Kanji From The People is on a mission to support the financial empowerment of Zambian women by connecting Zambia's artisans to people in America and Europe. They specialize in sourcing hand-sewn, non-medical grade face-masks made by local Zambian women from Ndola.

I was introduced to Kanji From The People by a client who recently partnered with Kanji to create custom masks. Their story of giving back is one that serves as an inspiration for anyone trying to make a positive impact in the midst of the pandemic.

The family business started in the 1950s as a small retail shop in the town of Ndola, located in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. The business has stayed in the Patel family across three generations and, in the last thirty years, it has expanded into manufacturing textiles and sourcing handmade products by local artisans.

Mr. Kanji Patel, who started the business, immigrated to the United States with his family some twenty-five or so years ago, hiring locals to operate the business in his absence. He raised his children in the U.S. before returning to Zambia with his wife not too long ago to pick up right where he left off.

When the Coronavirus pandemic first started taking hold around the globe, the Patel family saw the growing need for reusable face masks. Healthcare professionals were facing a shortage of medical-grade disposable masks as everyday people were quickly trying to secure masks for personal use. At the same time at the start of the pandemic, there weren’t many reusable masks available for purchase. In creating Kanji From The People, the Patel family stepped up to fill the demand for more reusable, non-medical face masks.

Making cotton face masks was a new endeavor for most businesses, and the same can be said for Kanji From The People. But, behind every face mask Kanji produces is years of experience in the industry.

Given Mr. Patel’s existing relationships within the local Ndola community, the Kanji team was able to pivot the business and begin making face masks with relative ease. Chuni Kanji Patel worked from Ndola with local suppliers to source the traditional chitenge prints for masks while his digital-savvy grandchildren worked from California to get the online storefront operational. A desire to give back was at the heart of the enterprise from the start.

What started as an impact project that connected a grandfather in Africa to his grandkids thousands of miles away, has grown into Kanji From The People – a for-profit business that’s making a difference with every sale.

In August, Mr. Chuni Patel sadly passed away after contracting coronavirus. His family, who he worked with closely to bring this beautiful project to life, were both heartbroken and devastated. In light of his passing, his family envisions Kanji From The People as an opportunity to not only continue his legacy of helping those in need, but to extend it. They have set ambitious impact goals that will positively impact people in Zambia and the United States.

Kanji From The People’s commitment to giving back

As a social enterprise, Kanji From The People has found multiple ways to positively impact communities around the world.

Creating jobs
Kanji From The People employs women in Zambia who would otherwise have difficulty finding stable work. With steady employment, Kanji’s workers are being empowered contributing to the local economy

Giving back to nonprofits in need
Kanji From The People has pledged to donate 5% of all proceeds to nonprofit organizations. The company’s goal is to raise $100,000 for non-profit organizations in Zambia. At the time of our interview, the company had already donated more than two thousand dollars.

Helping combat COVID-19 with face masks donations.
Kanji’s goal is to donate at least 100,000 masks to non-profit organizations in the United States. To date, Kanji From The People has donated more than 3,500 masks to people in need.

Face masks by Kanji From The People

Kanji’s face masks go beyond a beautiful family story and unique African prints. Their masks are designed to address some of the biggest issues with traditional medical masks and some cotton masks we’ve come across in the last year.

• Adjustability. Every mask is equipped with elastic bands with adjustable ear loops, so heads of all sizes can adjust to find the perfect fit.
• Breathable. A double layer cotton blend adds extra protection while also staying breathable.
• Hand-sewn. Hand-sewn by women artisans in Zambia.
• Sustainable. These masks are durable enough to be washed and used over and over, which cuts down on landfill waste.
• Unique prints. The bold colors and designs of the chitenge fabric stand out (in a good way!). Also, no two masks are the same.

Chitenge, Zambia’s colorful fabric
Chitenge (often spelled Kitenge), is a fabric that’s heavily used in many parts of the African continent, including Zambia, where Kanji From The People’s fabric is sourced and where the artisans making each mask live. The chitenge prints are very colorful and versatile; the fabric is most often used in clothes, headwraps, baby slings, and blankets. And now, as the entire world continues to fight the Coronavirus pandemic, Kanji is taking beautiful chitenge fabric and sewing it into stunning face masks. Given the traditional chitenge prints used to create many of the masks, every mask has its own unique design.

Beyond face masks

Since the start of the pandemic, many businesses have pivoted in response to the constantly changing COVID-19 crisis. Kanji From The People is one business that’s found an inspiring way to create impact while also giving back.

So what does the future look like for Kanji From The People? The family-owned business plans to continue selling face masks and also add new product lines to the collection. They’ve already added hair accessories that are made using the beautiful chitenge fabrics of Zambia.

In addition to expanding the brand’s product lines, the entire family hopes to carry on the legacy of Kanji Patel, the charitable and compassionate family patriarch who worked tirelessly to help those around him.

To learn more about Kanji From The People or to purchase new face masks that make an impact, head to their website.