Founded in Nairobi by Chebet Mutai, the Kenyan brand Wazawazi designs, produces and distributes lifestyle products such as Afrocentric home goods, leather accessories and pet adornments from ethically and sustainably sourced materials, 100% handmade in Kenya. Mutai, who started Wazawazi 11 years ago, is eager to launch her brand in the City of Chicago and is working with other local apparel designers and manufacturers to make it happen. She recently spoke with the Southland Marquee to tell her story, which shaped the mission behind the brand.

SM: Can you please tell us more about where you grew up?  

I grew up in a town in Kenya called Nakuru. It's the world home of flamingos and about three hours from Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. 

SM: Where did you go to high school?

I went to a great private boarding school in the highlands of Kenya called Sacho High School. It was the most scenic place I had ever been to, and had state-of-the-art learning facilities. It was an intense four years because, being a national school founded by one of our former presidents, Moi, who was a teacher before getting into politics, top grades were expected. A lot of academic pressure was put on us. We did great and all 99 of us were admitted to national universities.

SM: Where did you go to college?

I went to a public university in Kenya where I received a bachelor's degree in economics and French language. I (have) wanted to work in economic development ever since I was a child because I was aware of the consequences of socioeconomic inequality.

SM: Can you give an overview of your educational background that pertains to your company/position?

I started the company in 2012 because I wanted to be more proactive in solving socioeconomic issues through sustainable, long-term opportunity creation for my people. 

By studying economics in university and working at the world's largest multilateral agency, the World Bank Group, I thought that I would have a magic wand that I would wave and make everyone equal. 

It turns out that conscious trade is the magic wand that will, at the bare minimum, reduce human suffering, if not make it go away.

SM: Can you give an overview of your business?

At Wazawazi we use high-quality, ethically and sustainably sourced materials to produce handmade Afrocentric home goods, leather accessories and pet adornments. Our skilled artisans make one-of-a-kind fine handwoven baskets, using sisal sourced from local farms. Wazawazi is a:

• Human-focused brand, directly employing 20 artisans, who we train on the job, to the professional level. Their high attention to detail makes our products stand out from our competitors.  

• Design-centered, taking inspiration from centuries-old African indigenous leather crafting, beading and weaving traditions.

• Impact-driven, sustaining communities, supply chains and ensuring future generations are able to access education.  

Our social purpose runs through everything that we do. It informs our strategic approach and commitment to creating lasting social impact in the communities we work with. Our ESG initiatives focus on youth, families and building employment opportunities.

SM: How long has your business been operational?

Eleven years. 

SM: What aspects of your business make it unique/why do people want to transact with you? 

I left a promising career in economics at the World Bank in Kenya to establish Wazawazi in 2012. I wanted to stop theorizing about the impact and instead be an agent of change. I wanted to provide practical solutions to everyday problems in Africa through value creation. At Wazawazi, we are passionate about entrepreneurship as a tool to add value to the lives of indigenous Kenyans. 

SM: Where do you see the business going in the next five years? 

An international people-first, design-driven, impact-focused, Afro-genetically influenced lifestyle brand with global reach. Basically who we are today, but on steroids. 

SM: What kind of feedback have you gotten from your clients?

Our clients love that we are authentically and unapologetically African and Afrocentric and have premium quality, functional well-thought designs and expressive pieces. They are our biggest ambassadors.

SM: What made you first interested in working in this field?

It's really simple for me. I wanted to tell my African story to the world and I wanted to create beautiful, yet highly functional pieces for people who are authentic, expressive and open-minded. 

I am a cultural ambassador, a teller of African stories through this mid-luxury brand. I am one of those Africans crazy enough to think that they can change things. 

Entrepreneurship built America. It is building Africa today. 

SM: What made you go into this field/start this business?

I realized talking the walk and walking the talk are two different things, so I decided to actually do something about positively, sustainably and in collaboration with allies interested in the same positive goals that guide our brand. 

SM: Tell us about your family. Are you married? Have kids? 

I have three kids, aged 14, 15 and 17. I am a single mum and I am happy to say that my kids are amazing, kind and balanced humans. 

SM: What plans do you have for the future?

Big plans!

SM: What other information would you like to share with readers?

I would like to invite your readers to join me in this audacious ambition to do good through conscious consumption, cultural inclusion and a broad social impact while looking great and designing their lives.

SM: What marketing trends are you seeing right now in the vertical industry/space?

I think the rest of the world is finally catching up with us. We were grounded in social impact, environmentally conscious and culturally expressive before it was good and fashionable for brands to be so. Thankfully, consumers are not as gullible as brands wish they were. Conscious consumers are going to demand better from brands, and therein lies the redemption for brands like Wazawazi.

As far as design goes, I see more consumers being open-minded in including culturally diverse items in their daily lives so long as they are premium, well-designed and meet their user needs. While cultural appropriation is a big issue, consumers aren't so gullible and call it out when it happens. 

SM: What has been the biggest challenge in the industry/space right now? 

Accessing capital as a social impact brand was hard because a lot of funding was solely focused on capitalist returns. (The) impact of human lives did not have a value. However, the tide is changing with the rise of impact and angel investing. 

SM: Where do you see the biggest opportunity in the industry/space?

With the democratization of markets because of internet penetration.