CRISIS
Thanks to her experience in tailoring, upholstery and her diploma in styling, Krizia decides to open her small business in Zanzibar
Ciao Krizia, benvenuta ad Easy Travel Hosting! Vivi a Zanzibar con la tua bellissima famiglia Italo-Masai e sei proprietaria della boutique "Miss Zanzibar Boutique". Ci potresti parlare un po di te e del tuo lavoro?
Hi, I'm Krizia and for 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 into my Made in Zanzibar artisan project.
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 really wanted to stay.
Finally in March 2021 and after a year and a half of forced stop due to the pandemic we decided to leave all certainties in Italy again and launch ourselves into the void. Here, thanks to my experience in tailoring and upholstery (and my diploma in stylistics) I undertook this small entrepreneurial project.
I design clothing and accessories and the artisans we collaborate with make them with wax fabrics called Kitenge and Batik. Furthermore we also collaborate with artisans Masai very skilled at creating beaded jewellery Of like this tribe to which my life partner also belongs.
Lately we have also been establishing collaborations with artisans who produce beaded slippers and we are really proud of what we are able to produce because our products are unique both aesthetically and from an ethical and sustainability point of view (we have no warehouse stock and we often work to order producing only what has been requested) and contribute to the development of the local community.
Why did you leave Italy to open a business in Zanzibar?
My love for Zanzibar began way back in 2014 when, after a holiday, I fell in love with the island and with a Masai I met here (my current partner).
In a few months and after several trips between Tanzania and Zanzibar I leave with a one-way ticket to pursue my dreams and leave behind a recently bought house, a permanent job and a partner.
In Zanzibar I reinvented myself and moved from tailoring to managing a hotel of which I became a partner. Then life brought me back to Italy but now, after various turns and vicissitudes, I have returned here where my heart remained
The fabrics and materials you use for your creations are wonderful. Do you all use local raw materials and what is the relationship like 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 (which came from Tanzania) and Kitenge with an eye always attentive to quality and colours.
Lately I've also been ordering from nearby Dar ed Salam where the choice and quality are better.
What is it like for a woman to open her own independent business in Zanzibar and what advice would you give to other women who are thinking of making a similar choice?
Let me start by saying that Zanzibar and Tanzania are not easy places for many reasons. At a healthcare level the facilities are not of the highest level and for example we have the hospital 1 hour away, for those with children education is paid and the daily challenges are many: we often face electricity blackouts, lack of running water (for those who are not lucky enough to have their own well) and difficulties of all kinds (I include the problem of rubbish and little attention to the environment, where waste is thrown into the open air).
Well, having said this, before starting any type of business I always recommend an inspection of a few months to evaluate whether Zanzibar is really right for you because from a tourist point of view it is undoubtedly a paradise but living there is a completely different thing.
Then get to know as much about places and people as possible. This will help you plan and avoid any rip-offs. Having a trusted and reference person is essential and above all you will need a good budget available because the costs of residence and work are quite high.
As you know, Easy Travel Hosting uses renewable and eco-sustainable energy to power its servers. Furthermore, a tree is planted for each new hosting, actively helping reforestation and the absorption of CO2. What do you think of this project and in general, do you think it is important to seek a more sustainable lifestyle?
absolutely yes, I believe it is essential to adopt a sustainable lifestyle especially here where, as I was saying, the plastic problem has a great environmental impact.
I personally try to avoid any type of packaging, preferring fresh raw materials such as fruit and vegetables. We use solid soaps and buy water in 20-liter cans rather than bottles.
Easy Travel Hosting thanks Krizia very much for taking part in our interview for the column dedicated to Small Business for Women.
If you want to find out more, you can follow her on social media!
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