I and a team of start-ups founders was walking through a street market in Nairobi last November when I saw it, a garment so fluid it seemed to catch the wind before the breeze even arrived. It was a trench coat, but not the stiff, heavy beige armor those in “West” usually associate with rainy London commutes. This was different. It was made of breathable, hand-woven cotton, patterned with a subtle indigo resist-dye that looked more like a piece of art than outerwear.
The woman wearing it looked entirely unbothered by the humidity. She had it thrown over a simple white tee and cropped trousers, looking like the most sophisticated person in the three-block radius. That moment made me realize we are heading toward a major shift.
Honestly, the heavy-duty, “I am going to war with the elements” trench coat has had its day. As we move into 2026, the world is finally catching up to what African designers have known for ages: you can have structure without the weight, and heritage without the costume.