Nairobi News

He calls The Big Apple (New York) his home, but still remains a ‘local boy’. Zedekiya Lukoye left Kenya after an international designer recognised his designs and thought he had a chance to better his talent in the United States.

Better known as Zeddie, Lukoye, who had struggled to make a name in the fashion industry in Kenya, decided to board a plane and see what the world fashion industry had and what he could offer.

From dressing some of the biggest male celebrities in the entertainment world, Lukoye is still the same man who used to hawk T-shirts at most Kenyan rugby events.

1. What brings you home? – East or West, as they say, home is where we belong. My brand represents movements and my brand is Narok NYC. Narok (the county where Maasai Mara is located) is famously known for its wild beast migration. I try to tap into that. So my work would mean that I will try to incorporate the style of men from one’s sense of style and tap it from one movement to another. From one town to the next and I’m just back home to incorporate what I learned in New York and make it available to the people.

2. When did your journey in fashion begin? –  I played rugby. I was printing t-shirts and selling them to my fellow team mates at Strathmore University and also selling juice after practice. It started at a friend’s workshop where we had a team of friends who used to make jeans.  In between, I started playing rugby for Strathmore. That was the time I started my small business with a friend. We bought our first sawing machine and had it at a house in Kinoo. By good chance we meet a fashion buyer who opened doors for us in New York.

3. What influences your style? – Growing up I just kinda like developed my own sense of style. Style evolves, fashion revolves as well. I have been able to find my own understanding of who I am and what I want to be and represent. I want to be able to create timeless pieces. Well-tailored clothing that fits well. I ended up falling after what my brother does and getting inspired by what my mother friends do, when I moved from Mombasa to Nakuru that is when I started tailoring.

4. How can I get one of your suits? – It’s simple, all you have to do is book an appointment and we can come to you. The business model is a bit different. For us it is like going to your personal trainer and you tell them how you want to look. Basically I use the same system, but when it comes to dressing I will go to a client, we will look at his closet and I will advise him.

I call it ‘un-breaking the art of dressing up’. I will advise you on what colours to wear during the day, what colours to wear during the night, what to wear to different factions at the end of the day you will learn how suits fit.

5. Who are some of the big celebrities that you have worked with? – I have been blessed to work with good number of famous people. From fashion, pro athletes, movies stars and people from all walks of life.

One of my best experiences was working with Rory McIlroy when he won the PGA. He flew to New York and I remember we were in his space fitting him and when you are in these situations you look where you came from and where you are.

I have also worked with model Tyson Beckford and Prince Tjou, NBA player Chris McCullough and Derrick Williams, painter and artiste Bradley Theodore, actor Dion Saap, violinist Damian Escobar, Rohan Marley and of course TV host and actor Nick Cannon, it was a great experience because we had to go to Americas Got Talent studios to fit him.

6. Would you ever set up a shop in Kenya? – Fashion is a very tricky business to be honest with you. If I had all the money in the world, I’d set up stores everywhere, but at the moment I don’t have that much money to open a store. With the little things I do, I think I offer a great quality to my clients.

7. Any advice to the young and upcoming designers? – When you are creative, it is like a gene that is born in to you. It is how you nature what you have in you, that will result to who you will be.