PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHTON ALLERT
Enanai Concretize Sustainable Fashion
When you step into a Fairmont—whether its the historic Norfolk in Nairobi, the Mara Safari Club in the Maasai Mara or the iconic Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki—you’ll find an Enanai Boutique waiting. But its presence extends beyond these storied hotels. Enanai also has locations at Crowne Plaza at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and lounges at Malindi and Wilson airports.
For founder Shalini Sapra Dodhia, the journey began at Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport. “I’ve had that now for six years,” she reflects. “There was nothing like it before. I was already connected with so many artisans and designers, so I thought, why not create a space where people can come, explore, and take home these beautiful pieces?”
The name Enanai has deep roots in Maasai culture. “I pored over Maasai scriptures at the University of Nairobi-translations of Maasai words. That’s where I found ‘Enanai.’ It means softness, gentleness-something akin to a creative interpretation of luxury, since there’s no direct word for it in Maasai,” Shalini explains.
True to its ethos, Enanai curates sustainable brands, with staff trained directly by designers. “For Rosenkrantz, for instance, it’s all about the gemstones—the knowledge of Tanzanites and Tsavorites, that’s key. Understanding their properties, how they’re formed—that’s what we focus on,” she says.
Enanai’s Community Work.
Enanai has carved out its own identity, earning the trust of both clients and collaborators. While many brands seek partnerships, Shalini remains committed to those that uplift communities.
She points to Enanai’s boutique at Fairmont Maasai Mara as a prime example. “We work with the landowners of Enonkishu. Their villages are home to women skilled in beadwork, so we source all our pieces in Mara directly from them and invest in community projects there.” Beyond supporting local artisans, Enanai is also deeply involved in conservation. At Mount Kenya Safari Club, boutique sales help fund the Mountain Bongo conservancy.
Similarly, at Ol Jogi Conservancy in Laikipia, a portion of proceeds sustains the local veterinary clinic-efforts that have provided care for a blind rhino and an orphaned cheetah.
Enanai also champions emerging brands, such as Faraji Couture, which specializes in equestrian apparel. “Mount Kenya Safari Club has a horse riding area, and Faraji has created exclusive pieces for us,” Shalini notes. “Really high quality, all Kenya-made. Beautiful.”
Ultimately, the exposure brands gain through Enanai is transformative. Take Ebony, a family-run woodwork business that began by supplying traditional carvings. Today, it crafts bespoke furniture for Fairmont, securing its legacy for generations to come.
Enanai’s Values. Kenya underwent a cultural shift in 2017 with the nationwide plastic bag ban, sparking an ongoing struggle with single-use plastics. Enanai partner Ocean Sole has turned this challenge into an opportunity, collecting ocean rubber and transforming it into animal statues. The brand has struck a chord with Enanai’s clientele, becoming one of its top performers.
Now, Enanai is fully committed to redefining luxury through sustai-nability, curating pieces that embody this ethos.
The Future of Enanai.
Shalini’s vision for Enanai is one of growth and impact. “I’m looking for more locations. I want to expand into Rwanda, Uganda— really, all over East Africa— by partnering with different hotels. This way, we can give our artisans more exposure while also working with local communities on conservation efforts.”
She also plans to establish more lodges in the Maasai Mara and personally create in-house jewelry collections featuring Tsavorites. Beyond fashion, Enanai is stepping into interior design, crafting culturally attuned spaces for offices, hotels, and homes.
As she finishes her coffee, Shalini slips on her minimalist jungle-green Moyo trench coat.
Strolling through the hotel lobby, she shares a final thought-she’s planning to host art shows in hotel spaces and collaborate more closely with artists. At Fairmont, for instance, she already has been in conversation with the Tim Brook family alongside prints of some of his work. And in her mind, this is just the beginning.
