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In Des Moines, creative directors Sandrah Nasimiyu and Izzy Kelai are creating new opportunities for creative talents to thrive. This spring is their highly anticipated event. “The Fashion Circuit,” will take place on Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at the Olsen-Larsen Galleries in Valley Junction. 

Sandrah Nasimiyu 

Sandrah Nasimiyu is a creative force dedicated to shaping inclusive spaces in the fashion industry. She is a creative director, mentor for the “Fashion Circuit” and owner of Nasimiyu Studios. She is committed to creating opportunities for emerging talent. 

“I knew I always wanted to do fashion and marketing and I just felt there weren’t enough spaces,” Nasimiyu said.  

She went on to explain that she went to Iowa State University and didn’t get involved in the ISU fashion scene until after graduation because she had to find these creative spaces for herself. 

She goes in-depth, discussing how sometimes it is because people do not know someone. Maybe they have not felt comfortable stepping out. She is ensuring that this can become a space where there are constant ways to get involved, and they can feel they can reach out. 

“This event started with just an idea I kept in the vault of my mind for a very long time,” Nasimiyu said. 

Nasimiyu wanted this event to happen for a long time, but she waited for someone else to do it. The idea of saying it is not a dumb idea came to fruition when the other creative director, Izzy Kelai gave her a good push. After waiting for someone else to make a central location for fashion shows they took their idea and turned it into reality. They started building this vision from the ground up. 

“This was the idea of building a network where it was vertical, horizontal and diagonal all the way around and it will be the fourteen of us building this,” Nasimiyu said. 

Izzy Kelai 

Izzy Kelai is a multi-talented creative person, a dancer, model and photographer. As one of the creative directors and mentors of the “Fashion Circuit,” he is deeply involved in shaping the community. Additionally, he owns the brand Wesowrooted, further showcasing his passion for style and self-expression. 

“I guess at the core of who I am, I am a very open person, I am very kind, loving and someone who just cares about others as much as I care about myself,” Kelai said.  

Kelai does not just value creativity but the human connection that comes with it. It is a central part of who he is in his life. It translates to his work as a creative director and mentor. He values emotional depth and empathy. He is invested in the well-being of others. 

“It was really my uncle that inspired me, just from his shoes and the way he styled himself and expressed himself,” Kelai said. 

Kelai was shown the power of expression through fashion by his uncle. He saw fashion as a form of expression and wanted to help others feel the same way his uncle made him feel. 

“It was just something about clothes. I think it’s just like another language. It’s like a foreign language, but not really foreign,” Kelai said. 

Kelai speaks on fashion being another form of communication that transcends words. By teaching and helping foster this type of communication it creates spaces in the world that you want to see. It encourages mutual support and collaboration of creative people to come together to make a community. 

“Everybody in the community, come out, and vibe,” Kelai said. “Take the time to know your people around the city, your co-workers, whoever you’re around in your cipher.”  

Kelai and Nasimiyu are creating a community and encouraging everyone to come out to get to know each other. 

“There’s people that do a lot of great things, so take the time and help people see what you guys can do and really create the space for things you want to see in the world,” Kelai said.  

Ashley Nino-Villalobos 

Ashley Nino-Villalobos is an emerging designer renowned for her innovative approach and exceptional ability to blend sustainable fashion with vibrant, feminine designs. As one of the seven designers in the “Fashion Circuit,” this marks her debut fashion show. She is also a part of the prestigious fellowship program. 

“I started in August of 2024, and I just started with the basics of sewing and learning how to upcycle because I thrift a lot of clothing and I thought I could make a business out of it and explore my creativity,” Nino-Villalobos said. 

During the time of COVID-19, Nino-Villalobos was trapped inside and she decided to explore her style and developed a passion. It evolved into her opening a small thrift store to make some extra money. Nino-Villalobos had the realization that she could take pieces and transform them into fashion.   

“This event it is going to be my first fashion show, as a designer and I’m really thankful that I have this opportunity and it’s really important to me because it is a symbol of me just branching out and showing up for who I want to be and just doing that consistently, and this is the first step of that,” Nino-Villalobos said.  

This first show is not just a career-stepping stone. It is just the start of Nino-Villalobos’  journey as a fashion designer. It is a true representation of her true authentic self and her first steps to confidently pursue her goals. It signifies a commitment to authenticity and being present in her own journey. 

“I think it relates because my collection is very girly and I feel like it gives a sense of empowerment to women, especially to my models because I’m making things you wouldn’t normally see out on the streets of Des Moines,” Nino-Villalobos said.  

Her designs are more than just clothing – they are pieces of art, meant to empower and inspire confidence in those who wear them. 

“I would say I stay inspired by the people around me and my friends and the people I look up to, I take a lot of inspiration from this collection, especially from nature, and how I feel, and how I am feeling,” Nino-Villalobos said.  

Nino-Villalobos draws inspiration from a wide range of personal influences, especially the people around her. She credits her creativity when things get difficult to the supportive individuals in her life, including her friends, mentors       and other creatives she interacts with, particularly those in the “Fashion Circuit.” Some of the people who inspire her include Izzy Kelai, and Sandrah Nasimiyu, as well as members of her dance group and other artist friends who consistently inspire her through their authenticity and individuality. She also feels a connection and inspiration to nature through her pieces. 

“I just want to tell them to be confident in who you are and don’t worry about what everyone else thinks of you, because we are all on different paths and journeys,” Nino-Villalobos said. 

Houngvan is a Creative Fellow and model for the “Fashion Circuit.”