In a continent marred by cultural hybridisation, adoption of western cultures and persistent land pollution , Krafted Ink has stood its ground on advocating for the reduction of waste, creation of sustainable cities and embracing the beauty of African culture.
Krafted Ink was founded by Gladys Chibanda, a prominent Zimbabwean businesswoman, in July 2017 with the aim of celebrating the vibrant and diverse African cultures and to reduce the negative impacts caused by textile waste material.
By modifying discarded textiles into exceptional gift packaging products and stationery, the company has managed to produce sustainable and eco-friendly products.
As the firm’s CEO, Gladys Chibanda realised that Zimbabwe and Africa have for longest of time lacked a reminder in terms of the negative impact of adopting some western qualities and the importance of Afro culture fusion that emphasize economic growth and sustainability.
She went ahead and established Krafted Ink as a reminding tool, to champion the adoption of Afro cultural fusion concept through the use of waste textile fabric in Zimbabwe and Africa at large.
“At Kraffted Ink, we believe that stories should be shared, cultures celebrated and our planet cherished. Its about the narratives we create together. The journey began with a simple idea, to transform discarded fabrics into elegant, sustainable treasures that weave together a tapestry of history, artistry and eco-conscious living”, she noted.
Her journey as the founder of Krafted Ink reflects on her passion and commitment to fostering both socio- cultural connections and economic growth in Zimbabwe and beyond. Her vision places her on a regional board of female entrepreneurs as a formidable force in the fight against negative cultural assimilations and adoption of western culture.
“I am passionate about reducing textile waste and fostering unity through our designs”, Gladys added in relation to her mission- driven approach in Afro cultural fusion.
Products and Services
Located in Harare CBD, Krafted Ink offers a range of products including notebooks, gift bags, handmade African print fans, gift boxes and gift sets made by African print fabric. Some of the products they offer include packaging designing and manufacturing.
Through their exceptionally crafted products, Krafted Ink has become an internationally recognised firm for its innovations in promoting African heritage and overall creativity.
According to statistics, the global gift wrapping products market is expected to grow up to USD$24.9 billion and this will surely see, the industry thrives and Krafted Ink is no exception as it has harmoniously integrated with other entities in terms of business and curbing the ongoing environmental crisis.
Krafted Ink is more than just an entrepreneurial success story or business, rather it is a community of individuals, organisations committed to cultural appreciation and sustainability as she often admits that she also drew inspiration from other trailblazing business leaders.
Inspiration for establishment of Krafted Ink
The idea of launching Krafted Ink was initially influenced by her social background. Growing up in a high density community surrounded by huge volumes of discarded textiles, she developed a deeper passion to eliminate the detrimental effects caused by such environmental issues.
Initially, Gladys confirmed that growing up, her mother was a multi skilled businesswoman who juggled to balance between taking care of her and her 4 siblings and her businesses. From an early age, Gladys was involved in her mother’s business and this ignited her passion to be, “her own boss” as she humorously noted.
Additionally, Gladys confirms she also started Krafted Ink to stay in touch with her artistry side as her late father was a talented artist and she inherited that passion from him.
“The inception of Krafted Ink was a pivotal moment in my entrepreneurial journey. It brought together my love for creativity, sustainability and cultural celebration. Starting Krafted Ink allowed me to combine my skills and passion in a way that resonated deeply with me”, she explained.
As an entrepreneur, she also recognised the growing demand of such unique products specifically in the international landscape and firmly believes that creating meaningful products is a guaranteed way of succeeding hence the birth of Krafted Ink.
“Of course we have local markets, but our products dominate on the international market”, she explained.
She excitedly confirmed that Krafted Ink products will be launched this December on the United States market. This move marks yet another significant milestone that Gladys has reached in her entrepreneurial journey.
From championing African Heritage to transforming the African Digital Landscapes.
Young as she is, Gladys is a multi-talented businesswoman. With a strong digital marketing background education, she is the current Vice President of the Internet Society of Zimbabwe since 2023.
Under her leadership, she has assisted in the navigation of the digital landscapes in the country. Her involvement in the digital landscape is fuelled by her great need to give back to her community.
Recently, she excitedly announced the launch of the EmpowerZim Women project which is aimed at presenting life changing opportunities to women through enhancing their digital skills to manage their business start-ups.
“As the Vice President of the Internet Society Zimbabwe Chapter and Project Lead, I am happy to announce the successful launch of the EmpowerZim Women Project, marked by an inspiring stakeholders’ meeting this past Saturday.”, she exclaimed.
“This initiative is deeply personal to me as it aligns with my passion for empowering women with digital skills, bridging the digital divide and fostering economic inclusion”, she added.
As a certified digital marketer from a family with strong entrepreneurial background, Gladys also specialises in brand identity and graphic design and digital marketing and has consistently shown her unwavering commitment to drive innovation and excellence.
Apart from being the company’s owner, Gladys is also hugely involved in the daily activities at Krafted Ink as a full time designer.
Achievements and Notable Accolades
Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Gladys has received an impressive number of awards and commendations for her excellent work that has transformed many livelihoods and garnered regional and international attention.
Outstandingly, she was also selected as a finalist for the CBZ Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP). Her achievements include the prestigious Top Entrepreneur 30 under 30 Zimbabwe award by Maycdo Lead (2022) and recognition from the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2019.
As a testament to her exceptional skills, Gladys has been invited as a guest speaker and panelist to numerous events including youth-led start-up workshops. Notably, she was also named one of the top 100 Most Influential Persons in Africa (2024) and an under 40 innovative entrepreneur in Africa among other notable achievements.
The power of responsibility, connections and Commitment
As a leader, Gladys understands and has on multiple occasions emphasized on the issues of responsibility, quality control and commitment to making the environment people live in, habitable and sustainable.
Through Krafted Ink, she has continuously shown the power of uplifting African Heritage over adoption of other cultures and its importance in the socioeconomic growth.
She has also accredited her success to the power of social connection with other entrepreneurs as key to both individual growth and business expansion.
“Both my family and other entrepreneurs were my support system throughout the entire journey and it is always important to engage with other business people because they relate with the challenges you are facing. They advise you on the right way to tackle such problems”, Gladys revealed.
Some of the major challenges she has encountered include; lack of funding, heavy business losses and lack of brand appreciation in the local ecosystem.
However, in her pursuit to make a positive impact, Gladys has shown an unwavering sense of determination and passion to curb all environmental problems while giving back to her community.
She has significantly contributed to the economic growth of the country while maintaining the African heritage through her excellent skills and craftsmanship.
