Ngoni launches her own fashion label less than a year after graduating

Less than year since graduating from the University of Northampton, Ngoni Chikwenengere has already launched her own brand-new fashion label and took the opportunity to showcase her debut collection at London Fashion Week.

‘We are Kin’ is a collaborative effort led by Ngoni, but going forward will involve people she knows and admires in the industry, such as bloggers, print designers, graphic designers,artist and anyone else she feels a ‘kinship’ with. This is what inspired the label’s name. Her main focus is to create wearable garments with an air of conceptualism, concentrating on ensuring that they are timeless and modern, as well as relating to the average person on the street.

Ngoni moved to Northampton from Zimbabwe at the age of 10. Her fashion career started at the University of Northampton in 2011 when she completed a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. She then continued on to complete the BA (Hons) in Fashion; graduating in 2015.

During her time at the University, her hard work and determination to succeed led to her being awarded the Worshipful Company of Currier’s Scholarship and the Maggie Barwell Scholarship. She was also part of Fashion United’s Graduate Ones to Watch, after she was one of the lucky few who took part in the University of Northampton’s catwalk show during Graduate Fashion Week in 2015.

Ngoni said: “My time at the University of Northampton has given me great grounding for my fashion career. I was taught how to apply myself, generate ideas, stick to deadlines and experienced first-hand what it was like to work in the industry, due to the opportunities we had to take part in design competitions and work placements.”

This year’s Graduate Fashion Week takes place at the Old Truman Brewery in East London from Sunday 5 to Wednesday 8 June. The University of Northampton’s catwalk show is on Monday 6 June at 3:30pm where a selection of Fashion, Fashion for Textiles and Footwear and Accessories students will showcase their final collections.