Whole is a fun, fresh plus-size Kenyan Fashion Label that will soon be the go-to destination for plus size women and plus size men in Kenya looking for beautiful fashion pieces.
NFH Contributing Writer Linda Wairegi sat down with the founder Getrude Njeri, to learn more about Whole clothing brand and her journey as a fashion designer.
LW: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
GN: My name is Gertrude Njeri I am a multimedia journalist and a media marketer. I have worked as a writer, audiovisual producer and digital media strategist, and storyteller for different brands. I enjoy uncovering and narrating stories that relate to human experiences, their desires, convictions, interests, and challenges.
Fashion is an extension of who I am, and I believe it is also a great tool to tell one’s stories and express oneself fully. That’s why when I saw a gap for full-figured men and women to openly express themselves through fashion, I was inspired to start my clothing brand.
LW: When did you fall in love with fashion?
GN: I think I’ve just always loved fashion since I was young. Dressing up, styling, and seeing how little bits, pieces, and elements can come together to make something really beautiful!
LW: Who inspired you to start your fashion journey?
GN: Myself to be honest. haha. I am such a lover of clothing and style and when I visited stores, and shops that had really beautiful pieces but didn’t have them in my size, it was disheartening. Also knowing that other plus size men and women were going through this inspired me to serve them.
LW: What’s the name of your fashion label? And why?
GN: Whole.
I was looking for a name that had meaning behind it and that would be timeless. So the message behind it also greatly influenced the name.
For so long plus size men and women were made to feel inferior cause they did not fit into beauty standards. Whole seemed like a perfect fit cause it alluded to how wholesome and complete these full-figured beings are both inwards and outwards.
LW: When did you start your Whole?
GN: Whole has been a process, I can’t say it had a definite beginning. But the concept came to me when I was at my aunt’s place. (She is very religious and spiritual)
So as she and my mum were having banter and drinking tea, I was in the other room browsing through my phone, looking at style inspiration as I always do, then it came to me!
So I ran out to where my mum and my aunt were and I pitched the idea to them and they were like “YES! please do it!” And being in that anointed home, it just felt like God told me to do it there and then!
So from that day, it has just been a journey really. We are constantly launching and identifying new ways that work for us and our customers.
LW: Where can potential customers view and purchase your designs?
GN: We have the temporary shopping site now and the catalogue available here:
https://linktr.ee/WholeClothingBrand
So regarding the price points, we have custom-made pieces that are 10-20 % more than the ready-to-go pieces. However, the ready to go pieces range from Ksh 2,000-4,000.
LW: Why did you decide to come up with a plus-size clothing line?
GN: From a personal experience, I lacked trendy and unique clothing in my size and so many of my plus size girlies expressed the same sentiments. And generally, plus-size bodies are so divine and they too, deserve clothing that makes them feel beautiful and whole.
LW: What makes it different from other plus-size fashion labels/houses?
GN: Our Whole Assist feature is a whole new ball game!
We know that plus size men and women have their mass distributed differently; into different sizes shapes such as apple, hourglass, pear, square etc.
This platform is here to ensure that all the pieces you buy from us have the perfect fit! With the specific measurements you share, we tailor-make or adjust the clothing you purchase from us according to your size and shape.
Also Whole is more of a message than a clothing brand. We are here to literally change the perception of these beings as worthy frames of style and appeal through our pieces. Think of Whole as a revolution!
LW: Can you tell us more about your design process?
GN: So we mostly curate our designs and pieces. The idea was that so many trendy clothing that was in the market was unavailable in larger sizes. So we identify these unique pieces and recreate them, to flatter the full-figured body and make them available to plus-size men and women.
LW: Do you have an interest in making plus-size clothing for men?
GN: Yes most definitely! I have a whole design mood board for my plus-size men. And we plan to actualize this in the next collection.
LW: Have you faced any challenges?
GN: There are constant challenges, It has not been easy! Especially in the early stages. Just getting everything in place and getting that grounding was super hard. But we continue to grow and overcome!
LW: What’s your favourite ‘Whole’ Item? Why?
GN: This is so so hard for me to choose lol cause all of them are just amazing and have different elements in them that make them unique and beautiful.
LW: What’s your highlight so far, in your fashion journey?
GN: My highlight would definitely be the fact that Whole has so much potential, each time I am in my Whole workspace working, I see so many avenues for its growth and success.
And that is my constant highlight, to be honest!
LW: What’s your dream collaboration?
GN: There are excellent plus-size models that I’d love to work with! They are:
@Misslionhunter
@Styleissttyle
@jnaydaily
I’d also love to tap into brands that do not have a broad size range and give them that!
LW: Do you have an inspiring quote for aspiring fashion designers?
GN: Please just do it! Dream it, Idealise it, Fall in Love with It and do it! Do it scared, uncertain, and terrified but please do it! Everything else will follow, I promise.
LW: Is anything else, that you feel our readers should know about you or about Whole?
GN: Go purchase your first piece from Whole!
For your sisters, aunts, girlfriends, mum, best friends! There is something for everyone.
https://linktr.ee/WholeClothingBrand
