This archive report was first published on 25 November 2019.
November 25, 2019, marked a significant milestone for Neema Nkatha, the founder and CEO of Ohana Family Wear. It was the day her business idea, born out of frustration, began to take shape.
Neema's journey started in 2017 when she embarked on a mission to find the perfect swimsuit in Nairobi. However, her search was in vain, and she was left with no choice but to create one herself.
"The first swimsuit I made for myself was for a trip to Europe with family after failing to find one I liked from the many shops, boutiques, and malls I visited in Nairobi," Neema recalls.
Her motivation to venture into the business was further fueled by her failure to find an authentic Kenyan-inspired swimsuit in the market. This led her to start Ohana Family Wear in 2017 during her final year at the United States International University-Africa.
"It all started in late July of 2017 after I made the first piece for myself. When my friends saw it they started asking where I'd gotten the swimsuit from and suddenly orders started coming in and that was when I decided to turn it into a side hustle," Neema said.
Today, Ohana Family Wear is a thriving enterprise that has employed 10 young people. Neema's brand is driven by the need to embrace all body types and celebrate African culture. Her products combine Afro-inspired fabrics, colors, and prints to create modern designs.
"The luxuriant print and color play of the swimsuit, according to Ms Nkaatha, was the biggest attraction when people first started placing their orders," Neema notes.
With prices ranging between Sh2,500 and Sh3,000, Neema is seeking to put Kenya on the map through her products. She aims to expand her enterprise and create more jobs for the youth.
"I love working with young people. They are very open-minded. The infusion of vibrant, out-of-the-box ideas is definitely part of the reason I have grown," Neema says.
