own words, it was ‘validating’. As a company, we feel honoured,” says Deepa who has been in the industry for the last 25 years. According to Deepa, she has harboured the dream of dressing Lupita for long and when the opportunity finally arose, she was ecstatic.

“Nothing in fashion comes easy. Lupita is on my vision board. She is a stylish woman who embodies our brand,” she says.

Deepa was born in Kenya in 1977 in a family of three sisters (she is the youngest). Her family would relocate to Montreal, Canada where she spent her childhood.

“My dad worked with the UN in Canada while my mum was a housewife. At first, it was hard adjusting due to the cold weather but with time we got used to it. As much as we loved our life back in Kenya, Canada ushered in a great learning experience altogether,” she says.

On completing high school at Royal West Academy, Deepa enrolled in LaSalle College, Montreal where she pursued a Diploma in Fashion Design. During this period, she also worked at a small exclusive boutique, Filly and Colt. The opportunity proved invaluable to her for the knowledge gained in various aspects of fashion. Right from a young age, she knew she was carved out for the fashion industry.

“Way back in my teenage years, I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer and set out to accomplish my dream. It was something I was so passionate about,” she says.

Right after graduating from college in 1991, Deepa relocated back to Kenya with a goal; to embark on her fashion career. She first worked for Hardcore, a t-shirt company for six months before deciding that she wanted to perfect her fashion skills.

She offers: “I began reading more and more books on fashion, exploring different techniques and travelling around Kenya to check out the scenery. There was something about nature and fashion and I thought the two would blend well.”

Deepa ventured into her own business in 1994 and primarily engaged in Haute Couture for a client base that was growing in numbers. After extensive research and planning, Va bene Couture, Deepa’s distinct label finally opened its doors in 2000.

The label was instrumental in bringing a stylish up-scale facet to the then flourishing Kenyan fashion scene and changing the perception of what Kenyan fashion really means among style conscious consumers.

In 2013, the company re-branded to Deepa Dosaja which saw the opening of her flagship boutique located at the stylish and upmarket 14 Riverside, Nairobi. This measured growth she says has been instrumental in ensuring the highest levels of customer service and an innate sense of quality consciousness. She currently has 18 full time staff and hires others on contract when need arises.

Made-to-measure

So who is her target clientele, I ask? “The stylish, confident and independent woman. We also have a collection for men’s wear.” She has dressed personalities like Paula Kahumbu, CEO WildlifeDirect and Prof Judy Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources.

When it comes to her work, Deepa provides a bespoke made-to-measure service as well as an off the rack collection. Her work, she says, is inspired by nature.

“Flowers are one of nature’s beauty. I have been so inspired by the beauty of flowers in Kenya and the abundance of colours therein. I try to reflect this in my collections. On the other hand, we use only natural fabrics such as linen, wool, silk and cotton to make our outfits,” she explains.

“As Deepa Dosaja, being able to produce quality outfits with a good finishing is very important. The design can be beautiful but if the finish is bad then you lose out as a designer,” she adds.

In her line of work, Deepa says she faces a number of challenges including fabric which she says is very hard to source locally and lack of skilled labour.

“To ensure that we have skilled and quality labour, I have started in-house training for anyone who wants to venture into fashion design. We give everyone a chance to grow their skills. What stands out for me even as I run my business is to be able to employ more people hence create employment opportunities,” she says.

According to her, they are also ready as a company to start exporting their products again (she used to export to Canada) since they have the capacity to handle big orders.

“It was part of our growth plan to go international and I can’t wait for us to kick-off,” she says adding that is not ready to hang up her boots anytime as a fashion designer but hopes to accomplish more in the industry.

“I am a fashion designer for the long run. It’s a great field, a fantastic career to go into which requires lots of dedication. But to succeed, one must be ready to keep up with the trends-know the fabrics and prints that are coming up- and generally be in touch with what is happening in the fashion world,” she says. “Love what you make and strive to produce the best quality possible. Stay true to your style so that it is identifiable.”

Besides being a fashion designer, Deepa is also a wife and mother, something that she says she loves most. “I have been married for 21 years and my husband and I are blessed with three boys aged 17, 14 and 5 respectively. Motherhood is a special gift from God. It’s a beautiful feeling to have that kind of unconditional love,” she says.

Her husband is also her business partner. He is the Director of operations and production, hence basically takes care of the systems and operations in the workshop a swell as running his own furniture company. She alludes to the fact that watching her boys grow from little babies and now two are in their teenage years has been the greatest highlight of her journey through motherhood.

“They have grown up to become good friends. Sometimes I seek advice from my 17 year old who is growing into a responsible adult. It’s a special feeling.”

In 2013, Deepa was named the winner of Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government. The innovation Deepa brings to her designs has brought abundant recognition from numerous sources. She has participated in various fashion events including Smirnoff Kenya Fashion Awards, London Festival for African Fashion and Art, Festival of African Fashion and Art (FAFA), Tribal Chic among others.

In 2003, she participated in the Kenya Fashion Week whereby she showcased her designs alongside leading African fashion designer Alphadi. As a result of this fashion week, Deepa was selected to present her line at Festival International de la Mode Africaine (FIMA), in Niamey, Niger. However due to circumstances beyond her control she could not attend.

How does she unwind? “I love taking a walk with my boys at Karura forest. It gives me a chance to meditate. I practice yoga every day and I also love to paint and make jewellery,” she says.