African FashionImage Credits

The rise and rise of the Kenyan fashion blogger in recent years has been phenomenal. It’s been great to have a variety of voices in the blogosphere sharing their personal style as well as giving fashion tips to their readers. It also cannot be denied that fashion bloggers have contributed to the growth of interest in fashion as well as the discovery of new stores and stylish pieces.

Fashion blogging has been picking up steadily world-over and is especially big in the developed world. The same thing that has happened in the developed markets seems to be making its way here. Brands are realizing the influence an established fashion blogger has and have begun to invest appropriately. This has led to a rise in fashion bloggers and an increased interest from the online audience  in fashion.

I have been a fan of a few Kenyan fashion bloggers for a while now and have followed their blogs as well as social media accounts. Fashion bloggers start off with gusto and mostly show off their personal style. As the blog gets bigger, the fashion blog turns into a movement and then sadly, into an online store. What else would you call a fashion blog that is filled with clothes from various brands littered all over? Brands in themselves aren’t a problem; it’s a blogger posting outfits consisting solely of pieces the blogger has received from brands.

Perhaps I am not the target audience. I prefer a more thrifty approach to fashion. I definitely don’t want to wear the same skirt everyone is wearing. Yes, I own many generic pieces as well as some expensive ones but there’s no way I’d buy all my dresses at Ksh 10,000. I respect fashion bloggers as I do all bloggers. Being one, I am well aware the effort it takes to do a post. I would however, love to see more in depth articles. Rather than the generic ‘here’s me in a pretty dress by so and so’, how about a post on the growth of fashion in Kenya? How about a review on the latest Kenyan fashion line? The issues that Kenyan designers are facing marketing their designs in Kenya and abroad? Why we had issues and still do on finding the proverbial Kenyan dress?

If already there is a blogger that does the above, please show yourself. I will be an avid reader. At the end of the day, I think that perhaps we need more fashion bloggers writing about the business of fashion and less pictures of them in pretty dresses and suits and at event launches.

mwendeMwende says
Image Credits The rise and rise of the Kenyan fashion blogger in recent years has been phenomenal. It's been great to have a variety of voices in the blogosphere sharing their personal style as well as giving fashion tips to their readers. It also cannot be denied that fashion bloggers...