David Avido is a self-taught fashion designer, Community organizer and entrepreneur born and raised in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya.

While most know Kibera as the largest slum in Africa, David wants to go beyond this declaration and share more about his community, because he believes things of beauty come from places least expected.

He is often asked what is fashion? To him, fashion is a tool of expression that allows him to portray his personality and tell stories from his community, not only through the clothes he wears and creates for others but also through the things he cares about and discusses. Talking to people about social issues and giving them hope and joy is what fashion helps him to do. Fashion is a vehicle for David to make a social impact in Kibera.

As soon as he established his brand in 2018, David was noticed and invited to be an ambassador for BLAZE, a sub-brand of Safaricom, which celebrates youth and their passion for finding success in unconventional careers. In 2019 he joined Berlin Fashion Week as a participant.

He has designed and made clothes for artists like Bruno Mars, Ty Dolla Sign, Don Carlos, Koffee, Christopher Martin, Alaine, Cecile, Megaloh, D Major, Buju Banton, Romain Virgo, Chronixx, Future Fambo, Agent Sasco, Duane Stephenson, Da’Ville, and so many more. David’s work has been featured in Vogue USA, Vogue Italia and Essence magazines and his journey has been filmed and shared with the world by Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, National Geography and others.

In 2020 Beyonce highlighted him on her “Black is King” campaign, as one of the African artists changing the world. In 2021 Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta honored his efforts with the Role of Honor in making and distributing over 28,000 free face masks in Nairobi during the Coronavirus pandemic. Currently he is the face of Keringet mineral water, a Coca-Cola brand.

In 2021 David founded an NGO called Avido Foundation, focusing on training and developing sewing skills for deaf women, young mothers and youth who are passionate about a career in fashion. He also helps kids by supporting their school tuition and has sewn hundreds of uniforms to boost their self-esteem.

David’s love for fashion doesn’t only revolve around creating beautiful clothes. As an artist, his goal is to foster self-reliance for the youth and women in Kibera and build awareness about the artistic and creative aspects of the slum. He wants to use his skills to inspire and engage young people in Kenya and across Africa.

The Goethe-Institut is the Federal Republic of Germany’s cultural institute, active worldwide. We promote the study of German abroad and encourage international cultural exchange.

Since 2015, Nairobi Design Week has been a constant in the local and global design calendar. Our vibrant community welcomes thousands of visitors every year.

Nairobi’s status as a global design city allows us to showcase design through exceptional, unconventional experiences.

We embrace inter-disciplinary values and methodologies to work on projects throughout the year that culminate in an annual celebration of design’s past, present and future.

Maasai Mbili (M2) (3) was founded in 2001 by Otieno Gomba and Otieno Kota. The pair began by selling novel hand-painted signs along Kibera drive, before acquiring a permanent site in 2003.

This became the M2 Art-centre; serving as a studio cum gallery and a juncture for many creatives and artists in the area. The M2 Art-centre was a pioneering visual art space in Kibera; initiating opportunities for participation, collaboration, teaching and socialisation – as well as providing a space to work. Today there are approximately 20 members.

Painting is at the heart of M2’s artistic practice – some artists continue sign-writing. However M2 also venture into community outreach projects, conceptual work, fashion, film, mixed media, music, photography and sculpture. The work they create, along with the artists, traverse local, national and global art worlds.