Last year, this week.. I was in Tunisia!

Since this moment marked a pivotal point in ZOUZIN's creation, I found interesting to share a glimpse of what I have experienced and why it was so important for ZOUZIN's development. Are you ready to embark with me on a trip to Tunisia?..

THE BEFORE:

At home in USA, from behind a laptop, the time was to gather, take in and organize a lot of information...until a point was reached where it became clear that I needed to be IN Tunisia to test the idea or the emerging project of mine rather.

The tickets were booked the same day of this realization:

I'll be there the first week of October 2023.

I first wanted to organize the trip on a professional, corporate manner, and that did not quite work out as planned. I quickly realized that 1) understanding Tunisian customs was essential, 2) I did even know exactly what to expect. 

There "trust the process" became my guiding motto! 

THE TRIP

I was coming from New York, and she was coming from Bordeaux, France. We met at Paris Orly Airport for our departure to Tunis, the capital. SHE is my sister, who decided she wouldn't miss out on my new adventure. I am so grateful for that! 

Not only were we thrilled to see each other again, but we were also excited about what awaited us.

Upon arrival at Tunis airport, the networking began. The rental car agent, a trusted contact of my uncle, provided me with the name and number of an olive wood artisan near our hometown. We decided to meet him later that week.

I had planned a few stops from New York, but the rest turned into a fortunate chain of meetings based on recommendations.

24H in and I was entirely integrating the concept of trusting the process, I was experiencing the outcomes ...already! 

IN TUNIS

> I was in contact with a few logistic companies from USA and one of them had recently bought a French company in Tunis, I have decided to pay them a visit at the Port of Radés. This was paramount to try and understand the cogs of transportation. I ended up using their services to import ZOUZIN first merchandise. 

> We discover La Maison de l'Artisanat at Den Den (Den Den House of handicrafts), which centralises more than 40 artisans in different arts and act as a shop window for the Tunisian handicraft. We met passionated people and I loved it 

> The old word was calling and we had the best time exploring the Medina of Tunis, soaking in all the colors, smells and mellow life of its vaulted passages.  

> We couldn’t resist stopping for a coffee at La Goulette, a port filled with countless stories.

IN KELIBIA  

Our adventure continued towards Kélibia, located in the beautiful Cap Bon region, where the sea and atmosphere took our breath away. It was one of the stops I had planned all the way from New York.

> There, we had the privilege of meeting Moncef, who is a b2b partner. It was amazing to realize how much we shared the same values and mission: a deep desire to bring the beauty of Tunisian craftsmanship to the world stage, empowering the local diverse artisans.

Came the time to go but it was late and we were feeling exhausted. We decided to treat ourselves to a stay at a beautiful hotel on our way south. We enjoyed a fabulous dinner and a much-needed restful night at Africa Jade Thalasso Hotel in Korba.

IN NABEUL

The next morning, we headed south and stopped on our way to check on Nabeul ceramic tradition. The town is renowned for its exquisite, hand-painted pottery, where generations of artisans have perfected their craft. Nabeul’s ceramics are a blend of art and heritage, showcasing intricate designs and vibrant colors that reflect Tunisia’s cultural tapestry.

> we had the pleasure of meeting Monia, the brilliant mind behind Ekho Design. She came highly recommended by the transporters earlier that week, and we quickly understood why. Monia, a passionate and generous spirit, dedicated three hours of her time to share her inspiring journey. A university professor with a doctorate in Arts Sciences and Technics, her career has been nothing short of remarkable.

IN SFAX ... and Mahares, hometown.

With full hearts and minds, we were so excited to hit the road again, this time heading towards Mahares, my hometown! ❤ We spent about 36 very productive hours there, visiting dear family members, handling personal affairs, and meeting two artisans in the nearby town of Sfax, just a 30-minute drive away.

> Remember the olive wood artisan we heard about at the airport? It was finally time to meet him. We had a wonderful time in his showroom and workshop, and we connected immediately. Brahim is truly a pleasure to work with!

> We also had the pleasure of meeting the sweetest woman, Hanane, who works with natural fibers like linen, cotton, and woven jute. We discovered her charming showroom at her home, where she welcomed us with stunning Tunisian sweets that she had made herself. It was such a warm and delightful experience!

AT THE END OF THE DAY...

The trip was an absolute necessity to find some artisan partnerships in Tunisia and a great success overall!

I was deeply moved by how warmly the ZOUZIN project was received by everyone. It fueled my passion then, and even more so now, to push this vision forward. I arrived with an idea, and I left with a clear conviction.

If you are still here, thanks you and please leave a comment. I would appreciate that, thanks ⬇ 

With love, 

L.