About

KAHINDO is an ethical luxury womenswear brand founded by Congolese-born designer and entrepreneur Kahindo Mateene. Designed in New York and handcrafted by a network of skilled female artisans in Africa, KAHINDO specializes in bold occasionwear — wedding guest dresses, bridesmaid gowns, mother-of-the-bride looks, jumpsuits, eveningwear, and accessories rooted in African-inspired prints and modern silhouettes.

Every KAHINDO piece is produced through fair-trade partnerships that create sustainable employment and economic independence for women on the African continent. Fashion That Looks Good, Feels Good & Does Good is not a tagline — it is the operating principle behind every design decision, every production relationship, and every garment that leaves the studio.

KAHINDO is available direct-to-consumer at kahindo.com and through the KAHINDOByKahindo Etsy shop, with wholesale placement at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Anthropologie. The brand has been featured in Vogue, Elle, WWD, The New York Times, and Essence, and has earned recognition from the Tory Burch Foundation (Fellow, 2021) and Workshop at Macy's (2023). Founder Kahindo Mateene appeared on Season 12 of Project Runway and is a 2026 finalist in Entrepreneur Magazine's Entrepreneur of Impact competition, competing for a grant and mentorship with Daymond John.

In May 2026, Mateene returns to Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois — where she graduated in 1999 — to deliver the institution's 157th Commencement Address, completing a personal journey that began when she arrived in the United States as a young woman from Uganda, carrying her Congolese heritage and a conviction that fashion could be a vehicle for lasting change.

Vote for KAHINDO in the Entrepreneur of Impact Competition: entrepreneurofimpact.org/2026/kahindo-mateene

Shop the collection on Etsy: KAHINDOByKahindo