Kelechi Anyadiegwu loved the vibrant colors and fascinating patterns of African fabrics and often received compliments on her clothing and accessories that were made from those traditional fabrics. She was always willing to refer people to the designers of this clothing, but realized there was an opportunity in the e-commerce world for an African-inspired marketplace. Kelechi, age 24, had earned a Masters in Computer-Human Interaction from Carnegie Melon University, and in May 2014 she combined her savvy in the tech world with her passion for the traditional fabrics of the African Continent and created Zuvaa. In the Shona language of Zimbabwe, “zuva” means sunshine. Kelechi chose the name to “represent the vibrant and radiant African culture and how customers’ personal light shines through their fashionable style.”
As a woman of Nigerian descent the beauty and vibrancy of the traditional patterns were not only desirable from a fashion perspective, but connected Kelechi to her African roots in an exciting and meaningful way. Her vision was to “connect artisans with consumers globally looking for unique and one-of-kind African inspired products. …. Our distribution-based model promotes export and trade between countries on the African continent and the rest of the world.” The Zuvaa website not only features the clothing, but creates a global community by including background stories about the culture and experiences of the designers.
Zuvaa grew quickly. In 2016 Forbes included Kelechi in its “30 Under 30” listing. In a CNN.com interview on July 7, 2016, speaking of the designers, she noted that “People are excited that their traditional prints are going global…. Many are fascinated with the market that exists outside of Africa and how the global interest is trickling down to their local communities.” It was estimated that Zuvaa would reach $2 million in sales that year.
On September 2, 2017, Zuvaa partnered with the Center for Civil and Human RIghts in Atlanta, Georgia, for a one-day exhibition celebrating the history of traditional head wraps and adornments, and in November 2017, Essence Magazine named Kelechi as one of “Fifty Founders to Watch.”
Success came faster than was expected and Kelechi admits that her company did not have a strong enough infrastructure to successfully handle such a rapidly growing enterprise. She describes 2017 as a very tough year, and acknowledges the need to redesign her business model and improve her website. But her dream of connecting designers in Africa with consumers around the globe is very much alive and Kelechi is committed to seeking out the best talent and support she can find in order to realize that dream.
*The company website is no longer available. This company may no longer be in business. For details see this letter from the Zuvaa CEO.
