From London to Kenya, Joanna Maiden has built more than a fashion factory. She has built a model for what ethical, people-first business can look like in practice. In this interview, she shares how SOKO Kenya has grown from four employees to 150, why she refuses to compromise on values, and what it really means to use fashion as a force for good.

There’s a phase in building something meaningful where it feels like nothing is happening. You’re doing the work, but the response hasn’t caught up yet. I’ve been sitting with that recently, and I think we’ve misunderstood it. This isn’t a waiting room. It’s a proving ground. The question is whether you recognise it before you walk away.

From watching Jean-Paul Gaultier on television as a child to designing handcrafted couture gowns in her Brussels atelier, Valentine Avoh’s journey into bridal fashion began almost by accident. In this conversation, the designer shares what she learned from working at Alexander McQueen, the power of storytelling in fashion, and why creating a wedding dress is about far more than just the garment.