Kenyan designer Bolo Bespoke has stirred online debate after disclosing the prices of his luxury, custom-made suits, which range between KSh 228,000 and KSh 538,000.
Taking to his Instagram account, the renowned fashion tailor shared a photo of himself dressed in one of his signature suits alongside a detailed price breakdown.
He explained that, after years of avoiding price disclosure, client demand prompted him to go public about the cost of his creations.
“Due to public demand! For the past decade in the fashion industry, we’ve always avoided displaying our product prices. But you—our esteemed clients—kept asking us to post them. Now that we finally do, the backlash is unreal,” he wrote.
“Funny thing is, the prices haven’t changed at all—we just said them out loud this time! You asked for it, and it’s here to stay. Buckle up, juu bei sasa lazima mjue!”
In his post, Bolo itemized the ensemble he wore, which included a Black Super 250 Scabal Suit (KSh 499,666), White Poplin Shirt (KSh 5,500), Black Oxford Shoes (KSh 12,000), Gold-Coated Stick (KSh 7,000), Warachi Arabia Perfume (KSh 4,500), Black Necktie (KSh 2,500), Silver Tie Pin (KSh 2,500), and Gray Juan Raul Socks (KSh 4,500)—amounting to a total of KSh 538,166.
The post quickly went viral, sparking a nationwide debate over luxury pricing, local fashion, and value perception in Kenya’s creative industry.
Mixed Reactions to Price Reveal
While some fans lauded Bolo for boldly positioning Kenyan fashion within the global luxury space, others found the prices out of reach for ordinary Kenyans.
Some fans reacted with humor. “Oooh improve my financial situation niache kuona ni expensive,” commented @Beatrice Joseph, echoing a sentiment shared by many admirers online.
''4k USD only.. Aki I hope hii nchi fixes life for us tusishtuke hizi bei .'' @collinssojuma added .
Critics, however, accused him of being disconnected from Kenya’s current economic reality.
''The fabric is top tier, but the tailoring makes it look like zile za woria, the single button button jacket looks ruins it in my opinion. '' @ greyed _george commented .
From Sugarcane Seller to Style Icon
Born in Karachuonyo, Homa Bay County, Bolo’s journey to becoming one of Kenya’s most sought-after designers is one marked by grit, discipline, and determination.
His passion for fashion was ignited in high school and college drama clubs, where he admired costume design and stage presentation.
In a past statement, Bolo recalled that his love for cleanliness and modeling naturally evolved into fashion design — a craft he began pursuing seriously around 2014 when he launched his own fashion label, Bespoke City.
ALSO READ: Bolo Bespoke: I used to sell sugarcane in mkokoteni before fame and money
To hone his skills, he later pursued a diploma in fashion design, a step that gave him the technical expertise needed to perfect his tailoring craft.
Earlier this year, Bolo fired back at critics who accused him of showing off, reminding Kenyans of his humble beginnings.
“The whole world knows my story. The entire country knows how I used to suffer 10 years ago selling sugarcane in my mkokoteni along Jogoo Road,” he wrote on Instagram.
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