Wandia Gichuru, CEO and co-founder of Kenya’s Vivo Fashion Group, has been honoured by Forbes in its inaugural 2025 “50 Over 50: Global” list, celebrating women making significant contributions across various sectors worldwide.
Gichuru’s recognition highlights her transformative journey from international development advisor to a leading figure in the fashion industry.
Established in Nairobi in 2011, Vivo Fashion Group has grown from a modest two-person operation into East Africa’s largest women’s fashion brand, boasting 29 brick-and-mortar stores across the continent.
The brand is renowned for its commitment to designing and manufacturing 100% of its products locally, thereby promoting African craftsmanship and supporting local economies.
“For a continent that has so much unemployment and so much need for employment, this has become our mission. To see Africa dress herself. What we want to see is African brands producing in Africa creating the jobs that will produce the clothes that can be worn by us,” Ms Gichuru said in a recent interview.
In a significant milestone, Vivo expanded its footprint beyond Africa by opening its first U.S. store in Atlanta, Georgia, in May 2024.
Expounding on this expansion, Ms Gichuru said Africa was as good a place as any to source from.
“I want us to dress ourselves and dress the rest of the world. I mean right now if you go to Europe and the US, most of what they’re wearing there is not made from the US,” she said of the Western fashion market. “So if they’re sourcing from other parts of the world, why not make Africa those destinations to source from.”
This move not only introduced American consumers to the vibrancy of African fashion but also underscored the brand’s mission to see Africa dress the world.
Additionally, the opening coincided with President Willaim Ruto’s visit to Atlanta, Georgia in the US.
“Wandia Gichuru and her team represent the best of what we have in Kenya. The products here are made in Kenya by Kenyan talent,” President Ruto said during his visit to the store.
Gichuru’s inclusion in Forbes’ prestigious list and Vivo’s international expansion reflect her visionary leadership and the brand’s dedication to showcasing African creativity on the global stage.
In their write-up for Wandia Gichuru, Forbes said that Ms Gichuru was committed to using her business to create financial opportunities for others.
