 We are all about innovation in intimate wear business. Okay, so most important clothing layer, so intimate clothing wear are important because they are like the second layer of you and I because it's very much close in contact with our skin. So we have to consider that and that's why we have in this conversation with Nana other than the founder of vibrant fashion, Damaris. Welcome back, how you doing? You look amazing. I was telling you like she looks really good so probably you can introduce yourself if I've left out anything that Damaris does. Okay, my name is Damaris Kamano, founder and CEO of Vibrant Fashions, a clothing store that deals particularly with intimate wares, so it deals with unique panties, bras, pajamas, body shapers, anything intimate. Boxers, vests, yeah. All right, so basically you have specialized in intimate wear that is, okay, so I like us to start off on a very lighter note but say most people when they speak about, not most people, women, these are certain especially in the African culture, we shy off when we speak about lingerie, we speak about all the intimate wear that actually happens in the bedroom or also when even it comes to even just personal wear like underpants, we don't really want to be seen actually purchasing this product, so why do you think the taboo has been there on the aspect of lingerie and how women reaching out to you when it comes to, I want a particular certain lingerie maybe so it online and how do we reach out to you? Okay, women are very shy, okay not now, I can say some years prior when I began Vibrant Fashions that is around four years ago, Vibrant Fashions people were very very shy and I wanted to get this whole idea of making people feel comfortable and for people to feel okay with their intimate wear clothing, so with time people have embraced this fashion and they're buying these products and a person who can't come over the counter are actually ordering online, if you can't buy things over the counter you don't want people to look at you, you can as well buy it online and that's why Vibrant is an online shop and you can also buy offline So let's look at the whole aspect of the business, our question of the day is we are asking how can one raise capital when they want to start a business, when did you start Vibrant Fashions and what was your initial capital? The Vibrant Fashions began seven years ago, initially it began as a jewelry store, then with time I realized that the jewelry store had actually stagnated and I needed to do something that was significant or something that would make sense, so I did my research all around and I realized that there was a very big gap in the intimate wear So I started buying simple clothes via my pocket money, I was actually in school when I began this, I used to buy products with my pocket money and probably sometimes my lunch money, I would sacrifice to go buy some little products, then with time I was able even to open up a store and now people can come and buy there, so that's how I got my capital So allow me to take you back, so initially before you guys got to be part of this conversation we were actually having a conversation on the fact that you were employed prior So you have both sides of employment and now entrepreneurship, tell us what's the difference between those two different worlds and what were you doing prior to Vibrant Fashions? Before Vibrant Fashions I was employed, I actually started business management in school, then I majored in HR and I was employed as a HR practitioner after that So I found that very boring because I'm used to fashion, I'm used to selling things and actually when I was still working I used to buy things in downtown, then I come and sell the products to my colleagues So I felt like I needed some growth, I needed to come out of the box and it feels better, it comes with a lot of freedom, but with a lot of challenges too We'll look at some of the challenges, let's dive into a very important question I have here Women are of different sizes and when it comes to just this particular intimate wears, either beads, lingerie or even corsets or even underpants So for someone to just check them online and I come to you and I find that there's not really my size but I like this particular lingerie that I saw What would be your advice to someone who is seeking for just the luxury but the no sizes? The no sizes for this particular kind of women Okay what you've done with Vibrant, when we started we used to source our products from Asian countries and this is a bit of a challenge because our women in Africa are a bit big So later on we realised that there was a very big gap in the plus size industry So this is how we started custom making products for plus size women and also for small ladies So in Vibrant you can get everything, if you want a lingerie it's there, if you want a shaper it is there, panties, bras, everything Okay let's get into corsets They say that in this time of quarantine season there are going to be three people There will be one who will come out of vids, no two, there will be one who will be coming out of vids, really out of shape And then there will be one who will be like really very quite fit and it's understandable But let's look at the corsets now What should one look out for when it comes to corsets and are they advisable, are they healthy What should we look out for as women For corsets, people who go out for corsets are people who are looking forward maybe to having an hourglass Most of the people want an hourglass shape And most of the people probably want to tuck in their tummy We also have other people who are after pregnancy they want to make their tummy look flat But what I keep telling people as much as I'm selling these corsets, these lingeries, these steel bones They are actually healthy for you But it also depends on your exercise regime and the diet that you are having to So these two should come in handy for you to get the results So when you look at the business aspect of it There are so many online shops And so many online shops are dealing with intimate wells And unfortunately we have scammers out here What would be your advice for someone who is looking out for lingerie outfits Just something they can look out for when it comes to purchasing online Because you have scammers out here Yeah sure we have scammers out But what you should look out for if you're able to purchase the product And you're able to see it physically You should actually go for the quality first Go out for a trusted person A person who has done a lot of research regarding these things The material too matters Most of these products actually come in materials that are comfortable for your skin And for your health too The scammers tend to look for products that are cheaper for them to make Extra money out of this So tend to look for a person who has done a research And also do your research before you purchase these products What's the company's value proposition What's different about vibrant fashion That don't get when it goes to intimate wear out here Our motto is wear uniqueness matters But as much as uniqueness matters We make sure the customer is satisfied We are not just selling for the sake of selling We value our customers And the first thing that we advocate for is customers Customers to be satisfied Alright You've been into the business for 7 years now Looking back I want to find out What are some of the achievements That you go back and just look at From way back when you started Till now and how does that make you feel Okay There are several achievements that I've achieved from vibrant fashions You see initially when I began this I never had a store I used to hook around and this was very hard I used to have problems with the city Inspectorate So my first achievement was first getting a store My second achievement is being able to inspire And teach and equip young girls Because vibrant fashion is just not about myself We're out there to give back to the community When you buy from vibrant fashions We're actually putting some amount aside To give out to the community Probably to help the needy To help the young girls with pads Then we also help people Like we're having a project that is coming up in December Where we give our customers an opportunity to go And visit worldwide Or countrywide Depends on the capital we'll be having then Yes Okay, so what does Damaris do When she's not busy being a CEO at vibrant fashions Damaris is always giving back to the community I used to do makeup as patch time But now these days I'm doing community work Okay So speaking about the community work Right now during this time of COVID It's a global pandemic Schools are closed until next year Then we have way numerous numbers of teenage pregnancies You've spoken about something which is very important Giving back to the community And one of your projects Which is actually inspiring young girls What do you think the problem is at? I think the problem is Probably most of our girls are young They are young and naive And they lack information You see especially the girls in the informal sector Or in the informal places Tend to lack knowledge So at times they tend to be vulnerable And that's why you're finding that most of them Are getting pregnant at this time So we need to teach our girls We need to teach them about sex education We need to empower them For them to stop falling into this trap And we should also talk to them We should talk to them So that they are able to speak out So that if something like this happens They are able to talk to a senior person Okay Still on matters pertaining to COVID-19 How was this during this economical Hard times affected your business? It affected our business Because the sales are low As compared to before And this has led probably to Saking some employees You just give them a lower pay Which is not very okay for them Because they have families They also have needs That has been the biggest challenge During this COVID-19 season Apart from that What are some of the challenges The business actually faces? We are facing low sales At times people don't want to come over the counter They are asking for more deliveries Which we advocate for What about importation? In importation it was a problem Some time back But now it has opened up It's a bit slow But the goods are still coming in Yes So if someone is looking at this And they are wondering What does it take for me to just open up An intimate space That is just getting into this particular business And they are looking at the financial aspect They are looking at so many things But they are so much passionate Interested in this particular kind of business What would be your advice to that particular person? All that Tell them to start small Start where you are Because for us When we began this We only started with the two panties Two of them So just start with whatever you have You can start with a small loan You can start with your pocket money Just whatever you are Start start From there things will fall into place You just need to begin Why? You just need to begin from wherever you are Whatever you have What is the future like for vibrant fashion? The future is bright We are looking forward to opening more stalls For vibrant fashion We've got customers who have been requesting For more branches They don't have to come to Nairobi Because they've been ordering stuff online So it's easier for them when there is an online store When guys order online What is your limited area Of delivery? We deliver country wide We deliver country wide Most of the customers are now requesting Whatever they are So the future for vibrant is bright That's why we want to open more stalls In different towns In Kenya And probably Above and below here Alright So I would like you to You understand that during this Chaos, pandemic It's a global It's a global economical problem Most people have lost their jobs And another aspect of it is also People reduced The level of income has actually been reduced What would be your advice for that particular person Who is going through a hard time right now And they are trying to just figure it out How they are going to get out of these Economical hard times They have bills to pay What would be your advice for that particular person? What's our advice then If you're still working continue being The best you can be in that business You never know that's how opportunities open up For some people who are not working anymore You can take this time to read and research And do greater things And probably even start another business You never know it may work out And you may not have to go back to what you were doing before So I'm asking people to be open minded About this time Okay, speak about open mind People being open minded What are some of the skills you have gathered During this quarantine season During this quarantine season I have researched a lot That I won't lie I have researched a lot I've gotten to see what other countries Are doing with their fashion and intimate industries I'm actually even seeing people who are custom making Their products in their own country Oh, that's nice It has not happened in Kenya yet We're looking forward to that Maybe you'll start that Yes, we're looking forward to that I've also learned to take a day at a time Things come like how the pandemic just happened We never saw it coming But we just have to take a day at a time And see what tomorrow holds Okay So probably this is the right time For people back at home To reach out to you And find out more about your business If anything that you have missed This is the time you can mention Maybe new projects coming up And also you can share your social media handles And the website if you have any Okay, if you want to find us If you want to find vibrant fashions We are on Facebook We are on Instagram And on Facebook we are vibrant fashions In Instagram we also vibrant fashions With an S at the end You can follow us Or you can place your order via Our number or WhatsApp number is 0721664791 Maybe you can repeat that again 0721664791 Okay So that's how you reach out to Damaris and all matters pertaining Vibrant fashions So if you're into intimate well She's the person to reach out to Right Absolutely