Morena Creations is an Ankara infused Home Decor, Clothing and Accessories business founded by Maureen Nduta Gichuki, a Kenyan Fashion Designer and Entrepreneur based in Nakuru town. The name Morena is derived from the founder’s full names and she is heavily involved in the design process of her products.

Beginnings and Growth

From an early age, Gichuki was well aware of her love for everything fashion. She remembers owning fashion books as a child and creating her own fashion catalogs all through her schooling. At some point in high school, she got into trouble with the school authorities for her fashion catalogs that involved cutting out clothing material and sticking in books. However, this incident would soon be sorted out.

Gichuki credits her mother for nurturing her love of fashion. In 2011, she enrolled at the Mwangaza College in Nakuru to study Fashion and Design. Subsequently, she began making bags out of clothes she had since stopped wearing which she marketed to friends and gave as samples to family members. Eventually, her friends and family who had bought and used the bags retailing between $3 to $5 according to size, began spreading the word and her clientele increased.

With new clients, Gichuki moved to sewing clothes and specialized in Ankara tops and dresses which were in high demand. With a growing business, she went back to school to pursue a degree in Business Management majoring in Procurement at the St. Paul’s University-Nakuru Campus. After graduation, Gichuki got a job with the County Government of Nakuru and continued with her Ankara fashion business as a side hustle. From her savings, she was able to open a shop within the Nakuru CBD.

Morena Creations Founder, Maureen Nduta Gichuki wearing an apron and oven gloves she has sewn at her shop. Photo courtesy of Morena Creations.

Morena Creations Products

With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Morena Creations has been making Ankara facemasks in bulk. The shop also stocks on a variety of products such as curtains, table mats, clutch purses (featured image), laundry baskets, Ankara material in meter dimensions, toilet paper holders among other home decor products. Clothing is sewn on order.

In addition, Gichuki sources her materials locally and across the border in Uganda. She hopes to grow her business further by soon including shipping to other countries and is set to start working on her first fashion inspired collection.

A foldable Ankara laundry basket by Morena Creations.

An Ankara backpack by Morena Creations.

An Ankara toilet paper holder by Morena Creations.

Sling bags by Morena Creations.

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