From waste to runway: Kenyan designers transform used clothes into art

In a dusty alley in the heart of Kenya's largest open-air market, fashion models strut down a makeshift runway in bold, upcycled outfits made from waste collected at dumpsites and market cast-offs -- proof that even trash can dazzle.

Every year, thousands of tonnes of used clothes from Europe, the United States, and beyond make their way to Kenya.

In 2023, Kenya overtook Nigeria to become Africa's largest importer of second-hand clothing according to a study from the US-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Thousands of these bales land in Gikomba market near central Nairobi where tin-roofed stalls stretch across a five-acre labyrinth, one of the city's major economic hubs.

On a sunny afternoon last week, a huge crowd gathered to watch models sashay and pivot, showcasing p