Kina Clothing
The unchallenged popularity of hip hop culture in Tanzania would suggest that after a decade-plus of local creativity there should now be a lively local urban fashion industry, supported by today’s popular artists and media.
Indeed, there have been a few local initiatives, from hip hop artists releasing their own gear (remember Gangwe Gear, sported by Gangwe Mobb around 2001?) to businessmen attaching their name to locally produced jeans. But the transition from ‘localized’ international fashion to truly innovative signature products is a slow one, and successful local fashion brands have been few.
One of the shining stars in the urban clothing industry in Tanzania is Kina Clothing. Started by recently remigrated Tanzanian Mkuki Bgoya and his business partner Susan Mosi, within a few months Kina managed to create a buzz and a rising demand; they even got the attention of some copycats.
