KAPARI FLAVA Kapari Flava for Kaftan design
Kapari Flava, a seasoned fashion house that focuses on Chinese fabric, exists to accommodate models of any shape or size.
Owner and Fashion Designer of Kapari Flava, Seabe John better known as Abby defines fashion as, ‘making a statement in style through clothes’. Like many of the fashion designers, she was exposed to the art of fashion design when she was still a teenager at high school as she deliberately chose to do Fashion and Fabrics subject to refine sewing techniques and fashion design for her future dream of being a fashion designer.
“I was offered to do Home Economics as an optional subject but I fought all the way to join the fashion design class a whole full term later from home economics class,” she said. This she said has paved a smooth path for her to build Kapari Flava, which was born around 2003.
“We started operating fully after Covid-19 went down, and the feedback we have received has since been positive,” said Abby. She is of the view that the Fashion design industry allows a designer to express themselves however they can with no limits and this has given her the courage to stand out as a fashion designer. Her fashion style is Kaftan dresses. She told Vibe that she chose this style, which is easy and simple to a point that it does not need a zip to adorn those who love the luxury of simple and elegant designs. On the other hand, she deliberately chose this style to suitably fit her fashion purpose of designing dresses for all body sizes as she mostly roots for thick models.
“Kaftan design is our signature cut and we always say “mosese ke dipata”, she shared. Her favorite fashion piece is that dress with pockets, so she said highlighting that it is easy to wear hence no need for zipper or buttons for this particular design.
Just last month, she launched her brand as she was turning 40-years -old under the theme ’Abby’s 40th soirée ft Kapari Flava”. On this day, the attendants rocked her different designs on the specified dress code ‘citrus fashion glam’ to showcase her work.
She is happy to be part of the local fashion industry as she believes that, this industry has the potential to make a great mark. “We just need to get out of our comfort zones and work hard together too,” she said noting that her creativity and passion for fashion keeps her going. So far, her biggest achievement as a fashion designer was seeing her work on the runway and getting good reviews as well as interacting with other designers. She said this has really encouraged her to keep on thinking outside the box and bringing out best designs.
She added that Dior is one international brand that inspires her and she also wishes that people easily recognize her work the same way they do with Dior. “When you are a fashion lover , the brand Dior crosses, you already know it’s DIOR! I intend to make a statement and leave a mark in the history books through my brand,” she said. “I want my brand to be noticed through my designs without checking out the label, which is why I even use a particular fabric,” she added emphasizing that Chinese fabric is an all season fabric which means it does not limit her to design on a particular season but all year round.
Her creativity, does not end with designing clothes. She is also an artist who is equally gifted with drawing portrait designs using pencil and charcoal.