Erika Akire has lived numerous lives, worked in different fields, resided in different countries, but the essence of who she is has remained unchanged, only being refined by these experiences. This essence is driven by her passion for fashion, not just the admiration of clothes and accessories, but a deep appreciation of the time and effort that goes into crafting items – the same effort that goes into creating her statement luxury handbags through her brand, Akire Designs.  

 

A Creative Detour

Her story began in Kenya, when she was growing up in Nairobi. Erika’s interest in fashion was very evident to her even at that young age. Every week, she put aside her pocket money and rather than spend it on snacks like other kids, she would buy thrift clothes with the money. Every purchase was a lesson about fabric, texture, pattern, cut, and by the time she was completing her studies at Bishop Okoth Girls School Mbaga, she had a full wardrobe that was an expression of her creativity and ability to style. She enjoyed the variety that clothes give, the ability to change up while maintaining your personality. Despite this love for fashion, the concept of how to monetise was still not clear to her, and so when she began her tertiary education, at her mother’s recommendation, Erika joined International Hotel & Tourism Institute for Culinary Studies in 2008. This still felt like a creative career, and a way of channelling different expressions of creativity. But pretty soon, Erika came to terms with the fact that she did not enjoy this work. And so, in 2010, when she got the opportunity to move to Thailand to teach English, she took it. Still, she was certain that teaching English was not her dream, but she continued with this work to sustain herself.  

Being in Asia gave Erika an even deeper appreciation for fashion – she was able to stand out through her own dressing, but she also began to notice the way that design melded modernity and tradition to create clothing. It is during her time in Thailand that she began to envision a future as a designer, and with her savings, she enrolled for design classes at Raffles Design Institute in Singapore in 2012. Erika relocated to Singapore to pursue this dream, a dream that was unfortunately curtailed by financial constraints. A year later, she moved back to Thailand where she began working as a model, design assistant, and personal shopper, and these steps into the fashion industry were crucial in her learning about the industry from different perspectives. For nine years, she worked and travelled around Asia, building her knowledge and absorbing as much information as possible. Finally in 2018, when the longing to be grounded, to be home, and to build something of hers collided, she moved back to Kenya and began to think about the next steps in her career. 

 

Return to Roots

Back in Kenya, Erika put her acquired skills to use as she continued to work as a stylist and personal shopper while trying to figure out how to launch her brand. This set her off on a journey to explore the artistry of the Turkana community and their craftsmanship. In 2019, she undertook a pilgrimage of sorts, spending most of her time at Eliye Springs, a remote village by the shores of Lake Turkana, learning the art of leather working from Turkana women. With the knowledge gained, Erika unearthed boundless forms of creative expressions, and went ahead to establish Akire Designs in 2020. 

 

Crafting Tradition

Akire Bags are unlike any other, they are wearable art. Each bag is made of high-quality leather sourced in Kenya and dyed using natural pigments to achieve a perfect darkened brown look. The leather is then cut to size and hand sewn, which is why the bags Erika sells are made to order. Each bag takes 21 days to make. Of her designs, the Amuka design is probably the most stunning piece. The bag features a moulded face on the front and its creation involves three artisans: a woodcarver, a leather pattern maker, and Erika as the designer. The process of moulding the Amuka bag involves using wet leather, which is naturally dyed, then placed on the wooden sculpted face, and finally finishing with sun drying. 

Erika’s journey is a testament to the enduring power of passion and the fusion of tradition and modernity. Akire Designs stands as a symbol of her commitment to craftsmanship, blending diverse influences into unique, wearable art. Each meticulously crafted bag tells Erika’s story, creating not just accessories but stories that echo her journey through different lives, fields, and countries.  

#KeDesigners