The Sowairina by Vivo Lea Collection - With Wanjiku Chomba & Liz Kitua

Last month, we launched the Lea collection in collaboration with Grace Msalame. This is Vivo's first-ever maternity friendly collection and we are so excited to share it with you and our hope is that you will find something that works for you, whether you're expecting or not. We had the pleasure of inviting two beautiful mamas-to-be to celebrate the launch of the collection and had a chat with them on their thoughts around their businesses, the collection, motherhood in general. Check out what they had to say...

 

Wanjiku Chomba

Tell us about yourself and what you do.

My name is Wanjiku Chomba. I am a Wife and Mother to two adorable Son's soon to be three. I am the Founder and C.E.O of Smarthub Groceries. An online personalized Fresh Grocery Delivery Company that uses technology to provide work-life balance to support service to Working Professional/ Busy Individuals.

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchillat

 

How has your fashion sense evolved since you began expecting and why is it important for women to feel good while carrying their pregnancies? 

Pregnancy is always a special moment and many are the times that we forget to be fashionable. For me, it has always reminded me of the beauty of life, hence the need to be fashionable and feel beautiful. I would urge all expectant Mom's, that it is a moment to feel and be beautiful. 

What were your favourite pieces from the Lea collection and why?

My favourite pieces were Faux wrap bodycon and Leisure pants with ruched cap-sleeved top. This is because whether I am expectant or not, I can still rock them on. They were made best for all seasons.

 

 Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

 

What does motherhood mean to you?

Motherhood to me is priceless. From carrying the baby to delivering them and seeing them grow. It's a moment where you see yourself outside of yourself. Motherhood is also selflessness. The needs of the baby come before yours and they are totally dependent on you.

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

 

What has self-care looked like for you during this journey? 

Self-care is always key all the seasons of life. But during pregnancy, it is always challenging. From finding the right product to use to the ever-changing tastes and preferences. But being in the food and nutrition industry, eating right and healthy has really made the journey worthwhile.

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

 

From your journey, what would you advise first time mums knowing what you know now?

They should always have their cups full so that they can be able to share with their loved ones. Also, I would advise them to maintain good and healthy eating habits as well as proper and comfortable dressing.

Liz Kitua 

Tell us about yourself and what you do.

My name is Liz Kitua and I am the founder and CEO of Kidosho Apparel. We are in the textile and apparel industry. We design garments mostly for the modern woman, but we also do menswear and kidswear. We do wholesale, corporate and fashion and majorly deal with African prints as we strive to be an industry leader in this space. I love what I do. I love designing garments, so much so that I quit my job as a commercial pilot to do it. It is definitely my calling. I now mentor young ladies who want to join the entrepreneurial space.

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

How has your fashion sense evolved since you began expecting and why is it important for women to feel good while carrying their pregnancies? 

My fashion sense has evolved in that, before pregnancy, I was really into very fitting, flattering pieces and right now I’m more into comfort. I wear a lot of stretch fabrics, blended fabrics, so anything with a bit of cotton and stretch is my go-to.

At the beginning of my pregnancy, I wasn’t too sure how to dress because I just looked like I had added weight and you couldn’t really see the belly. So I’d try and cover it a lot with free, loose-fitting clothes, but from month six, I started wearing fitting stretch fabric because I found them more flattering, because loose clothes tend to make you look bigger as your body gets bigger. Basically, wearing something that fit me properly, worked for me and for my body shape. I’m more intentional as I choose my clothes and I love exploring new designs for my growing body. It’s important to feel good while you’re carrying your pregnancy and so you have to dress in a way that makes you feel confident about yourself because pregnancy is not easy due to all the hormonal and body changes you experience.

Own your bump!

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

What were your favourite pieces from the Lea collection and why? 

My favourite pieces were definitely the high waist leggings which are very comfortable and can be worn with any flattering top and can be worn even after pregnancy, even if you have a c-section bag. 

My favourite dress is the faux wrap bodycon, I find it very flattering as it fits my bump perfectly and the fabric was easy on the skin. It can also be worn postpartum which is important because you don’t want to have to buy clothing that is specific for your maternity period, you want to get pieces that will transition to postpartum and beyond, and that is exactly what you get with the Lea collection.

 

 Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

 

I love that the collection also consists of pieces that suit more casual days and others that you can wear when you want to really dress up. The pieces like the hoodies, the leggings and the trousers are also great. The tulip sweater makes nursing easy as well as the faux wrap dress that is very flattering because as your bust grows, you don’t need a high neckline and so the v-necks design works perfectly. 

What does motherhood mean to you?

Motherhood for me is trying to raise a child who does not need to recover from their childhood. I want to be an intentional mother, I want to be present and I want to be keen on what I’m doing and the values I’m instilling in my child. I want to be very conscious of how I handle my child because almost everything I do will have a side effect, either negative or positive. I feel like God has blessed me by giving me the responsibility of being the custodian over my little one, and I have the responsibility to nurture them in His ways and if I don’t do that, I’ll have failed. 

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

 

What has self-care looked like for you during this journey? 

Self-care for me has been in small things. My daily habits have really changed and I’ve really grown. I’ve been saying no more often because I’m a workaholic and it’s been a challenge because it's my business and I love it but I had to say no to a lot of work commitments and people as well. Especially because sometimes I don't feel too good so I’ve had to stand my ground and not because I’m busy doing something else but because I just need to rest. As a person who is naturally strong and always available for people, I had to learn to say no. It wasn’t easy in the beginning but later on, when I revealed my pregnancy, people grew to understand why.

Another way I’ve been practising self-care is by trying to eat healthily and drinking lots of water. My self-care journey has also seen me grow closer to God. I’ve had to understand this journey, as it’s not been very smooth for me. As a first time mum, I had my own expectations and as I was going through it, I realized that no one can help me process it apart from God. My daily devotion is now something that I cherish and look forward to. Lastly, another way I’ve been taking care of myself is dressing in cute stuff. :) It’s made me feel really confident and happy and has helped me embrace my new body and everything that comes with it including stretch marks and moving up two dress sizes. 

 

 

Photo c/o Somboriot Kipchilat

 

From your journey, what would you advise first time mums knowing what you know now? 

Embrace it. Embrace the changes. Choose your support system carefully. Anyone and everyone think they can advise you. There is this notion that first-time mums know nothing, and all the advice can be a bit imposing. Especially from older women or fellow mothers.  Remember, not everyone is happy for you. Body shaming is also very real during pregnancy, from comments like “ your bump is too big for your stage” or the size of your nose, etc. There are so many questions you get asked that feel like an invasion of privacy and come with a lot of unsolicited advice. I know it does not come from a bad place, but it can also really be unsettling and make you second guess yourself.

So in short, block the noise. Nine months seems like a long time but it’s not, so embrace every step. You’re carrying life. :)