Cervin Onyango Ogendo holds a Degree in Bachelor of Technology in Design, Interactive Media Design from the Technical University of Kenya (2015), a Diploma in Art and Design, Graphic Option from The Kenya Polytechnic (2001). He is CEO of Olele Garments Limited, CEO of E-net Publishers & Designs Limited. With over 20 years of experience in Design for Screen printing, I received recognition from SGIA Specialty Graphic Imaging Association in the year 2008. Awarded best logo designer in a competition to design a logo for All African Conference of Churches 8th Assembly in Yaounde Cameroon (2003). I also hold a patent in Interactive Learning Platform called (A+).
Before the Covid-19 disruptions, Cervin ran a successful e-learning content development company, E-Net publishers. We offered consultancy in content development to the leading publishing houses in Kenya which adopted our A+ Interactive platform. Our clients included ; Kenya Literature Bureau, The Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, Oxford University Press, Longhorn Publishers and other institutions such as The Makini School, The National Council for Law Reporting. There were two major disruptions that occurred in the line of business for E-net Publishers that led to the birth of Olele Garments;
- The first disruption was the introduction of the new curriculum CBC to replace the 8.4.4 system. Publishers stopped the development of more e-learning content which was our core business. This happened from 2018 through 2019.
- The second disruption was the Covid-19 pandemic that completely stopped E-net Publishers’ operations. During the Covid 19 break, I started developing artwork and made screens for the printing of materials for stitching shirts. I continued the development of more motifs and produced screens that continued to interest friends and relatives on different social media platforms. Soon people started making orders and suggested more options and preferences of what they would love, for both garment designs and prints.
OLELE GARMENTS
Our profile of designs expanded. In 2021, when life returned to normalcy, I registered Olele Garments Limited by this time a new trend of online shopping became a new normal as people were adopting working from homes and delivery services providers increased. We bought more machines for clothes stitching and soon expanded to shoes as clients continued to come. We then started producing a wide range of products such as shoes, bags, kid's clothing, sandals, and trousers. Our clientele continued to grow and we started receiving orders from corporate clients who wanted to support Made in Kenya products. We have supplied school shoes to NGOs supporting learners in slum areas like Dignitas Limited and Rescue Dada which supports the education of girls they rehabilitate with uniforms and shoes.
Today, Olele Garments Limited has created employment to people trained in graphic design, fashion design, and printing. We also provide internship opportunities to trainees from different colleges of fashion, graphic design, and leather technology. Our approach to garment decoration and pattern consistency is a simplified way that does not require the use of heavy machinery to make nice-looking repeat patterns. We have however embraced the use of advanced 3D modeling technologies and digital pattern plotter cutting as our new ways of designing shoes, soles, and cutting of accurate clothe and leather patterns. We carry the vision to make Made in Kenya garments a first choice to the rest of the world and to build a brand identity that will outlive us.