Life & Work

Meet Vivo Wear’s Wandia, the hopeless romantic

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Wandia Gichuru, MD/co-founder – Vivo Wear. PHOTO | COURTESY

When the company started in 2011, they were inspired by a love for dance and fitness. But over time Vivo Wear has grown to offer a full range of clothing styles that include both smart and casual, party, travel and beachwear. It’s a small company of about 35 staff in total, with five shops all over Nairobi (the sixth is about to open) and a turnover of Sh80 million last year.

Whereas they started off by importing clothes, they now design and manufacture their own designs. Before venturing into fashion, Wandia spent over 15 years as international development adviser and held positions with the UK government, the UN and the World Bank in several different countries.

We met at their offices along Ngong Road. She’s youthful, with a sunny disposition, laughs easily and talks in curved but neat paragraphs.

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Why are you wearing, a Paul Smith top?

(Laughs) Oh God, you know when I was wearing this, I thought to myself, “should I”? (Laughs). Didn’t think you would notice.

Look, I go through phases when I wear the same look for a few weeks and currently we are renovating our offices as you can see, so jeans and a top is my look. Usually I don’t wear labels and pretty much every day I would wear a Vivo product. Today is one of those days.

What are women going to wear tomorrow?

As in tomorrow, Wednesday? (Laughs). Oh, in the future? I think the world is getting to the point where women are slowly moving from what’s trendy to what’s functional. People will get more and more into clothes that express their personality and style.

Work places are going to be more flexible. When I was in employment, more women were wearing suits, now it’s different, less formal. And that’s great.

What kind of questions are you asking yourself this year?

I ask myself everyday what I’m grateful for. That’s a big thing and I have to write down three things specific to that day. I ask myself how I constantly create more joy in my life because I’m typically quite hard on myself.

What resolutions didn’t you fulfil last year?

Last year was a really good year for me. (Laughs). You know, I find the whole thing around New Year interesting, it’s just another day, even though I don’t mind that it gives you a time frame, and thought.

End of last year, I posted on Facebook – a circle of personal and private friends – a quote by Zora Neale that says, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” For me 2014 was a year that answered.

And what question did it answer?

A lot of questions, you know; who am I? What matters most to me? What doesn’t matter to me? I felt like I grew more in 2014 than the previous four years, that is, spiritually and personally, you know what I mean? It’s not like there were no bad times, there were.

But generally, it was a great year businesswise; we continued to grow. We have been growing something between 50 to 100 per cent every year.

What are you doing right?

(Laughs) We are expanding so every new shop increases our bottom line, revenue-wise. And we are trying to be reactive to the market; when something is working, we keep at it.

You are from mixed race, is that right?

Yes, my mom is Canadian and dad was Kenyan. He passed on a long time ago. I grew up here. Which side do I relate with most? Kenyan, 100 per cent! I went to university in Canada but never felt Canadian. I always felt Kenyan.

Where does this whole fashion sense come from?

What fashion sense? I don’t have a fashion sense at all. (Laughs) I have always loved clothes, yes, but I had never imagined myself getting into fashion design, you know what I mean? This is something that just happened quickly but with a lot of nurturing.

What are you struggling with right now?

In my life? (Thinks) Uhm… (Thinks) I’m struggling to find what I’m struggling with. (Laughs). I really find I’m in my flow at the moment, you know what I mean? I’m just feeling like everything is how it should be. Even in the areas that aren’t working quite well, it still wouldn’t be called a struggle

Married?

Separated.

What was your role in that separation?

You know, I’m happy to talk to you about this because typically, I’m an open person, but I don’t know what my partner would think about me talking about this in the media, you know what I mean? There has to be some level of discretion and respect in these matters, you know?

But in a thumbnail, I would say that we both neglected the relationship; we didn’t fan the fire; we didn’t stoke it when the fire was dying. But I don’t have regrets about the marriage because from it came two amazing children aged 9 and 10 (both girls), so to regret this relationship would be to regret my children, and I wouldn’t.

And the irony is that it wasn’t even a bad marriage, he wasn’t a bad guy at all.

Were you the bad girl, then?

(Laughs) I don’t think I’m a bad person. I think the mistake we make is to stop paying attention to the marriage then you both wake up and find yourselves in this place that isn’t healthy.

Separation is the hardest thing ever, especially if you can’t explain it in ways that people expect. People expect your marriage to end if he was a bad person, well not in all cases.

Then there are the kids to think about…

Yes. But I think you can only be a good parent if you are happy. However, having said that, if you decide to leave both of you have to be very clear that you put your kids’ interests before everything. Everything else comes secondary.

What is your greatest insecurity?

My greatest insecurity is what you will write about this!! (Laughs). I used to have insecurity about not being liked, and I found myself saying yes to stuff while inside it didn’t feel right.

Let’s see your Bucket List.

I have countries I’d love to visit. I’m convinced I was Latin American in my former life. I’d love to visit Brazil. I just love the culture and food and music. It’s joyous.

In December, I was in Europe and stayed in Holland and Italy and in Italy it’s all bubbly and chattering and that’s the kind of personality of a country I would like. I’d love to go to Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

What haven’t I asked that you were sure I would ask?

If I’m a romantic. (Laughs)

Are you?

Hopeless! (Laughs). Hopeless romantic! I mean, I think love is the best thing. I write poetry...I love to be affectionate. I’m very huggy and kissy, and all that. (Laughs). I love love songs and romantic movies. I’m in love with love, I’m in love with life, that feeling of passion and excitement. (Dreamy look).

Last night, I saw the full moon as I dropped a friend at the airport and said, “Wow, look at the moon, so beautiful.” That’s the kind of person I am. I get excited when I see people in love. Just this morning, I posted a quote by Rumi that says, “Close your eyes. Fall in love. Stay there.”

Thanks for the interview, and I hope you find love again.

I don’t have to. Love will find me. (Laughs)