BLUEPRINT: RuNNING A BRAND IN 2025 WITH EBEN BADU, CO-FOUNDER OF THE NEW originals.

Our very first event set the tone for BLUEPRINT’s launch in the most powerful and inspiring way. We had the privilege of featuring Eben Badu, Co-Founder of The New Originals, a boundary-pushing streetwear brand based in Amsterdam that’s widely celebrated for its seamless fusion of creativity, culture, and heritage.

Photo by Erick Muiruri

From the moment Eben took the floor, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a conventional talk. What unfolded was a dynamic, interactive session—less of a lecture and more of an open dialogue with Kenya’s ever-evolving creative community. Eben’s presence was magnetic, and his words carried weight. With warmth, honesty, and clarity, he walked us through his journey of building The New Originals from the ground up, sharing lessons learned along the way—lessons about risk, resilience, cultural responsibility, and the power of staying true to your roots.

A key focus of the session was the role of heritage in self-expression—how our backgrounds, traditions, and personal histories are not constraints, but catalysts for innovation. Eben encouraged the room to view culture not as something fixed or nostalgic, but as a living, evolving source of creative fuel. Through thoughtful examples and personal anecdotes, he showed how embracing heritage can lead to bold, contemporary work that still holds emotional and cultural depth.

Photo by Erick Muiruri

What made this event truly special was the way Eben connected with the audience. The conversations that emerged—from questioning what authenticity means, to how African creatives can shape global narratives—were vibrant, challenging, and deeply necessary. Eben didn’t just talk to the audience; he talked with them, creating space for reflection, exchange, and community-building.

As the session came to a close, you could feel a shift in the room. There was a new sense of clarity and motivation, a desire to create with purpose and tell stories that matter. Attendees left not just inspired, but activated—ready to reframe their creative journeys through the lens of heritage, identity, and possibility.