Designer per excellence: Jack Muthaura aka Jack Alonie Grimpoz a fashion designer
How did you get into the fashion world?
Passion and the love for fashion pushed me to join my friends to start the business.
While still in high school, I developed an interest in fashion seeing how local celebrities were following international trends, so I started asking myself how we could customise such.
Then after school, while trying to get the business going, we found that social media gave us an advantage as we developed a following, meaning a bigger clientele base.
What element of your job do you enjoy the most?
I am a creative person, so seeing dreams or visions turn into reality is so satisfying.
Again, being able to buy into people’s ideas and turn them into their desired outcome is also gratifying.
But there is also the bitter sweet part of it; the long working hours, short customer notice, shopping for the right fabric and such also makes this work tick for me.
How do you keep up with all the new trends and fashion styles?
I read a lot of fashion magazines, then we also have the internet that is a great resource and source of information.
There are also tutorials on YouTube and a few fashion programmes on TV and online that I follow.
What current fashion trend are you into?
As we are headed into a political season, I have been looking at how fashion has influenced or being influenced by politics.
We have seen people dress their bodies to pass certain messages such as the wearing of berets, military-like outfits, slogans and graphics on T-shirts and so on.
I think it is important that as fashionistas use such opportunities to pass messages of not only peace, but also to make this platform a source of advocating for social justice and a better world to live in.
What one wears, how and when they wear it constitutes expressions of degrees of social freedoms and influences.
The other part is how fashion is pushing the green agenda globally. For example, a few years ago, German football club Bayern Munich initiated its ‘From Threat To Thread’ campaign that saw them release their Champions League kit made from recycled plastic waste. That’s the way to go.
What new challenges has Covid-19 brought, especially to designers?
Like any other sector, the fashion industry was not left unharmed by the pandemic.
We are experiencing less physical shopping as fashion consumers are lacking opportunities and occasions to dress up.
A recent report by McKensley & Company on the State of Fashion in 2021 based on the changes in market capitalisations on global fashion, suggested that the industry’s economic profit fell by 93 per cent in 2020 after rising with four per cent in 2019.
At the same time, it has made us to reshape, rethink and streamline our business models.
While the return on investment on retail continues to decline—in fact, many of us have closed a number of physical shops—we wait to get used to the new normalcy.
We also saw more than 100 apparel manufacturers close down temporarily, especially in the Export Processing Zones.
How have digital trends influenced your business?
The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise in some areas though. We have seen an increase in online shopping and our digital strength as a company continues to appreciate.
We have seen an increase in virtual shows, which is less time and money consuming.
How do you handle celebrity egos?
Before working with a public figure, it’s always important to check on their history.
Also, it does not hurt to ask within your business network about it. This helps one to meet their expectations.
My contract also helps because we normally ask for a deposit of 75 per cent of the total cost, and if one violates the contract, we can sue them.
What fashion tip would you like to share?
Become a better shopper. Learning how to shop for exactly what you want will help you avoid filling your closet with items you’d never wear.
When your wardrobe consists of pieces that you love, styling an outfit will become your second nature.
