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Zeebaan has been supplying boutiques in Nairobi with deluxe leather bags. Their wares are sold at Adelphi in Yaya Centre and Sarit Centre and Blue Rhino in ABC Place, Village Market and the Junction. The owners of the label now feel it’s time to open their own shop.

“People like our products and they will come and see what we have,” says Yonatan Kesete, the managing director.
The past four years was spent building a workshop near Yaya Centre.

The change in business strategy, say Kesete and Merry Berhe Woldelibanos, the head of design, is aimed at better marketing as well as to allow the company to respond faster to customer demands.

Born in Ethiopia, the two met in Nairobi and in 2007 started Zeebaan; which means ‘be on top’ in the Eritrean Tigrina language.
The firm has come up with unique designs using quality leather with a touch of African and Western styles. According to its Web site, their designs “reflect the blue of the sky, the rich reds of the earth, the yellow ochres of the desert, the gold colour of the bush, and the coral of the sea”.

The bags are lined with bright African textiles; kitenge, kanga and kikoy. They also recycle beads, old tyres for soles as well as horns which are used for decorations.

“We want to give you something you will always talk about,” says Kesete of the products.

Selling ladies handbags between Sh5,000 to Sh9,000, the label has grown through word of mouth and exhibiting at crafts fairs like Soko Soko, Eco-Fair and Bizare Bazaar. Zeeban’s product range has also grown to include belts, sandals, wallets, sunglass pouches and jewellery.

Ms Woldelibanos chose to design and make leather bags to stand out from the large number of clothing designers already in the market. She also considered the availability of second-hand clothes (mitumba) and competition from the mass-produced clothes from the Far East.

Furthermore, Kenyans buy designer clothes only for special occasions, unlike bags which are an essential everyday accessory for women.