Junoon Kanga, an Omani fashion brand, is all about colours. It breathes the Omani essence of fashion with its light and airy cotton in exuberant colours and vivid patterns with a bohemian touch. Transforming the Kanga, a traditional dress of women in Zanzibar, into a modern ready-to-wear casual, Junoon Kanga has stretched the boundaries of creative aesthetics. Each kanga design is created to elevate the timeless woman within. Positioned between high fashion and casual wear, Junoon Kanga is a unique Omani lifestyle ready to embrace the world stage.
Aisha Al Kharusi, presently the owner of Junoon Kanga, is a Master’s holder from the Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London, the cradle of illustrious fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, and Marc Jacobs. No wonder, the graphic-designer-turned-fashion stylist found her inspiration ultimately in this line.
During her student days in London, Aisha had also worked part-time at Zara on Oxford Street. “And as fate has its way, I never thought that one day I will get into the fashion industry, let alone own an upcoming fashion line,” says Aisha.
It all began with casual discussions at afternoon teas and late midnight conversations during which two cousins Aisha Al Kharusi and Ijlaal Al Kharusi shared their dream plans of creating a brand rooted in their heritage. Junoon Kanga was introduced in 2018 at the annual Saturday market at Almouj Muscat – Souq es Sabt. The huge success led to the opening of the flagship store in the winter of 2019. Sayyida Basma Al Said inaugurated the Noor Plaza branch while the second outlet in Almouj Muscat was inaugurated by Aisha’s sister-in-law Honourable Lujaina Mohsin Haider Darwish.
Aisha says, “We spent a couple of months fine-tuning the concept to where it is today. We started by travelling to destinations to get some inspiration followed by joining the ever so popular Souq es Sabt at Almouj Muscat. Post the successful seasons, we decided to move forward with the concept.”
And what is a ‘kanga’? The kanga is a set of two-piece cloth traditionally worn in Zanzibar; one piece as a skirt and the other as a matching headscarf, and is worn in different ways according to the occasion. The kanga is an integral part of an Omani woman’s wardrobe and more so among the Omani Arab women whose families once lived in East Africa as well as the women in the interior of Oman. Elderly women in Nizwa and elsewhere enjoy wearing long kanga over the traditional Omani women’s national dress as an alternative to wearing an abaya.
The idea to rework the traditional garment into a modern one sparked during Aisha’s memorable summer trip to the island of Zanzibar in the early 2000s. She was invited by her maternal uncle Ali Al Mahrooqi to join him and his family and her first trip to Africa, where her paternal forefathers lived for over a century, amazed her with the knowledge of the rich historical ties between Oman and Zanzibar.
“The one link that inspired me the most on this island besides the historical connection is the ‘cloth that speaks’ – the kanga or in Oman, this cotton fabric is better known as ‘leso’. Growing up, I saw my grandmother wearing the kanga and so did my mother, aunts and eventually myself. We use this colourful cotton fabric for praying, as well as a gift given during Eid or for newlyweds and for simply lounging around at home. Our goal is to help sustain a fabric which was once ubiquitous and popular,” Aisha remembers.
The brand name ‘Junoon Kanga’ also had a story of its own. “When we were brainstorming for a unique name, I was going for a more modest name like ‘The Kanga Collection’. My daughter, who was only 8 at the time, used a whiteboard at home to list all the proposed names. Ijlaal and I were sharing her ideas and so when I mentioned ‘Kanga mania’, she laughed out loud, saying ‘Junoon Kanga’. ‘Junoon’, an Arabic word meaning ‘extreme passion and love’ and ‘kanga’, a Swahili word, was combined to form the catchy name and represented our origins.”
Aisha’s family and friends have been always her greatest source of support. She remembers with fondness about her late brother Haitham Al Kharusi, former vice-president of Omantel, who encouraged her a lot to start her business.
“Today one of my biggest supporters is my eldest brother Mohammed, mother and my loved ones including my children. I love seeing them with much enthusiasm sharing fun ideas for the brand,” Aisha says.
For Aisha, her biggest obstacle in establishing the brand as a single parent was time. Since she worked full time in a corporate career, taking care of two young children even with a support network was not feasible. Finally, in February this year, Aisha resigned from her job to focus on what was important: her children and Junoon Kanga.
“My opinion about work-life balance is that there is no such thing, you will have to sacrifice one over the other. Ultimately, we choose what best suits our needs and priorities,” she says.
Aisha’s background in graphic designing reflects itself in the intricate zentangle patterns and geometrical floral designs speaking aeons about her intrinsic taste. She finds inspiration from her surroundings and what makes her work singular is that each of her attires is an exclusive piece. To minimalise waste from her products, she makes use of them by making scrunchies, handbags, headbands, and facemasks.
“I’m one of those people who love to reinvent themselves. I cannot be doing the same thing again and again because it will bore me. Junoon Kanga is the exact platform I need,” she says.
Most of her collections are named after her precious friends such as Hadiya Skirt, Lina Dress, Ranya Wrap Dress and the list goes on endless. Her new Sophie Collection, a kimono-styled jacket with a dress at the side, is named after her daughter.
Junoon Kanga’s collection is available at AlMouj Muscat shop or the Noor Plaza shop 111 in Al Hail South. Additionally, customers can contact through Instagram@junoon_kanga or WhatsApp +968 7153 0116.
“Right now, my biggest challenge is capital, and I’m looking for an investor to take it to the next level. I want to see my brand at the international level. I believe that if you are passionate about something, then it will grow. You have to keep doing your best. I thrive on challenge!”
