Crizia
Thanks to his experience in tailoring, upholstery and his diploma in stylism, Krizia decides to open her small business in Zanzibar
Hi Krizia, Welcome to Easy Travel hosting! Live in Zanzibar with your beautiful Italian-Masai family and you are owner of the boutique "Miss Zanzibar Boutique". You could talk to you about you and your work?
Ciao, they are krizia and almost 1 Year and in the middle of the pandemic I decided to change my life again to return to my Zanzibar and throw myself in my artisan project made in Zanzibar.
Here I had lived and found love but after having my daughter for 5 long years I lived between the 2 continents using Tuscany as a base but traveling for several months in Tanzania but without deciding where I wanted to really be.
Finally in March 2021 And after a year and a half of forced stop due to the pandemic we decided to leave any certainty again in Italy and launch ourselves in the void. Here thanks to my experience in tailoring and upholstery (and to my diploma in stylism) I embarked on this small entrepreneurial project.
I draw clothes of clothing and accessories and the craftsmen with whom we collaborate make them with fabric Wax called Kitenge and Batik. We also collaborate with Artisan Masai very skilled to create beads jewels Of like this tribe to whom my life partner also belongs.
Lately we are tightening collaborations also with craftsmen who produce beaded slippers and we are truly proud of what we can produce because our products are unique both aesthetically both from an ethical and sustainability point of view (We have no warehouse stocks and we often work on order by producing only what has been required of us) and contribute to the development of the local community.
Why did you leave Italy to open an activity in Zanzibar?
My love for Zanzibar begins in the distant 2014 When after a holiday I fell in love with the island and a Masai known here (my current partner precisely).
In a few months and after several trips between Tanzania and Zanzibar I start with a one -way ticket to chase my dreams and I leave behind a recently bought house, an indefinite work and a partner.
In Zanzibar I reinvented myself and from the tailoring I went to the management of a hotel that I became a member. Then life brought me back to Italy but now, After several laps and vicissitudes, I came back here where my heart had remained
The fabrics and materials you use for your creations are wonderful. Use all local raw materials and how is the relationship with your suppliers?
I personally take care of choosing and buying the materials with which we make garments and accessories. I go to the colorful markets and choose Batik (who came from Tanzania) and Kitenge with an always attentive eye to quality and colors.
Lately I also have orders from nearby Dar and Salam where the choice and quality are better.
How is it for a woman to open her independent business in Zanzibar and what advice you would feel like giving other women who are thinking of making a similar choice?
I state that Zanzibar and Tanzania are not easy places for many reasons. At the health level, the structures are not of the highest level and for example we have the hospital ad 1 time away, For those who have children, education is paid and the challenges are many daily: We often face electric blackouts, Lack of running water (For those who are not lucky enough to have a well) and difficulties of all kinds (I include the unchanged problem and little attention to the environment, where the waste is thrown away in the open air).
Ecco, Having said that before starting any type of business I always recommend an inspection of a few months to evaluate if Zanzibar really is for you because from a tourist point of view it is undoubtedly a paradise but living there is a completely different thing.
Then know places and people as much as possible. This will help plan and avoid any rip -offs. Having a person of trust and reference is fundamental and above all you will need a good budget available because the costs of residence and works are quite high.
As Easy Travel Hosting will know, use renewable and eco-sustainable energy to power your servers. A tree is also planted for each new hosting, actively helping the reforestation and absorption of CO2. What do you think of this project and in general, Do you think it is important to search for a more sustainable lifestyle?
absolutely yes, I think it is essential to adopt a sustainable lifestyle especially here where as I said the plastic problem has a great environmental impact.
I personally try to avoid any type of packaging by preferring fresh raw materials such as fruit and vegetables. We use solid soaps and buy water in tanks from 20 liters instead of in the bottle.
Easy Travel Hosting Thanks a lot of Krizia for participating in our interview for the address book dedicated to Small female entrepreneurship.
If you want to inform yourself more, You can follow it on social media!
Easy Travel Hosting It is hosting 100% ecological created to measure for travelers by travelers.
You want to tell us about your story? Contact us here.