Kenyan fashionista James Maina Mwangi poses for a photograph as he displays his attire comprising at least 160 suits with matching accessories including a mask to prevent the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection at his residence in Nairobi, Kenya July 30, 2020. Picture taken July 30, 2020.

Amid Covid-19 pandemic, snazzy face mask fashion reaches Kenya’s Nairobi

Most of us have accepted COVID-19 face masks as an inconvenient, albeit vital, security measure. For the model acutely aware like James Maina Mwangi, nonetheless, they’re an unmissable vogue alternative.

Mwangi’s brightly colored fits and hats made him stand out even on the busy streets of Nairobi’s Umoja neighbourhood, the place no one ever appears to sleep.

Since the pandemic hit and Kenya made face masks necessary, his outfits have develop into much more eye-catching. This week, the 59-year-old jack of all trades modelled his assortment of face masks for Reuters.

Kenyan fashionista James Maina Mwangi walks alongside a road as he shows his apparel comprising at the least 160 fits with matching equipment together with a masks to stop the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) an infection, close to his residence in Nairobi, Kenya July 30, 2020.
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REUTERS
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“Men knew how to wear clothes in black, brown, grey or dark blue. Those were men’s colours,” he instructed Reuters whereas carrying a shiny yellow swimsuit with matching hat and face masks. “God gave me wisdom and showed me all the different colours I can wear to be different from everybody else.”

Mwangi, who dropped out of faculty at 12 as a result of he couldn’t pay the charges, mentioned he solely had one shirt when he was a baby, which he would wash it every day and placed on nonetheless damp.

ALSO SEE | PHOTOS: Face masks vogue reaches Kenya’s Nairobi amid Covid-19

People would snicker at him, however he promised himself that “one day I will be a star.”

James Maina Mwangi poses for {a photograph} as he shows his apparel comprising at the least 160 fits with matching equipment together with a masks to stop the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) an infection at his residence in Nairobi, Kenya July 30, 2020.
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REUTERS
)

He now has about 160 fits, over 200 pairs of sneakers, and 300 hats in colors starting from saffron yellow to grass inexperienced, scarlet and plum. Mwangi mentioned his garments drew curiosity, then admirers when he first began carrying them 25 years in the past.

“Now you can see me wearing all kinds of colours,” he mentioned.

Mwangi, who earns a residing as a jack of all trades, says he lends his fits to members of his church and road youngsters who want them.

A mixture image reveals Kenyan fashionista James Maina Mwangi posing as he shows his apparel comprising at the least 160 fits with matching equipment together with a masks to stop the coronavirus illness (COVID-19) an infection at his residence in Nairobi, Kenya July 30, 2020.
(
REUTERS
)

“Things have become harder now because of COVID-19. This country has no money,” he mentioned.

(This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Only the headline has been modified.)

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