Inspired by Wharton’s IYALI project – a social enterprise aimed at micro-funding tribal female textile makers in order to enable them to secure their educations – we set out to examine the Kikuyu woman.

The modern Kikuyu tribal woman aspires to embody the traditional traits of a “good African woman”, but also shares the benefits and burdens of many gender-neutral responsibilities: They are leaders. They are professionals. They are warriors. They are matriarchs. In them, we saw paradox – and we saw ourselves.

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W/W juxtaposes their warrior dress with that of the Western sniper. Theirs is colorful and proud. Ours is a camouflaged ghillie suit. Through this creative process, we learned about the collective of our feminism.

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