Hidden Stories

By Medini Shah

Everywhere we look, there are hidden stories, things unseen.

1. A Story in Strength

Just like how the recycled felt that gives our bags structure, strength and reinforcement is hidden, so too is human inner strength and resilience. Sometimes, what is unseen is the most important part of a story.

You see, we have the power to change worlds.

Nicholas, our brass artisan, didn’t have sufficient funds to go to university but his resilience carved him into a master metalsmith of brass craftsmanship. He creates our powerful, handmade brass emblems that are inspired by ancient African royalty. He imparts his resilience and creativity into each handmade emblem.

Behind the brass emblem, a hidden story revealed...

2. A Story in Community

Just like the hidden technical expertise and craftsmanship that allows a heavy panel to be supported by a lighter material (no easy feat!), our communities support us and give us a sense of belonging. Communities remind us that we are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves.

William is the man behind our gorgeous hardware. He has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and has created his own brass business after mastering the craft through an apprenticeship. He is proud to have created jobs and opportunities for others in his community. His years of expertise and essence of community spirit are fashioned into each handmade hardware piece.

Behind the hardware, a hidden story revealed...

3. A Story in Connection

Just as the journey that materials take from cultivation to finish are not always seen, the journeys we personally take are rich in hidden stories.

The courage and bravery of my own grandparents meant migrating from their village in India to Kenya, a land that they had never even seen before, during British colonial rule. A knock-on effect was felt by so many in the next generations, not necessarily fully belonging in their new home as they were children of immigrants, but never feeling like their parents’ and grandparents’ original home countries were their's. So many different cultures instilled within us, our parents' and grandparents’ Indian culture and values, the culture of our own country, Kenya, and of course, Western influences that trickled through colonial rule. Not to mention the readjustments you have to make when you move countries again.

But with this feeling of misplacement, came a very different recognition...

Actually, we are all just children of the Earth.

My story and the story of my family is a part of Ziimara's story. Into each design and practice, I imbue this feeling of connection with the Earth. Into each piece, I impart a sense of merging cultures and belonging that reflect my own history, but I'm sure is something that you can relate to in your own story.

Behind Ziimara, a hidden story revealed...