Born in Nairobi in 1965, Waridi Schrobsdorff’s life has come full circle.
Having worked as a world renowned model for over 20 years, Waridi has dedicated the second part of her life to celebrating Africa and especially educating the youth in Germany and Kenya.
In 1998, five years after relocating to Berlin from Nairobi, she got involved with the Esmond Schools in Munich and Berlin. In 2006 she founded the company i-magine e.V. where she actively campaigned for the awareness and prevention of HIV in children and young adults, trying to focus on feasible solutions to these problems instead of dwelling on the problems themselves. The company was dedicated to promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS among children and teenagers in Germany, and supporting developing projects in Kenya to help AIDS/HIV infected people become self-sufficient. As part of her campaign, she organised the “Afrika-Herz” where pupils from the Esmond schools designed outfits made out of condoms for the fashion show.
In 2008, she hosted the Festival for African Fashion and Arts (FAFA) which was well attended by the designers from around the world.
Now she’s back with a new project: offering luxury products from Africa by African designers. Her new brand, FA254, which aims to change how people see Africa by giving quality products that will make her clients rethink their image of Africa.
On their website they describe the brand as:
FA254 is the entrance door to the finest beauty of Africa
FA254 discovers and promotes new talents in order to rebrand Africa through young and creative minds. Our vision is to celebrate contemporary African richness and creativity.
2 is the code for this emerging and fascinating continent
54 is the number of countries we yet have to discover.
The journey will embrace the elegance and exquisite taste of African Luxury
Her brand show cases clothes, handbags, accessories and even furniture designed by key African designers including:
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