Award-winning designer Oscar Kampala on building fashion empire, suiting celebrities [Video]

03 April 2024

• On Marc h 30th, 2024 Oscar Kampala won a prestigious Award at the 2024 Forty Under 40 Africa Awards held in Nairobi.

• Meet Oscar Kampala an Award-winning designer taking over the fashion industry by storm

There is a famous quote that says “If you wear a suit, you can easily talk to anybody” and I agree with this statement.

This week I caught up with a man who understands suits and grooming to the core to get to understand his journey into Fashion and conquering Africa, as one of the most bankable designers of this generation.

He is none other than award-winning Fashion Designer Oscar Nyesiga, the Founder and CEO of Oscar Kampala Collection.

Just like his brand name, Oscar Kampala hails from Uganda and he is regarded as the ‘King of Fashion’ because of his originality, quality, and inclusivity in creating his Empire.

His brand was born in 2015 when he was still in High School and since then has received considerable attention and respect both at home and abroad.

I caught up with Oscar in Nairobi, when he was preparing for the Gala of the Forty Under 40 Africa Awards where he had been nominated in the Fashion Category alongside other heavyweights.

I’m putting out this piece; at a time when Oscar has already won the Forty Under 40 Africa Award in his category.

“From humble beginnings in high school, where I simply helped friends update their closets as a hobby, to now achieving global recognition, I am overwhelmed. This 40 Under Forty Africa Award for recognizing me as one of the impact young business leaders in the fashion world, this award belongs to every client of Oscar Kampala. Their trust and support have fueled this journey, and I dedicate this honor to them,” Oscar Kampala said after the win.

During our interview, we wished him well and it’s good to note that our wishes did not go in vain.

In March 2024, Oscar was again named among the 100 Most Impactful People for the year 2023 by Ranks Africa.

In 2023, the fashion designer was recognized as the Best Young Entrepreneur at Zikomo Awards in Lusaka Zambia. He also won the award for Best Fashion Brand in Africa.

Oscar holds a very impressive catalogue as a Fashion designer having dressed several A-list stars from Africa and beyond. Some of the celebrities that Oscar Kampala has dressed are; Eddy Kenzo, Kizz Daniel, Moses Bliss, Jidenna, Oxlade, Beenie Man, DJ Neptune, Nasty C, and FireBoy DML, among others.

He mentioned that he has always yearned to dress Sauti Sol’s Bien-Aime Baraza and he hopes that one day this will be a reality.

“A suit can speak volumes without saying a word,” random quote.

Oscar stands as a beacon of creative prowess and cultural pride within the realm of fashion design, and he admits that his creations have been heavily influenced by African Culture.

Over the years, his career has been marked by innovation and meticulous craftsmanship – making him earn accolades and even global recognition for his exceptional talent.

He says that his work transcends mere garments; as each creation tells a story that represents tradition, modernity, or individual expression.

Watch Our Interview with Oscar Kampala

What’s Oscar Kampala all about?

Oscar Kampala is a brand that customizes suits for gents. We make official suits, wedding suits, and generally any type of design. We are a design house but mostly we major in men's suits.

So, why Oscar Kampala?

Oscar is my real name then Kampala is the brand. My real name is Oscar Nyesiga (which means trust). Kampala is a name I came up with back in High School in 2015. At that time was in form three.

Is this your very first time in Nairobi and how is the city treating you?

This is my very first time in Nairobi and I love it. The way people are treating me and my team is just awesome. The hospitality is top-notch.

It’s one trip I have been waiting for, for the longest time.

What makes you love Nairobi and Kenya as a whole?

I’m a very big fan of Kiswahili even though back in High School I never used to like those Kiswahili lessons but now I love to listen to people speak the language.

I also love the business culture of Nairobi people, and the entertainment and I do follow a lot of Nairobi gist.

How do you find Nairobi compared to Kampala, Uganda?

There are not many differences only that a lot of people speak Swahili. Also back home we eat more organic stuff. There is not so much Ugali or meat. But the hospitality here is commendable. Actually, I love it here and I will come back a lot.

We have a lot of clients from Nairobi, Kisumu, and other places and this makes Kenya my second home.

Are you anxious ahead of this big day?

“Not really. Being nominated is already a win for me. Starting a business as a young person and seeing it take you places, is already a blessing enough. It is a win and I’m already blessed enough and if we win Glory be to God. (He won the award)

What do Awards mean to Oscar as an individual and a brand?

Awards are very good, but as a young person, you should not be working looking at Awards. Focus on your work and delivering quality services. Give your clients the best and let's build African brands and take them to the global stage. You should focus on the business more and it will take care of you and the awards will also come. But if you are winning businesswise that is what matters the most.

What does the global recognition of the Oscar brand mean to you?

It’s a blessing from God because where I come from it’s not something you see every day. We are happy that we are in this time and it’s our time as young people, young Africans, and we need to work together and support each other to take East Africa to the next level.

How important is collaboration in your line of work?

I’m a very big believer in collaboration and working together and that is why I have a team. You cannot do it alone. That’s impossible and I feel like one of the aspects that is missing in young people today is collaboration. You have to learn how to work with people as it makes life easy and also helps you dedicate your strength to where you are good at.

We still have a long way to go as young business African people but trust me we are doing perfectly fine.

What inspires Oscar Kampala?

I’m really inspired by the Maasai culture here in Kenya. Also back home there is a lot of culture to how people dress.

What makes a good Suit?

For a good suit, you need a good designer and you have to know what works for you because even for me there are things I can’t wear because they don’t work for me. So, tip number one, always know what works for you.

What’s the one fashion item you can’t rock as Oscar Kampala?

I think heels. I see men wearing shoes with heels, but it cannot be Oscar. I can’t picture myself in them.

One fashion item you can’t leave the house without?

I think my small bag that holds my phones and credit cards. I love it so much because it compliments all my outfits. It’s black.

You have a movement dubbed 1000 Men, what is it all about?

1000 men is a movement I started because I always wanted to see how many people in suits can look. And we said let’s do 300 men in suits and it was a success. Later we tried 1000 and it was epic. And we even had some Kenyans who came to Uganda for it.

What next for that movement?

Let’s see how we can bring it to Kenya before we decide to go to 3000 or 5000 men in suits.

Were all the 1000 men wearing Oscar Kampala?

Yes 100%. So, we have transformed the movement into a community for young entrepreneurs, in whatever you do, be it fashion, tech you name it. We now use it as a social event for people to connect and share opportunities. The goal is to grow East Africa and Africa as a whole. So, I pray we also bring it to Kenya because you really have beautiful streets.

What do you love about your job?

To be honest, this is not a job to me… this is part of me and I’m 24 hours into this and it’s my life. It is something I do effortlessly. It is art and art is my strength.

How do you come up with designs for the Suits you tailor?

Sometimes the client comes up with the idea and we execute. But we have a whole team of stylists and designers who get the job done, making sure the clients get what works for them.

What is the difference between a traditional and a modern designer?

It all boils down to having a team. Traditional tailors used to do everything by themselves hence the delays but now we have teams. Like Oscar Kampala is a whole team, we have stylists, a production team, a media team, a customer service team, and a cutters team that makes sure all deadlines are met. Your clothes have to be out of the production house two days before the date of picking them up.

What is the most rewarding thing about your job?

The fulfillment of knowing that you are doing what you are supposed to do. You are serving your purpose.

Do you strictly wear the Oscar Kampala brand?

I only do Oscar Kampala, the only thing we import is fabric. Everything else made here in Uganda.

How much will it cost me for a suit from Oscar Kampala Collection?

We are not very specific because we have a variety to choose from. But the best thing to do is reach out to us via our social media pages, website, or WhatsApp with their inquiries and they will get feedback instantly.

What makes you stand out among your competitors?

To be honest, we do our best but I feel the best people to answer that are our clients because they probably know something special about us and that’s why they keep coming back.

Who are the African artists that you admire and look up to?

Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido even here there is Otile Brown, KRG just to mention a few.

What is your parting shot?

Fellow Kenyans, (laughs), we need to work together as Africans and there are many reasons for that. Also, do follow, Oscar Kampala and I believe there is something there for everyone.

“Fashion is like eating, you shouldn't stick to the same menu” random quotes.

Extra Photos from the Oscar Kampala Collection