Zelaki Newsletter | October 2025, Edition I
We’re Back and Reimagined
After a short hiatus, Zelaki Studio is back with a refreshed look and renewed energy. Over the past months, we have been quietly working behind the scenes on projects that reflect who we are and where we are headed. One of our proudest moments is the unveiling of our new logo — a simple yet powerful symbol that draws inspiration from traditional African geometry and modernist precision . It represents balance, rhythm, and the evolving creativity at the heart of Zelaki.
As we step into this next chapter, we are excited to share stories of design, art, film, and architecture that continue to shape Africa’s creative landscape and its global influence.
News from Africa And Beyond
Fungi-based Building Panels: A Sustainable Step in Kenya
In Nairobi, a company named MycoTile is turning mushrooms into building materials — cultivating mycelium and combining it with natural fibres to produce biodegradable panels for insulation, interior walls and décor. The result is not only more environmentally friendly, but reportedly up to a third cheaper than conventional bricks.
In a region grappling with housing shortages and the high carbon cost of construction, this innovation speaks to the emerging synergy between design, ecology and resilience.
Article by Desmond Tiro and Nicholas Komu for The Associated Press
(Photo from Jacek_Sopotnicki)
African Fashion Foundation Launches 2025 Fashion Futures Incubator
In Accra, the African Fashion Foundation unveiled its 2025 Fashion Futures Incubator, bringing together 15 emerging designers from across the continent. The program offers mentorship, funding, and global visibility to young talents who are reimagining African fashion through sustainability and craftsmanship. The cohort represents a new generation focused on building design systems that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
(Image credit: Citinews)
“Noires” at the House of African Worlds in Paris
Paris’s new cultural center, Maison des Mondes Africains (MansA), opened on October 4 2025 as a gallery, debate forum, and incubator for African and diasporic creatives. Its first exhibition, Noires, curated by Roxane Mbanga, celebrates Black womanhood and artistic expression. Set within a converted garment factory, MansA’s design mirrors its mission —flexible, open, and made for dialogue.
(Photo credit: Le Monde)
