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GICHURU: Quality family time is a reality

Friday February 05 2016
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Wandia Gichuru, MD/co-founder – Vivo Wear. PHOTO | COURTESY

After specialising in international development and poverty alleviation, Wandia Gichuru spent 15 years working with the United Nations, World Bank and UK government.

Her Aha! moment only came when she opened a retail clothing store in Nairobi called Vivo Activewear in 2011.

Vivo Activewear started importing fitness and dance clothing from South Africa, Thailand and China and the UK in 2011. Its attire is suited to the needs of someone with a healthy lifestyle, and most designs are made from stretch fabric like lycra and jersey which contour to the shape of the body.

A couple years into the business, the 46-year-old realised that aside from quality and pricing, the main challenges posed by imports was the discrepancy between the size of women in different parts of the world.

“I am a large in Asia and in Kenya I am a small. So (by importing from Asia) we couldn’t cater to anything beyond a size 14 which is average for women in Kenya,” she said.

She also began to question the market perception which dictated it would be cheaper to import rather than manufacture locally. And so eight months ago, she went against the tide, imported fabric from Asia and set up a workshop. Between 40 and 50 per cent of what she sells in her stores today is locally made.

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She had this to say about her style: “I just think of Vivo’s clothes because a lot of my wardrobe are samples so I make them in my size. My style has become Vivo style and may be Vivo style was already my style to begin with.

Vivo means “alive” in Spanish, Italian and Portugese. The company operates a number of stores in Nairobi and Mombasa.

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What’s your off-duty passion?

Being silly with my kids. They make me put on music and sing and always know the latest teeny bopper songs on every channel. I love dancing. I love getting together with friends. When I am alone I love to read.

What was your last great read?

I’ve been reading this book on AD/HD because my daughter has ADD. It’s not a book to wenjoy but it’s very fascinating. It’s called Understanding Girls With AD/HD by Ellen Littman and Patricia Quinn. They explain how best to support her. I read the book and I almost cried. There are so many things I give her a hard time with that were not her fault. I felt so guilty but at the same time so happy because now at least I can handle it better. Hopefully I can be a better mum.

What signifies your personal style?

I’m obsessed with boots. I have 25 pairs. I’m obsessed with shoes generally. I can easily walk into a store and walk out with 20 pairs. Now that I am not working in a corporate environment, I’m more causal and I’m slightly conservative. I love feminine looks.

How do you manage your wardrobe?

I recycle. I give away a lot of clothes. Every two months I go through my wardrobe. I have very few things I have kept for 10 years. There is also a space issue. I don’t want to put my clothes in other rooms in the house.

Where are you most likely to be whiling away your time on a Saturday afternoon?

At home. The reality of life is that there’s often a function, kids have birthday parties and I have to drop my girls off — there’s always something going on. What I like to do is relax, because the weeks are hectic. For me being at home is nice. I can read, watch a movie, have a friend round.

Describe your best destination yet in East Africa.

I went to Zanzibar for the first time in 2014. I really want to go back. There are long stretches of idllyic soft sandy beaches.

Do you have a must-visit list?

I’d love to go to Turkana and Samburu. (Editor’s note: Both are in northern Kenya.)

What do you see as East Africa’s greatest strength?

The people. I think our land is beautiful and I find us very resilient and calm. It can make us a little passive, I think we tolerate a lot. We have a gentle spirit. We have a really good sense of humour and find a good reason to laugh. Sometimes even if it is at our own expense.

What’s the most thoughtful gift you’ve received?

When I was 24, I was living in Canada and I was going through a difficult time. I was homesick. My boyfriend at the time bought me a ticket to London to see my best friend. I thought it was such a great gift because it wasn’t about him. He just knew I needed a break, I missed my friends and he knew how much it meant to me.

What’s the best gift you’ve given?

I’m struggling to find one, probably because I’m thinking of something that will make me look good! It was a holiday. To my daughter; for her birthday along with her best friend, whose mum is also my best friend. We all went. Which was nice. I like a gift that is an experience and you share with people you love.

Which movie had an impact on you?

Schindler’s List. I think it’s so harrowing when you see how lightly people can take life. It left me numb for a few days because, how could you treat people like that? That was the same reaction I had to 12 Years A Slave. And not even because Lupita [Nyong’o] was in the movie. That wouldn’t have mattered. What is the value of human life?

What’s your favourite music?

I love soul music and my favourite musician is Stevie Wonder. I have seen him in concert. I loved it.

Your favourite website?

I’ve subscribed to a lot of my favourite sites on Facebook so I will see it on my newsfeed. I will see an article and go to the site. So it’s not because I’m going to the site but because something caught my eye.

What’s the constant in your fridge?

Wine. I’m now into almond milk too. I quit dairy.

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