Stitching Namibia’s urban culture together

Rising Okahandja-based fashion-designer and musician Karishma Isaacs says music and fashion are not two separate paths as they share the same heartbeat.

Isaacs (30), says she wants to prove one does not have to sacrifice one passion to excel at another.

Known to many as a musician first, Isaacs’ journey into fashion design started off almost by accident. She originally wanted to create unique outfits for her own music videos and photoshoots, but that creative spark quickly turned into a professional calling.

“After enrolling at the College of the Arts Namibia in 2018, I realised making clothes was just as fulfilling as writing lyrics.’’

Her brand, Karnation, translates urban culture through a uniquely Namibian lens.

Isaacs describes her work as “classic yet trendy”, aiming for a style that allows the wearer to fit in while still standing out.

“Whether I’m in the studio or at the sewing machine, my Namibian identity is in my signature.’’

My music blends Afrikaans and local slang.

“I really try to speak to people and resonate with them on a nostalgic level in a way that says ‘this is my home and these are my people’.”

She says her latest project, a hip-hop drill track titled ‘Choss’, is an example of “two worlds colliding”.

“The song is more than just a rhythm; it is a fashion statement.’’

For Isaacs, working on this project was bolstered by the encouragement of Namibian musician Lioness.

“Watching Lioness balance a medical career with a creative one gave me the confidence to embrace my own multi-faceted identity.”

She says she is inspired by recent moves in the industry, such as Big Daddy Fashions’ public invitation to local designers.

“My dream is to see local designs on the shelves of well-known retail stores across the country, eventually leading to local retail distributors owned by Namibians.”

Isaacs says she has learnt that competitiveness should be outward-facing.

“Competitiveness is amazing,” she says.

“But let’s compete on a continental or even international level, not with one another. We can only do this if we work together.

“Looking ahead five years, I see a future where Namibian stories are told by Namibians to a global audience that is really watching.”

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