A designer finds success online | #speakup barometer | Kenya | DW | 09.01.2019
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#speakup barometer | Kenya

A designer finds success online

Sally’s clients may not live under the bright lights of the big city, but that doesn’t mean they don't want to be stylish. With the help of the Internet one dressmaker is bringing cutting edge design to rural Kenya.

#speakup barometer Kenya

Dressmaker Sally Achieng uses the Internet to promote her recent designs.

Enterprising designer, Sally Achieng, makes custom dresses based on African designs for women of all ages. From her rural village near Kisumu, she researches the latest African patterns and styles online, which she then shares with her clients who choose a bespoke design for her to make for them. Living and working remotely has proved little barrier to commercial success, through the use of social media she has generated a following.

When I started my business, I was not using the Internet but when I began going online to look for different designs and to learn how to make them, many customers started coming to me because I was displaying very unique and beautiful designs. This prompted me to also start displaying my work on social media, which gave me even more business. I now have the contacts of all my customers on a WhatsApp group and this helps me to retain business because we are always in touch with one another as partnership. I also use the WhatsApp group to display new design arrivals. The only challenge is that sometimes Internet connectivity is very poor in rural areas.

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