Author: Teresa Lubano
Edited: Dr. Francisca Odundo
Date: 25th March, 2024
At UndaMeta, we are excited for the future. Specifically, we’re thrilled to introduce a groundbreaking approach to printing textiles, revolutionizing the industry in Kenya and beyond.
Our platform democratizes textile printing by ensuring designers receive proper attribution, marking a significant shift in the purchasing of both traditional and contemporary textiles. Through our platform, customers can discover the designers, understand their inspiration, and directly contribute to compensating them with commissions each time they purchase printed textiles meterage from us.
Furthermore, through our investment in a robust multi-vendor platform, we empower creatives, illustrators, and designers from diverse backgrounds to become creators on our platform. The plugin enables seamless curation and purchasing of their designs, as well as end-to-end tracking their commissions and payments when orders are fulfilled.
With over 20 designers benefiting from our platform, each enjoys an independent dashboard to upload designs and track payments, making transactions effortless from anywhere in the world.
Now, textile buyers from as far as Ouagadougou or Addis Ababa can with a few clicks, make a purchase online and receive their prints within 14 days.
As we understand our customers’ unique needs, we’re witnessing a demand for various types of textiles design, fabric types and print methods, such as the demand for a more contemporary khanga design. Our pioneering designer, Ana Okumu Mbogo, has been instrumental in introducing industrially printed khanga, showcasing her talent cultivated over 18 years in the textile industry. Additionally, she has listed beautiful designs in our Designers Exclusive edition available for exclusive licensing.
Some of our independent designers are also fashion designers and are uploading their works to print their own unique designs for their fashion projects.
Looking ahead, we’re excited about leveraging AI/AR to explore fresh marketing avenues, like showcasing our Afrikan-inspired prints through captivating 3D virtual avatars. The opportunities are endless.
Our dedication to streamlining processes across our ecosystem remains unwavering, ensuring smooth operations. We’re committed to fostering sustainable growth, mutually beneficial collaboration strategies for scalability, and offering boundless opportunities for both our creators and buyers. With rapid digital advancements, these endeavors are not just feasible but integral to our digital-first business model, positioning us at the forefront of textile innovation within the region.
We’re optimistic that our sustainable practices, aligned with SDGs on economic inclusion and minimizing production waste through print-on-demand principles, will not only put money in our creators’ pockets but also drive the fashion & textiles sustainability agenda forward in our market.
We urge you to explore the #MetaOrdinary with us as we embark on an exciting journey to revolutionize the African textiles industry.