“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” ~Coco Chanel

Coming soon! Kitenge Blue Jumpsuit

Fashion lives in least likely of places. Nestled on the north west of Nairobi is a town called Gilgil, where hundreds of marginalised women and children have been equipped and trained with basic dressmaking skills.  These allow them to get gainful employment and earn regular income so they would be able to develop self-respect and self-empowerment enabling them to raise their children properly.  Previously the women on the project had turned to prostitution and illicit brewing, forcing their young children to go out and beg for money, or abandoning them onto the streets since they could not feed or clothe them.

Sanchat Community Charity was founded in 2008 by Mary Coulson. With the assistance of Peter Ndolo, they now work with homeless children, and develop community projects to offer them a sustainable future. Channel 4 Unreported world ran a documentary on the 19th April 2013  titled "Saving Kenya's street kids".

So far this project has trained and empowered over 100 women and their families and as they continue to grow this number will only get larger. Their technical skill are now so advanced that they are currently making garments for Vivienne Westwood's summer and bag collection. 


Touch of Africa fashion has also commissioned a new line of clothing and accessories, and we look forward to a successful relationship with Sanchat, as the women continue to make bold and trendy fashion pieces for the European market.

Kitenge Babydoll dress

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