Take a look at the fashions of the major tribes in Kenya that made way for modern traditions while staying at Villa MB by Xanadu Collection in Msambweni. Visit https://mbh.co.ke/5-major-tribes-in-kenya-with-top-fashion-explore-msambweni/ to know more.

1. 5 Major Tribes in Kenya with Top
Fashion & Explore Msambweni
New fashion trends are emerging in Africa every day. The best of which
can be seen in Kenya. Modern and traditional fashion in Kenya is similar
to other countries, but they have recreated everything in their own
unique way. The fashion scene in Kenya is changing the way we look at
the African fashion industry.
Kenyan fashion is influenced by American and other global trends. It has
been changed by Kenyans to fit their culture. You will see major tribes in
Kenya wearing khanga, red-checked Shuka clothing (Maasai blankets),
and more. These outfits are adorned with neckpieces, earrings, and
bracelets.
Some Interesting Kenya Fashion Statistics

2. ● Revenue from fashion will reach US$ 1,416.00 million in 2022.
● In the Fashion segment, the number of users will amount to 21.5
million by 2025.
● Revenue will show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2025) of
4.78%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$ 1,629.00
million by 2025.
Do you want to visit Mombasa in Kenya for fashion among other things?
Are you looking for the best hotel in Msambweni or near Mombasa for a
staycation? Villa MB by Xanadu Collection is the best beach resort with
unmatched services and unforgettable experiences.
Book Best Beach Resort in Kenya
How Major Tribes in Kenya Embrace Their
Fashion?

3. Kenyans have always taken pride in their history, culture, and tradition.
And they have worn their pride for over a century now. Want to know
about the population of tribes in Kenya? Kikuyus make up 8.14 million
and are one of the richest tribes in Kenya. Looking for the tribes of Kenya
list? Let’s take a look at the fashions and crafts of the 5 most popular and
major tribes in Kenya that made way for modern traditions.
And Read: 15 Kenyan Things to Buy & The Best Beach Resort in
Msambweni
1. Maasai Fashions

4. Vibrant Maasai outfits and beaded jewelry.
Image credit – National Museums of Kenya
The Maasai is one of the major tribes in Kenya. Maasai fashion is
well-known for its distinctive Maasai clothes and beaded jewelry. The
colors of the beaded jewelry worn by many Maasai subgroups can be
used to identify them. One of Kenya’s and the Maasai people’s most
recognized symbols is the Maasai blanket known as the “red shuka
cloth.” It is mostly red in color and made of durable thread for harsh
weather.

5. Maasai people wear shuka cloth while the jumping dance ceremony.
Image credit – answersafrica
They are known for their decorative beaded jewelry as well as headbands,
wrist and ankle bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and earrings. They are
also known as the richest community in Kenya.
2. Fashions of the Ogiek
The Mau and Elgon forests are home to the Ogiek, one of the major tribes
in Kenya. They are known to be beekeepers and farmers but also amazing
artists who create clothing and jewels. The men made their own
prestigious wild animal skins, dressed in them, and adorned themselves
with plumes, while the women typically engaged in this type of leisure
activity.
Capes, coats, and caps made of monkey skin, blue duiker, hyrax, and
more were used by men and women both when they went to the forest
and especially by men when they went hunting and gathering.

6. 3. Dress like the Butterfly People – Samburu
Samburu people wear colorful clothes and jewels
Image credit – kenyacradle
Samburu of Kenya are referred to as “The Butterfly People” worldwide
due to their stunning vibrant jewels, clothing, and hairstyles. Being one
of the major tribes in Kenya, animal skin, beads, shells, and brass are
used to create their clothing and jewels.
Men use red ochre to color their hair. Warriors (Morans) wear more
vibrant clothing than other members of the community and keep their
long hair in braids. The women adorn themselves with colorful necklaces
made of beads as well as other antique jewelry.
4. Njemps Craftsmanship & Fashions

7. Njemps are known for their unique clothes and jewels.
Image credit – opera
Other Maa-speaking people and the Njemps – one of the major tribes in
Kenya share a variety of cultural features, notably in terms of clothing.
Leather, beads, brass, and copper are used to create clothing and jewels.
Members of the community wear many attires and jewels to signify
status.
Married women wear a pair of leather-bound bead earrings (Oichonyi
Onkiya) on each earlobe. Olekesena, a special form of a skirt, was crafted
from goat (or cow) skin and adorned with beads. Women wore it. A
cowhide sandal (Nkamuka) has two soles and decorative coils of cowhide
on the straps. Everyone wore these, which were made by men.
5. Pokot Crafts & Fashions

8. A Pokot woman with a vibrant beaded headdress.
Image credit – Roberts Safaris
A Kalenjin subgroup known for their vibrant headdresses and beadwork
is the Pokot. It is also one of the largest communities in Kenya. Here,
we’ll look at some of the Pokots’ distinctive traditional clothing. A young
Pokot warrior shows his status by donning a headdress made of ostrich
feathers and black fur after becoming an adult.
A married Pokot woman wears multiple strands of beaded necklaces and
metallic earrings. Her earrings are attached to hair clips with a beaded
string and decorated with bells that signify her status and the number of
children she has. The groom performed jumping dances while wearing a
leopard skin cape during a wedding.

9. Pokot people with ostrich feather headdresses.
Image credit – Roberts Safaris.
They used a comb made of ostrich feathers to style hair and it was
adorned on the head by young men who wore mud-pack hairstyles.
During traditional ceremonies, men wear ceremonial hats as well.
How many tribes do we have in Kenya? There are more than 42 tribes in
Kenya.
Why do major tribes in Kenya use body marks and makeup?

10. African body markings.
Image credit – National Museums of Kenya.
Body markings are a crucial part of Kenyan culture, history, and
traditions. Body markings, both temporary and permanent feature
messages about identity and social status. They focus on the roles of
these tribes in society, politics, and religion. Body markings were known
as wearing your identity card on your face in some traditional African
tribes. It has served as a badge of honor and remains a vital element in
some places today.

11. Applying ochre to a warrior’s hair.
Image credit – National Museums of Kenya
The most common temporary body markings were henna, charcoal, and
ochre paintings. They applied ochre to warriors’ hair or as decorative
markings during celebrations. For body decorations, ochre was
combined with water, and for hair, it was combined with animal fat.
Body marks that set someone apart from others were used, just like on
Samburu warriors. Every group used body markings to identify members
by gender, social status, family, clan, and beauty or strength.
Girls wore body markings to express their beauty and mark life stages
like marriage. Like when a Kikuyu bride is prepared to take on a new,
high social status.
In order to control the shape of the scar tissue on different parts of the
body, scarification is the practice of incising the skin with a sharp object,
such as a knife, glass, stone, or coconut shell. Under her eyes, a Pokot
woman has markings. Permanent marks like scars were valued both for
their aesthetic appeal and as proof that women could withstand
childbirth. On a warrior’s chest, you could see raised scars. Scarification
patterns on sculptures serve as family identifiers and, in some cases, as a
form of protection against evil.

12. Henna body art today.
Image credit – National Museums of Kenya.
Henna body art is still practiced today. It is used at events like weddings
and the Maulidi festival. In the sculptures that are on display in some
museums all over the world, permanent body markings like scarification
are made.
What does traditional Kenyan dressing symbolize?
In Africa, clothing not only provides protection from the weather but
reveals details about the wearer, such as their age, community, gender,
and marital status. Foreign influences can be seen in fashion African
dresses and clothing, but major tribes in Kenya and even modern
designers still retain traditional styles.
An elderly Tugen man used to dress in a robe and a headdress, making
his position in society clear. The Rift Valley of Kenya was home to the
Tugen people. An old Kikuyu man used to dress in a manner that denoted
his wealth. The Kikuyu people have been living in central Kenya.

13. A Maasai warrior in lion’s mane headgear.
Image credit – Alamy.
A special attire worn by the Pokomo chief denoted his position as a social
leader. Traditional African clothing was mostly made of animal skin.
Cowhide, which was used often, was made into cloaks, aprons, and
skirts. The Maasai used the lion’s mane as headgear to identify a warrior
who had killed a lion at some point in their lifetime.
Today, many old Kamba men dress in modern clothes with traditional
patterns. In the past, Kamba men used to pierce and extend their
earlobes.
Do you know what united these major tribes in Kenya?
The Kanga (Leso) has a deep cultural, historical, and economic meaning.
It is one of the most popular cultural items in East Africa for more than
100 years. The Kanga is a symbol of unity in Kenya that unites people of
all ages, genders, rich and poor, locals and foreigners, in the vibrant
world of its design.

14. Because of its design, the Kanga can be identified from other textiles in
Kenya and Africa. A patterned border (Pindo) surrounds a central motif
(Mji) and a Swahili proverb or phrase in its basic design (Jina). The
printed cloth is rectangular in shape and is about 110 cm wide and 150 cm
long. The Kanga’s vibrant prints are divided into flora, fauna, and other
patterns.
Kangas were made in Europe and India in the early days. British,
American, Dutch, and Japanese imported cloth continued to rule the
market in the 20th century. But Kenyan textile mills were built in the
1970s, and Tanzania became one of the biggest producers of the kanga in
1985. Today, Kenya, Tanzania, Oman, India, and Pakistan are the
countries that produce kangas. And China is the biggest producer.
The kanga is still very popular today and can be bought in many Kenyan
markets, as well as in big cities and small towns in Europe, Asia, and the
US. Because cotton is so expensive in Africa, it has managed to survive
and is now printed on materials other than cotton. The traditional soft
cotton clothes from Kenya in a variety of colors, patterns, and styles
continue to be the most sought-after Kangas.

15. Kanga for Christmas.
Image credit – National Museums of Kenya
The Kanga’s images and inscribed Swahili texts are used to convey
social, political, and religious messages and more. The first proverbs
were written in Arabic script, which was replaced by Swahili. Swahili
women use them to convey private messages to their friends, husbands,
and families. Kangas are printed and used as campaign tools for religious
messages like Eid al-Fitr and Christmas, for bringing attention to
various issues like HIV/AIDS and more. Kanga plays a vital role in the life
stages of major tribes in Kenya like birth, weddings, and funerals.
A Kanga is given to the newborn’s mother and a grandmother among the
Kikuyu tribe. In order to bestow prosperity, strength, and beauty as a
symbol of the parent’s love, the baby may also be wrapped in an uncut
and stitched pair of Kangas. Several Kangas are laid out on the floor
during weddings so that the bride can walk on them as she leaves the
house. She won’t get dirty this way. The Kanga is used in modern society
as costumes for church events and school music and drama festivals.
5 Modern Fashion Designers Influenced by the Tribes in Kenya

16. Fashion and design in Kenya have come a long way. Today, top designers
contribute to the fashion industry with everything from contemporary to
African designs, ready-to-wear to couture lines. The fashion industry in
Kenya has a bright future. Here are the top 5 fashion designers that are
influenced by the tribes in Kenya.
1. Sally Karago
Sally is one of the fashion pioneers and takes inspiration from major
tribes in Kenya. She was the first to include the Maasai fleece blanket and
Kikoi fabric in her designs with a “Made in Kenya store by a Kenyan”. In
2009, she founded the Mcensal Fashion School (one of the best fashion
schools in Kenya) to teach fashion, and in 2014, she added the SK
Collection ready-to-wear line to her portfolio.
She has received many awards in the fashion world, including the Mnet
Face of Africa competition in 1996 and the Smirnoff Awards Kenya in
1993. She currently serves as the chair of the Association of Fashion
Designers Kenya. They started the annual Safari Fashion Week and the
TV show – Safari Fashion Runway competition. She has taken part in
runway events all over the world like Africa Fashion Week in New York.
2. Ann McCreath

17. Ann McCreath
Image credit – linkedin
Ann came, she saw, and she conquered the fashion industry! She is the
founder of the Kikoromeo brand which means ‘Adam’s Apple’ in Swahili.
Inspired by major tribes in Kenya and their culture, she uses prints and
patterns to design clothes for men and women.
She founded the Festival of African Fashion & Arts (FAFA) in 2008, a
fashion-based initiative with the motto “Fashion for Peace.” She
currently serves as Fashion Revolution Day’s Kenya coordinator. She was
recently listed by Arise Magazine as one of the “Top 100 Women
Influencing Africa.”

18. 3. Evelyne Adongo
Evelyne Akinyi Odongo - fashion industry Kenya
Image credit – nairobifashionhub
Evelyne is one of the top fashion designers in Kenya. She is the
co-founder and creative director of MEFA Creation. She began her
journey in 2002, and since then, the popularity of her designs has
exploded in the national and global markets.
She makes African-inspired designs that exude class and diversity. She
was one of the designers to present her line during President Barack
Obama’s 2015 trip to Kenya. Margret Kenyatta, the first lady of the
Republic of Kenya has worn her designs as well.
4. Patricia Mbela

19. Patricia Mbela - Kenya fashion show.
Image credit – Simon Deiner / SDR Photo
In Kenya’s fashion scene, Patricia Mbela is a household name. Poisa, her
brand creates jewelry and knitwear as well as lines for both men and
women. She likes to refer to her creations as “Wearable Art,” with a
strong focus on designs inspired by major tribes in Kenya and they have
been displayed all over the world.
The Kenya Airways Millennium uniform design is her most well-known
creation. She received many honors like the Top Kenyan Fashion and
Jewelry Designer award at the 2014 Kenyan Fashion Week. Amina
Mohammed, a radio and TV anchor, and the well-known afro musicians
Yemi Alade and Seyi Shay, are just a few of the big names who have worn
her creations.
5. John Kaveke
John started out by creating designs for men, but he has since added
designs for women to his lines. He uses materials like leather, cotton,

20. beads, linen, silk, and more to show how his designs are a delicate fusion
of both African and Western cultures.
His work has been shown on local and global stages, such as the
International Smirnoff Fashion Awards, Swahili Fashion Week in
Tanzania, Catwalk Kenya, and M-Net Face of Africa in Nigeria. In 2017,
he showcased at the New York Fashion Week as well.
Where to Stay in Msambweni near Mombasa to Explore the
Fashion of Tribes in Kenya?
Are you searching for the best hotels in Msambweni? The tranquil and
unique Villa MB by Xanadu Collection is a top-rated Msambweni hotel
situated on 28 acres of natural land on the untouched coast in the South
of Kenya. It is also the best beach resort in Msambweni. Along a 3 Km
stretch of private beach with stunning views of the coastline and horizon
and palm trees offering peace and solitude where guests can be one with
nature.
And Read: All You Need To Know If You’re Planning A Trip To Mombasa
Looking for hotels in Ukunda? This beach hotel is only a 30-minute drive
from Ukunda Airstrip and a 2-hour drive from Mombasa. A visit to our
serene property can be perfectly combined with your safaris from
Mombasa or Msambweni (where you can meet major tribes in Kenya and
discover their fashion) or you can simply come to stay with us for a week
or so to relax by the Indian Ocean.

21. This Kenya beach house offers three master suites, a romantic ocean
suite, and three private villas for exclusive use, each with a pool, a
private chef, and panoramic views of the ocean. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks
here while listening to the surf crashing below as the winding jetty
comes to a wonderful sundowner setting on a cliff overlooking the
Indian Ocean! Dining at Villa MB by Xanadu Collection is an absolute
treat, and your stay is all-inclusive as well.
Stay at Private Msambweni Villas

22. The staff has been trained by a celebrity Belgian chef and you will enjoy
seafood, Swahili dishes, and Belgian and French cuisine. Dine by the pool
or by the beach under the stars. You can enjoy mountain biking, private
beach picnics, and beach BBQs as part of the experience, and you’ll even
get a relaxing massage when you get there! Looking for more adventures
in Kenya? Outdoor activities like snorkeling, fishing, kitesurfing,
motorized water sports in Diani (Mombasa south coast), and even a
picnic with elephants and antelope in the nearby Shimba Hills can be
arranged.
Try Best Adventure Activities in Diani
The Evolution of Modern Fashion & Tribes in Kenya
Fashion trends in Kenya is constantly evolving. People in Kenya enjoy
wearing both modern and traditional attires. Kenyans adorn their attires
with jewelry as well to make them more appealing. The impact of

23. modern fashion combined with traditional Kenyan style gets results that
are unique from the rest of the world. In order to preserve their culture,
modern Kenyans and major tribes in Kenya promote more traditional
clothes like Kitenge, Khanga, and Shuka.
Men and women in Mombasa and Kenya prefer slim-fit clothes like
shirts, pants, dresses, and more. Pencil skirts are a current trend for
women in Kenyan fashion. The trendy buzzword “athleisure” combines
casual clothing with activewear. It is popular all over the world and has
become a fashion staple in Mombasa and Kenya.
Fashion is often used for political and social messages in the country.
There have been past campaigns to promote peace and awareness. We
can look at some of the current fashion trends at any given time to know
the political and social scene of Kenya.
Are you planning to visit the cities of Kenya – Mombasa or Msambweni?
Best time to visit Msambweni? Msambweni weather is pleasant all year
round. Get in touch to stay at Villa MB by Xanadu Collection– one of the
best beach hotels in Msambweni near Mombasa to check out the unique
fashion scene.
Read our full blog at -
https://mbh.co.ke/5-major-tribes-in-kenya-with-top-fashion-explor
e-msambweni/
Website - https://mbh.co.ke/
Email - info@mbh.co.ke
Phone - +254 723 697 346
Address - PO BOX 51 – 80404, Kwale
County, Kenya