Ann Nyathira

Seeing the struggles expectant and new mothers go through to find comfortable, stylish and decent clothes KINYA MUNG’ATIA decided to venture in the fashion and design sector and started a maternity clothing line

Finding a decent maternity wear is a challenge, as any working expectant woman will tell you. It is one of the items in the tedious list of the things to be expected when you are expecting.

So, when Kinya Mung’atia’s sister in law was seven months pregnant, she had a hard time finding the right maternity clothes that were comfortable for her constantly ballooning girth while still being cute (ish).

Kinya offered to make her some clothes that would fit her perfectly. That was when she had an epiphany and came up with specialised brands for different size and shapes that veered towards being worn by corporate mothers during and after pregnancy.

Artistic interest

“I have never been pregnant myself—my sister-in-law experience was what inspired me to start Bumpy Maternity Wear.

At seven months, getting clothes that would make her look appealing for a working mum had become a strenuous exercise.

That is when I came in and designed several clothes for her to wear during and after pregnancy, ”recalled Kinya. 

As a child, her artistic interest would show when she rearranged their living room set up to what she deemed fit. This would often infuriate her mother who believed she was just disorganising her house out of sheer malice.

Kinya graduated studied International Relations at United State International University- Africa (USIU), gradutaing in 2012 and successfully ventured into the diplomatic world for two years before quitting. 

Fuelled by the desire to become self-employed and the hate for the routine of her job, she quit and in 2017 and established Bumpy Maternity Wear using her savings.

Following her dream

“ I have always been passionate about fashion and I knew I would pursue it after high school. I’m an only girl and grew up with three brothers who have all excelled in science-based courses so my dad was not convinced enough that fashion and design was the right path for me.

I ended up doing International Relations and worked for about two years, but then I had to go back to fashion, which has always been my passion plus I hated the routine that came with th first job,” narrates Kinya.

For her, the diplomatic world was the wrong career path. She likens it to running a thousand miles in the opposite direction, something she could have avoided if her parents allowed her to pursue her passion.

However, quitting her job was not an easy process. Her father was not pleased with her decision but she was determined to take control over her life. 

“My father was not happy about it, but he has come to understand how important this is for me and has accepted it. Some of my friends thought I was being irrational, but I knew what I wanted and I had this strong conviction that I was making the right decision. From the very first day I knew I had so many people to prove wrong and I am glad I did,” she recalled.

 According to Kinya, a pregnant body is unforgiving. She insists that tight clothes and fabrics that show under garments are unacceptable. 

Having the right size chart for your client is vital. She believes that appearance is important, especially for working mothers who would want to look presentable

“It has taken me one and a half years to study an African woman body and you know most of them are curvy women. 

The clothes populating Kenyan market are mostly imported from china and they rarely fit a curvy woman since a size 14 China will not fit a size 14 Kenyan woman,” she says.

Kinya says pregnancy is an interesting and complex state. Nonetheless, it should be hustle free. 

She has amplifies that narrative by coming up with customized designs like nursing tops and trousers with kangaroo porch from elastic materials.

“When I started this business in 2017, I basically wanted to do fashion, but with a difference. My main focus was with the working mothers who do not want to look boring, you can be an expectant or a nursing mum and still look stylish. 

“The state of being pregnant is short term, I prefer making clothes that can be worn during and after giving birth. This saves a lot of money,” says Kinya.