A model showcases garments featuring African fabrics and patterns on the runway during the China-Africa costume culture and art exhibition at the National Museums of Kenya, in Nairobi on September 10. Wu Xiaohui / China Daily

Noah Otiende Ochieng, secretary for Creative Economy at the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, said Kenya-China cooperation had traditionally focused on areas including infrastructure, trade, education and technology, with significant potential to deepen ties through culture and the creative economy.

"Costume tells stories. It tells us where people come from, what they value and how they have evolved over generations," Ochieng said.