Wanjiru Njoroge

Wanjiru: so would you state your name and what you do??

Keseri: My name is Mary Keseri and I am a fashion designer and head-wrap stylist based in Nairobi Kenya

Wanjiru: That’s wonderful so would you please tell us about a recent event you attended and got to show case your pieces

Keseri: I attended Entpreneur Fashion week that was on 18th March 2019, I got to show case there and also had an expo over there. Honestly I wouldn’t want to show case there again coz I think of dressing into something nice and Making an appearance, because you find when we go to show case your stuff it’s not like International events where by the time you are leaving all your items have been brought. But in that event there wasn’t like any proper planning of which you know we do all this things to learn, but if I ever want to show case again it will be for my collection AfriKeseri collection where I will be show casing my nine collections that is the head-wraps, summer gowns, summer wear, sandals and a lot of other things. And I also learnt that the fashion merging in Kenya is compliant with what a fashion event is all about, when you are attending a fashion event you are supposed to come and see what fashion designers are offering and also buy from them, but most people in Kenya just attend to be seen and now for my marketing strategy, I will be making an appearance looking all dolled up, and carry my business card in that ‘ka’ small bag of mine (In that small bag of mine) when I get there and people ask me where I got this I will tell them that ‘I did it I am a designer here is my card’.

Wanjiru: So where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

Keseri: Wow ten years that’s a really long time but all malls will have AfriKeseri collection just like the way you see all malls have Carrefour, my brand will really have grown even in other East African countries like Uganda, Tanzania yeah I think I will really have grown.

Wanjiru: So is your brand Unisex or also includes kids or it’s just a female brand?

Keseri: it’s a Unisex brand. I also have a kid’s collection called AuntyKeseri kids collection and when it comes to outfits I have both ladies and gents. When it comes to heads wraps I have male and female wraps. So yes it’s a Unisex collection.

Wanjiru: wow that’s amazing. So would you give advice to the upcoming entrepreneurs?

Keseri: If you are an upcoming entrepreneur be ready to take risks, For example how I started my brand I started wearing head-wraps ten years ago when I was only thirteen, you can only you can get to know what I was getting people telling me why are you wearing head-wraps? You look like a mama (you look like an elderly mother) only to come and find out that would be my brand ten years later. What I would tell upcoming Entrepreneurs be it in any field be it Fashion, be it Technology be it business find a niche and love whatever you are doing. Imagine I didn’t love fashion, I didn’t love head-wraps I wouldn’t have impact on the public. You should find something you love I such a way that no matter what people tell, no matter the circumstances you will still feel like waking up and doing what you do. So don’t do things because other people are telling you what to do, do what you love. Because now am wearing head- wraps every day and no one can tell me ‘Keseri you don’t look good’ I will be like sorry honey you don’t know what you are talking about. So you should be very hard-working, a risk taker, persistent and above all pray, work and believe.

Wanjiru: Thank you so much.

Keseri: Thank you dear.