Joe Malaika’s extreme fashions style up Boston bombings survivors

Joe Malaika is a fashion designer known for his bright and vibrant styles. Born in Uganda, he now calls Boston home. He learned to sew from his grandmother and studied marketing at Bentley. His fashion career took off when he designed a dress to impress a girl, and she posted it on social media, he told CBS TV Boston affiliate WBZ.

He is the man behind the weekend’s ExtremeFashion staged at the Boston Seaport show for survivors of the 2013 BostonMarathon bombings. He prepared the event with ‘A Leg Forever’, a charitable organisation, and its founder Liz Norden, whose two sons each lost a leg in the2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Liz started the Foundation to help amputees pay for prosthetics.

Malaika said he wanted to do something special for the amputees on the 10^th anniversary of the bombings.

“These are adaptive clothes, specifically made specifically to the prosthetics because I know many of them struggle to find clothes to fit them,” Malaika told TheBoston News.

Malaika and the team had spent time visiting the amputees at home and giving them tutorials on how to craft their runway. OnSaturday the amputees shared the runaway with other models and designers who, are also survivors. These included Liz’s two sons Paul and J.P. Norden.

Malaika’s designs often feature bold prints, sequins, and asymmetrical cuts. His clothing line includes men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, formal wear, and even a bridal LED WeddingGown.  The LED Wedding Gown is a type of bridal dress that incorporates light-emitting diodes (LEDs) into its design. This technology allows the dress to glow in various colors and modes. The glowing effect is much better in a darker environment. He has a store inUganda, but his clothing can also be found at Bloomingdales At Cozy in ChestnutHill, Bogosplit in Copley Place, or on his website.

In addition to his fashion work, Malaika is also recognized for his philanthropy. He organizes several “Excessive Fashion” shows a year and raises money for the Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber.  He has been recognized by the Commonwealth for his contributions.

The Jimmy Fund is a community-based fundraising organization that supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s mission to provide patient care and research for children and adults¹². Established in Boston in 1948, it is made up of community-based fundraising events and other programs that benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Malaika was named BlackHistory Personality of the Month by Ugandans in Boston, an association that honors and appreciates Ugandans who have excelled in a specific field and flown Uganda’s flag high. He also designed creations for a Velvet party at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, a historic and artistic venue that celebrates the legacy of Isabella Stewart Gardner, a prominent patron of the arts.