Rakhee Shah

Founder, Maisha Concept

Singapore

Rakhee Shah is the founder and designer of Maisha Concept. Maisha Concept is a globally inspired fashion and lifestyle brand aimed at the globally conscious consumer. Maisha means "giving life" in Swahili, and through Maisha’s contemporary designs; Rakhee aims to resurrect the culture, heritage and skill of local artisans and textile manufacturers across the globe. Maisha focuses alot on being a sustainable and ethical brand - where we show full transparency of who made our clothes, the processes used to make our garments and where they are made.

Rakhee Shah, is third generation Kenyan by birth and of Indian origin, and her interest in fabrics started at a very young age. Born and raised in Nairobi, Rakhee was particularly close to her father, who manufactured and distributed a variety of textiles. From an early age Rakhee was exposed to textiles and prints and from there she started designing and stitching pieces for self-use. Over the years, Rakhee has been able to travel the world, meeting diverse people, embracing different cultures, and gaining exposure to a variety of local art and fashion. Seeing the world this way through curious eyes sparked her desire to link her African heritage and contemporary design credentials to create something truly unique.

Rakhee travels extensively to different destinations, familiarizes herself with the cultures and traditions in order to design a collection that truly and authentically represent its origins. She aims to assist these communities by creating jobs and opportunities for work and growth as well as trying to improve their standard of living and confidence in their skills. Rakhee has created collections from Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and India.