Kenya boasts a youthful population eager to engage in consumer culture. "Things People Wear in Kenya" presents a photographic exploration of fashion as it is lived and experienced in the country. This extensive study captures both unscripted and posed moments of contemporary clothing choices. Urban Kenyans primarily source their attire from three avenues: local fashion labels, which are often too expensive due to imported raw materials; mass-produced, low-quality garments from further east; and the mitumba trade, which involves second-hand clothing from Western donations. This trade has flourished over the past thirty years, with used clothes exported from Europe sold at low prices in high volumes to African buyers, ultimately reaching market stalls. The photographers document these diverse fashion economies while traveling through Nairobi, Mombasa, Lake Naivasha, and the World Heritage Site of Lamu. The book is enriched by the voices of Kenyan clothing designers and wearers, who share their insights on contemporary clothing during the authors' research trips. Their testimonies, paired with the vibrant imagery, reveal how textile cultures have evolved through both local and global influences. The reading experience mirrors navigating the chaotic piles of clothes in a mitumba market, highlighting the universal relevance of fashion amidst pressing social, economic, and religious issues.
