Profile: Catherine Kwamboka – Real Leather Design Competitions

Catherine Kwamboka

Self Employed

cate.x.couture

My name is Catherine Kwamboka, a fashion designer, stylist, tutor, and founder of Cate.X.Couture. My brand specializes in handcrafted crochet products, including clothing, accessories, and customized pieces that celebrate creativity, craftsmanship, and individuality. At Cate.X.Couture, we are passionate about innovation and sustainability. We explore the combination of yarn, leather, and other materials to create unique, high-quality products that blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. Our brand is founded on the values of integrity, authenticity, and excellence. I am also a proud member of the Afribit Kibera Upcycling Queens, a collective dedicated to sustainable fashion and circular design. Through our work, we transform discarded T-shirts and denim into yarn, giving textile waste a second life while reducing environmental impact. We also create lifestyle accessories from reclaimed materials, demonstrating that waste can be transformed into beauty, functionality, and value. Guided by the belief that “The Future is Recycled,” I am committed to promoting sustainable fashion practices that preserve resources and empower communities through creativity and craftsmanship. My vision is to scale my brand, collaborate with other designers and artisans, and create innovative products that celebrate African heritage while appealing to a global market. Through every piece I create, I strive to prove that sustainability, culture, and luxury can coexist beautifully.

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Ekee

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Africa

My project involves designing and creating a leather lunch bag inspired by the **Ekee**, a traditional basket made by the Abagusii community of Kenya. Traditionally, the Ekee is used to carry *ugali* (sorghum meal) during wedding ceremonies. In this custom, the bride's family prepares the ugali and carries it to the groom's home, symbolizing the bride's readiness to nurture, care for, and contribute to her new family. This project is deeply personal to me. My late grandmother was an Ekee artisan who made and sold these baskets within our community. Through this design, I seek to honor her legacy, amplify her voice in her absence, and preserve a cultural heritage that has been passed down through generations. It is from her that I inherited my passion for craftsmanship and creative expression. My goal is to share the story of the Ekee with the world by reimagining it for contemporary use. By transforming this traditional basket into a functional lunch bag crafted with leather and modern design elements, I aim to bridge heritage and innovation, ensuring that this cultural symbol remains relevant in everyday life. This project is dedicated to my grandmother, the Abagusii community, and Kenya as a whole. It celebrates the beauty of our traditions while demonstrating how cultural craftsmanship can evolve to meet modern needs without losing its identity.