As a fultime student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Ann Ongori is always looking for ways to stay stylish without going broke. But what started as a desire to stay fashionable on a budget soon grew into a thriving business.
Balancing classes and social life, Ann Ongori launched Annie Styles, a second-hand clothing business that would promote affordable style among fellow students and also fund her studies.
“Juggling school and entrepreneurship has not been easy, but I am driven by passion for fashion and a desire to share the benefits of mtumba clothing with others,” says Ann.
Growing up in a fashion dominated world, Ann says she realized that style does not have to come at high cost – it’s all about putting the right pieces together and coming up with a masterpiece.
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In 2022, Ann officially launched Annie Styles. She started it like a small venture of selling clothes to friends and fellow students in a dorm room. Thanks to social media and word of mouth, her business grew beyond campus hence, attracting customers from outside.
Bearing the knowledge of what young people want, Ann created collections of second- hand clothing that are in style and also budget friendly. With the combination of both vintage and modern trends, Annie Styles has become a go-to shop for unique and affordable styles.
Running a business while still studying is no small feat. Ann spends early mornings in lectures while late evenings are preserved for sorting inventory, shipping orders and also posting available items online.
Annie Styles offers a wide range of clothing for different occasions: whether it’s a casual day out, a party or a professional event.
By promoting second hand clothing, Annie Styles contributes to the reduction of textile waste. Annie Styles has faced challenges such as dealing with supply chain issues. But through hard work and perseverance, Ann managed to expand its operations to a fully functioning online store.
Annie Styles envisions the business growing into a full-time venture, providing more budget friendly fashion options and also opening more branches of thrift stores in different areas.
Annie Styles’ vision is to become the number one thrift store providing affordable and sustainable fashion.
