Some of the best business partnerships are born out of friendship and passion. Dana Jaber and Rasha Abdelhadi had been friends for 20 years before they launched their business. Jaber previously worked in marketing-related jobs and was also special projects officer at the office of HRH Princess Haya bint Hussein, while Abdelhadi curated photo exhibits and worked in media companies. They both had a passion for discovering new talents – and so last year launched Kinzzi, an e-tail platform that is all about those hidden gems.
Kinzzi means treasure in Arabic, and the duo’s goal is to give small creative businesses a place to sell their products. You can find a mix of fashion, décor and design pieces on the website. While products are sourced from all the over the world, there is a definite focus on talent from the MENA region. “On a joint trip to Sri Lanka, we bonded over our mutual love for all things interiors, fashion, art and design, while further cementing our vision to start something of our own,” says Jaber. They saw a gap in the market for digital destinations that focused on independent brands. Being eclectic is their mantra and what makes them stand apart from other platforms. “Kinzzi offers a creative directory of industry professionals that have been carefully vetted by our team,” says Abdelhadi. Local fashion brands on the site include Dee by Dalia, Reema Ameer and Sana Osmani.
Launching in the midst of the pandemic means that the two women have kept things to being “digital first” for now, but they plan to also host physical curated events in Dubai soon. They’re also keeping their offerings agile and suited to seasonal shifts. Right now, beachwear is their top seller, and occasions like Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day have driven up the sales of jewelry. “We are also seeing a spike in wellness products, as customers have become more health conscious,” says Jaber. The two partners will be working to expand their line of products in 2021.
