CREATIVE designer Chido Murasiranwa, who is also the founder of the Dhuba handcrafted brand, believes crocheting is therapeutic and has become her space for meditation and unlimited creativity.
The self-taught designer told NewsDay Life & Style that crocheting improved her confidence when creating new pieces, provided a platform to brainstorm ideas and allowed her to meditate and pray.
Her creative journey began in the wedding industry where she made a name for herself by creating unique wedding stationery. However, with a burning passion for timeless art and a desire to express and challenge her creativity, she found herself crocheting.
“I have been designing and selling crochet products since 2019 under the Dhuba brand. Since then, I have amassed a following of happy and satisfied customers from all over the world. I have also accessorised popular celebrities in the country,” Murasiranwa said.
The creative designer enjoyed an honour of working with famous personalities like MisRed born Samantha Musa and popular contemporary artiste Jah Prayzah whom she described as an artiste at heart allowing her to be creative without limitation.
Murasiranwa said being creative was a lifelong journey and she found herself searching for new ways to grow and challenge herself as a designer by adding home accessories to their brand.
“We launched our home accessories range in July last year and it has been well-received both on the local and international markets. We recently showcased our home collection at the Birmingham Spring in February. The event was a success as we managed to secure new buyers from all over the globe,” she said.
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Murasiranwa, however, noted that although the country had talented artisans, they lacked exposure to international and regional markets.
“The challenging aspect of handmade crafts for many Zimbabwean artisans is price, they tend to be more expensive than mass produced items and not all customers are willing and able to pay a premium price. This can lead to a smaller customer base and a more competitive market. It is also a challenge to get our products to international markets and many artists lack exposure.” she said.
Murasiranwa urged other creative designers to put their hearts into their craft, be passionate about it and take pride in their work while investing precious time and effort needed to make their dreams a reality.
Dhuba is a home and fashion accessories company, operating in the country but serving clients from all over the globe. The name Dhuba means zebra in Ndau a Zimbabwean dialect and they believe the animal with its elegant, distinctive and unique stripes inspires every piece of their designs.
Their crochet products are uniquely handcrafted by female artisans targeting clients who have an appreciation for unique and timeless art.
