Kenyan clothing brand Vivo, with retail outlets in Kigali, debuts in the United States
The opening was graced by President William Ruto early this week while on tour of the US.
The brand operates 26 retail stores across Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, including Shop Zetu, East Africa’s fastest-growing online fashion marketplace. Vivo also boasts over 360 employees, of which over 70 per cent are women.
Vivo was founded by Wandia Gichuru and Anne Marie Burugu in 2011. A decade later, it has grown to become one of East Africa’s most prominent ladies' fashion brands. It designs and manufactures 100% on the African continent and aims to inspire a generation of African fashion entrepreneurs. The company is also female-led in Atlanta, Georgia. Vivo has allied with Kenyan retail brands to export products made in Kenya to the United States.
Anna Njoroge, the owner and CEO of Ythera Beauty, told VOA this week that the opening of Vivo's first store in the US is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of Kenyan women.
Kenya has a rich cultural heritage, and diverse traditional attires and textiles influence modern fashion trends. The colorful prints, beadwork, and intricate designs from various Kenyan communities have inspired contemporary fashion designers. In the past two decades, there has been a surge of talented Kenyan fashion designers who have gained popularity locally and internationally.
