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A new collection inspired by Kenya’s Loita Forest helps protect wildlife
July 13, 2026
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Some places are worth africatv.com/imo-council-reaffirms-commitment-to-protecting-vital-shipping-lanes/” title=”IMO Council reaffirms commitment to protecting vital shipping lanes”>protecting not only for the wildlife they shelter, but for the people who have cared for them for generations.
Kenya’s Loita Forest is one of those places.
Known by the Maasai as Naimina Enkiyio, or the “Forest of the Lost Child”, this remarkable landscape is one of East Africa’s last intact community forests. It provides a home for elephants, countless bird species, native plants, and other wildlife, while sustaining the livelihoods, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous Maasai community that has stewarded it for centuries.
Sunrise over Loita Forest.Photo: Evan Mkala / © IFAW
Today, however, the future of the forest is under increasing pressure. Land subdivision is fragmenting habitats, threatening biodiversity, and disrupting the traditional stewardship that has long helped keep this ecosystem healthy.
That is why IFAW is proud to introduce the Plant Kween x IFAW Loita Forest collection, a collaboration that celebrates the beauty and resilience of this extraordinary landscape while helping support the work to protect it.
A collection rooted in connection
Created in collaboration with celebrated plant educator and creator Christopher Griffin, known to millions as Plant Kween, the collection is a celebration of the deep connections between people, plants, and wildlife.
Every design draws inspiration from the species, textures, and colours of the Loita Forest, inviting people to carry a piece of this remarkable ecosystem with them while supporting conservation.
For Christopher, the collection represents something much bigger than fashion.
“Welcome to the Plant Kween x IFAW collection—a love letter to the wild world that sustains us, rooted in the extraordinary plants of Kenya’s Loita Forest, one of the planet’s most vital ecosystems.
Plants taught me that care is an action, not a vibe: you nurture what you want to grow.
Sustainably made and fully recyclable, each piece is more than a product. It’s a daily reminder that protecting our planet can be as intentional and beautiful as the choices we make. With proceeds supporting IFAW’s global conservation work to protect animals and the places they call home, this collection brings together fashion, flora, and fierce purpose.
Thank you for showing up for wildlife with your heart, and your style.”
His message reflects a simple but powerful truth: when we care for nature, nature cares for us.
Artwork inspired by Kenya
The collection’s illustrations were created by Kenyan artist Phoebe Ouma, whose work is deeply rooted in the landscapes she calls home.
Known for celebrating Kenya’s flora, fauna, women, and natural beauty, Phoebe’s illustrations evoke both nostalgia and hope. Her artwork captures the richness of the Loita Forest while honouring the species that sustain its delicate balance.
IFAW team member, Christopher Kiarie, wearing the Mukinduri T-shirt from the Plant Kween x IFAW Loita Forest collection.Photo: © Jesse Maree / IFAW
Featured throughout the collection are native trees that play an essential role in the forest’s ecosystem, including:
- African redwood (Hagenia abyssinica), an indigenous tree known for its traditional medicinal uses that provides habitat and nourishment for butterflies, beetles, and other wildlife.
- African olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana), the wild ancestor of cultivated olives, whose berries feed birds and other animals across the forest.
- Mukinduri (Croton megalocarpus), a resilient tree that helps conserve soil, provides shade and shelter, and produces nuts that support local communities.
Together, these species tell the story of a thriving ecosystem where every plant, animal, and person has a role to play.
Supporting conservation in Loita Forest
The collection also shines a light on a landscape where conservation is about more than protecting wildlife.
Since 2018, IFAW has worked alongside the Ilkimpa Community Conservation Association and the Loita community to help safeguard this important ecosystem. Together, we have supported community wildlife scouts who monitor wildlife and habitat, strengthened efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and helped create opportunities for local women to participate in conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
This work recognises that lasting conservation happens when local communities have the tools, reow best
Every purchase from the Plant Kween x IFAW collection helps support IFAW’s mission to protect animals and the places they call home, including landscapes like the Loita Forest.
Inspired by one of the Loita Forest’s iconic tree species, the African Olive T-shirt celebrates the rich biodiversity of the ecosystem.
Designed with the planet in mind
Just as the collection celebrates nature, it has also been designed to minimise its impact.
Every garment is made from 100% certified organic cotton, grown without harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. Products are printed on demand to reduce waste, produced using renewable energy, and designed to be fully recyclable through a circular system, allowing garments to be returned and remade into new products.
These thoughtful choices mean every purchase supports wildlife while helping reduce the environmental footprint of what we wear.
Wear your support for wildlife
The Plant Kween x IFAW Loita Forest collection is an invitation to celebrate one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems, the people who have protected it for generations, and the wildlife that depends on it.
Explore the collection and wear your support for wildlife wherever you go.
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