Zazi Vintage is a luxurious fashion label that embraces and promotes traditional ethnic craftsmanship - a collaboration project including artisans from all over the word, where the emphasis is placed on sustainability and women's economic and social independence.
Jeanne ZIZI Margot de Kroon, the founder of Zazi Vintage, having worked for a big and unethical retail company, decides to completely quit the modeling industry and focus studies and worldwide women empowerment projects because as she says:
"Fashion for me means story telling and the stories of the clothes I wear have to resonate to my beliefs. Because of this, I now no longer shop in chain stores, big companies or online. From countries like Guatemala to India, Lithuania to Ethiopia, I have gathered my wardrobe and found the most intriguing and inspiring pieces that all carry a unique story and connect me to another time, place and or person.
I want people to know exactly where their clothes are coming from, by who they are being found by and exactly who they are supporting with their purchases. Portraying both these sides, I believe I can create a bridge, passing over what I have learned and continue to learn but also receiving lessons from the women of all corners of this wonderfully weird and beautiful planet earth that we are apart of".
The label works with artisans in Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, India and Afghanistan. Current collections are produced with small families and women-empowering NGOs, such as the Institute for Philanthropy and Humanitarian Development in India.
Their vintage story is divided into 5 chapters:
The Kuchi Dress
When a woman of the Afghanistan's Kuchi tribe got married, she wore one of these dresses combined with a Chador (head scarf) and tun ban (pants). Just one of these dresses takes about 4 to 6 months of handwork. The dense embroidery of the dresses arranging from heavy woven beadwork to special stitched coins that they found on their journey to the border of Pakistan combined with the rich materials of Silk, velvet and lighter woven work, make the dress a very special one.
The Baluchi Dress
Baluch women put on loose dresses and pants with sophisticated and colourful needlework, including a large pocket at the front of the dress to hold their accessories. The upper part of the dress and sleeves are also decorated with needlework, a form of artistry that is specific to the clothing of the Baloch women. Often the dress also contains round or square pieces of glass to further enhance the presentation.
The Suzani Coats
The collection is comprised of the most detailed handmade Suzani embroidery from Tajikistan, matched up with vintage Mongolian sleep rugs that were inspired by the Afghan Coats.
Zazi & Saheli
The collaboration of Zazi with their NGO partner in Bhikamkor
Ikat
All of Zazi's Ikat woven dresses are handmade and are one of a kind. For this collection they worked with vintage IKAT from the border of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.
