Ecodunia is a social enterprise dedicated to creating dignified work opportunities and breaking the cycle of poverty, while making high-quality, Fairtrade products that honor both the producers and the earth. The company fosters sustainable opportunities for skill development and capacity-building - and then provides the opportunities to utilize those skills. Like Trevor Noah insightfully noted, teaching someone to fish is essential, but without a fishing rod, the lesson is insufficient. They hone the skills, provide the space to use them effectively, and create a market for the goods.
Ecodunia follows the supply chain of its products from the Kenyan farmers who grow the cotton, to the woman-owned cotton mill in Thika, Kenya, to their own workshop in Nairobi's eastland, to their customers. Founder, Cera Muchiri, explains that they work hard to ensure that everyone along the entire supply chain is treated with dignity. The cotton in their material, for example, comes from a coop of small-scale cotton farmers who are guaranteed fair prices before they plant, helping to ensure a viable living for farmers with rarely more than an acre to dedicate to cotton. Additionally, many of their bags and wallets have interior highlights made with traditional Kenya "kitenge" fabric, made from the remnants from dress-makers, This ads a subtle, lively touch to the interiors, while maintaining the simple and clean look that has come to define Ecodunia's designs.
With workshops in Nairobi and a retail store in Chicago, Ecodunia is more than just a business; it's a manifestation of a belief in a sustainable and inclusive economy. Every product tells a story of local craftsmanship and our commitment to fair-trade practices.
Founding Story
Cera grew up on a small subsistence farm in Kenya. At the age of nine, her grandmother’s home and farm were burned down during a civil war. With their home gone, her family moved to a Nairobi slum, where her mom traveled two hours each way to work - and still didn’t have enough to make ends meet. Cera didn’t need to spend two years in the Peace Corps to know just how hard life is for the people who have been left behind by the global economy. So, when she got the opportunity to study international development and entrepreneurship at UCLA, she did it with a clear goal in mind: to return to create dignified work opportunities in Kenya. She knew that her community doesn’t need charity - they need opportunity.
In 2019, Ecodunia began with months of developing relationships with cotton farmers, weavers, leather tanners, and craftspeople. We insist on ethical, fairtrade practices for her employees as well as everyone along our supply chain. Cera designed bags and wallets, trained tailors and leather workers, and slowly, the first Ecodunia products were made. Two years later, she built a workshop in Nairobi’s Eastlands - right where the jobs are needed! The workshop has lots of natural light, a beautiful garden in front, and two meals served up daily.
"Dunia" is the Swahili word for the World. The name Ecodunia reflects the organization's commitment to the planet and the people. They believe that fair-trade is not just about paying fair prices, but about guaranteeing a livalbe income. They provide benefits that we believe all people should be entitled to: livable salaries (as opposed to wages), paid time off, paid sick leave, and two meals each day. Ecodunia is committed to the people and the planet - fair trade top to bottom!
Cera's passion lies in fostering positive social change through entrepreneurship. She grew up in rural Kenya, her early childhood spent on her grandmother’s farm. All of this changed when at the age of nine, their farm was destroyed in the civil war. She became internally displaced and moved to the slums in Nairobi, where her whole family was crammed in a small one-room home, much of our daily struggles correlated with lack of resources and opportunities. And it was that experience, and the ensuing years, that put her on a path to lift up these communities.
She had the opportunity to study international development and entrepreneurship at UCLA, where she focused on using entrepreneurship as a way to alleviate poverty. She opened a workshop in Nairobi, where they make beautiful bags, canvas, and leather goods. Ecodunia is about creating great bags that do good with a focus on using renewable materials made by small-scale producers. She now runs a brick and mortar store in Chicago and online at Ecodunia.com.
Cera's passion lies in fostering positive social change through entrepreneurship. Ecodunia is more than a business; it's a catalyst for empowering communities and eradicating generational poverty and creating a truly equitable future for all.
Matthew is a film producer who believes that good stories need to be told. He has run several production companies and served as VP of Production and Development for Mili Picture International. He now brings that expertise to operations and fair trade production at Ecodunia. He joined Ecodunia because the best stories sometimes come to life in the real world. Ecodunia is a good story that has become a great reality.
