Growing up in Nakuru, Liza Colbeck was immersed naturally into creative spaces. Whether it was following her father around in his garden and playing with the flowers she found there or weaving in and out of her mother’s tailoring school which was the first vocational school established by an indigenous African woman, art surrounded her. Little did she know that these early activities would have such a strong imprint on her life’s trajectory.
School was a given, but her parents were less focused on grades and more fixated on hearing how her classes had sparked her curiosity. Nevertheless, her drive and tenacity saw her excel as she navigated classes at St Joseph’s Loreto then Hill School in Eldoret. Liza was on the “traditional” path to university. After sitting her A Levels in geography, biology and economics as a precursor to pursuing a degree in the latter, she decided to take a pause. The conventional path didn’t feel quite right and instead, she spent a year discovering what other options could be in store for an intrepid, hands-on, individual who loved the outdoors and discovering new people and places. Interestingly, her journey led her to the London College of Fashion (now University of the Arts) , but without an academic background in Art she feared that entrance to the selective school would be out of her reach. Fate had other ideas though, and after excelling in an interview she was accepted for a degree in Clothing and Textile Technology. A new world opened to her – understanding the nuances of the production of fabric and garments, their sourcing and journey from plant or factory to storefront. It was a fascinating entry into the world of fashion and after completing her degree she was keen to return home. But fate stepped in once again. It was the early nineties, and the Rift Valley was awash with clashes and her parents advised delaying her return on account of the insecurity.
Global Adventures in Fashion Supply Chain
Thus the job hunt began in London and she vividly remembers being on a bus looking through the trades paper which was the standard way in jobs were advertised then. One stood out immediately – Garment Technologist. It had her name written all over it and luckily, she qualified for the job. So began a career in supply chain, which led to her traveling to over forty countries sourcing materials and fabrics, assessing factory partners, planning fabric stocks for brands, setting up efficiencies and agreements between her brands and potential suppliers. She grew from strength to strength and along the way stockpiled a unique body of knowledge in fashion. Along the way she worked with numerous government partners in Africa and Latin America developing a keen sense of the needs of markets and producers, and where countries still struggled in breaking into the global fashion market.
Establishing A Brand with Purpose
Fast forward to 2020, where like millions of others, Liza was trapped in lockdown. It turned out to be a boon – uninterrupted time to think, plan and put into place the culmination of years of work – but this time driven by her own vision. In Our Name was born – a sustainable and social impact fashion brand that was sharply defined by Liza’s own experiences and her love of her home. Each piece in the collection has a story. First off, collections are named for mountain peaks and ranges in Africa – Batian, Sayeti, Moco, Abieri, reflecting a pinnacle of achievement and aspiration that the brand espouses. Secondly, blossoms abound. Inspired by the flowers whose names she learnt at her father’s feet and that dominated her childhood – whether playing in the backyard or cutting and collecting them as the gift for Mother’s Union each Sunday. The patterns are the blossoms of Africa, whose names live in a mental glossary in Liza’s mind. Next is providing dignified work. All the garments are made in Kenya at a factory in the Export Processing Zone in Athi River. Liza has spent countless hours working with garment cutters, quality controllers and machinists ensuring that the standards of a global luxury fashion brand are met. The high-quality materials are carefully sourced for the production process. Meanwhile, fabric offcuts are used to produce washable reusable pads which are distributed for free to women and young girls in Nairobi’s slums. The value of building a brand that is acutely governed by smart organisation and standards is not just Liza’s though. She has worked to infuse this knowledge with other factory owners in the EPZ who are keen to leverage her decades of experience. In Our Name also sources and sells accessories from women artisans who receive 100% of the profits from their work. This enables unique Kenyan designs, made by Kenyans to be sold globally, while ensuring a steady source of income for women largely from rural areas. Liza is happiest wandering Kenya and finding new collectives to work with, once again immersing herself in the beauty that she grew up in.
Sustainable Fashion Revolution
Sustainability is a hallmark of the brand. Each piece of cloth can be traced back to farm or factory, while environmental standards such as green, economic and social impact in the production process, carbon footprint, customer education for fabric longevity are all critical factors that are monitored throughout. This careful attention earned them the Ethical Brand of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
While the journey to In Our Name hasn’t been linear it has been one of growth; which for Liza is the most important factor in her career journey. This new chapter where she gets to bring together all her knowledge to make an imprint on the sector she loves, while uplifting people is one that is deeply satisfying for this #KeDesigner.
