Picture of Designer Josyline Murakaru, better known by her artist name Josie Wachi.
Photo by Johnny Miller Photography
I was born and raised in the coastal town of Mombasa, Kenya (East Africa) and joined other family members to attend college in Huntsville, Alabama, known as the Rocket City. There began my dream to dress women, not only in Alabama, but all over the world. I started learning sewing from a master seamstress, attending fashion classes at International Academy of Art and Design, and taking business classes at Faulkner University. I made a strong impression at parties, wearing dresses I made at my home studio. As friends loved the dresses, I shared the designs with a broader audience through fashion shows; Josie Wachi clothes became a hit! After living in beautiful California ( which reminded me of my coastal hometown Mombasa), plus travelling to fashion events in major cities, I joined fashion organisations in LA and NYC to learn more about successful fashion empires. In June 2012, I formed Josie Wachi LLC, and in 2013, I created the Josie Wachi Skinny Jean, my first mass produced product. It was a hit also, and within the first year, 600 women wore the Josie Wachi Jean because it solves the problem many women have in finding a skinny jean that is comfortable, movable and fits perfectly to any body shape and size.
I love travelling while expanding the line, as more women are requesting my designs of great fitting clothes. I like to spread the word about fashion with magazine features. I was featured in the Huntsville Times, Go Magazine, NOALA magazine, Event Huntsville, Coastal Lifestyle magazine and Potential Magazine. I was the fashion editor for Life on The Water Magazine and assistant editor for Culture and Leisure Magazine. I have also blogged for Huntsville Convention and Visitors Bureau website iHeartHSV and WholeFoods KuliKuli Moringa product. I was awarded as North Alabama Emerging Fashion Designer Award by the Alabama Fashion Alliance. I also graduated from Leadership Connect Huntsville/Madison County, where I learned how to best serve my community. I now reside in Pensacola, Florida, and growing my blog about wellness and doing fashion editorials.
Josie Wachi Mission:
As a child growing up in Kenya, seeing open solid waste pile ups and the heavy pollution of human refuse in Kibera, I said, " One day, I want my clothing company to help build a good housing facility for Kibera youth." There are so many changes that I would like to see happen, but the most important is to educate the kids on the tools and resources they need to build their future. There are children who live in hunger, and I want to communicate to women that as you buy Josie Wachi clothing, I will be using a part of the proceeds to help eradicate slums in Kenya.
Inquiries; 256-457-9382