Maggie Ng'ang'a

Why did you decide to become a fashion designer?

Growing up, I always loved art. When I finished high school, I wanted to do something that was related to it. I noticed people preferred items customised to their taste and thought about doing shirts or jewellery but those areas were a bit crowded so I figured that shoes was definitely something different.

What is your favourite part about being a fashion designer?

Being able to create and bring an idea into concrete reality while giving people something that's customised to their taste.

What were your inspirations for the designs you created for the shoot?

I create the bulk of the designs while some designs are inspired by random prints and pictures I see around or on internet. Others are from pictures clients send me to do for them.

How did you select the materials you used?

I wanted to work with paint and after trying a couple of types, some which were runny and some seeping into the shoe material, I got it right and noticed that canvas shoes work best because the paint sits perfectly on it. Then after, I spray a coat of waterproof varnish to seal it.

Were the materials difficult to work with?

At first, I didn't quite know the right mixture of paint and water that would give me the right consistency and which shoe materials were best. Some materials like leather may cause the painted design to peel or have cracks over time.

What are your plans for the future?

I still want to focus on my main course (Architecture). But I want to go large scale with shoes and grow it into a bigger business.