Ann McCreath is one of the most sought-after voices on fashion in Africa. A multi-faceted fashion designer and entrepreneur, she founded her leading brand KikoRomeo in Kenya. Initially from a farm in Scotland, she worked in fashion in Milan and Barcelona before taking a break to do aid work in Kenya. She never left. Twenty years on, she has featured in New African Woman’s Ultimate Power Players of African Fashion (2015), Arise Top 100 Women Influencing Africa (2012), Fashion Africa (Jacqueline Shaw 2014), New African Fashion (Helen Jennings 2011), Fashion Cities Africa (Hannah Azieb Pool 2016) and Business of Fashion. Her articles have been published severally in The East African Standard. She was a global finalist in the Source Awards (2012) for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Fashion, which was mainly due to her founding of the Festival of African Fashion & Arts (FAFA) and organising a massive Fashion for Peace show in 2008 in Nairobi National Park as a call for peace in Kenya, covered by media continents of the world.
McCreath is a lauded designer with awards, including the winner of the Icon of Hope Award (2015) AFDW Nigeria, East African Designer of the Year at Swahili Fashion Awards (2014) in Tanzania, International Creativity Award (2010) Noto, Italy. KikoRomeo shows collections annually at the prestigious Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Joburg and other prominent events around the continent. Through her line of staff uniforms, KikoCorporate dresses many of East Africa’s major companies.
McCreath is also a teacher and mentor, passionate about sharing her knowledge with the creators of tomorrow. She is currently on sabbatical to write a book about fashion. She recently changed the KikoRomeo workshop into a maker space to meet the demands of young creatives needing access to machines.