Community

The importance of community has been instilled in Ivana Kundai from a young age because of her Zimbabwean heritage. She sees the value of the people around her and understands that uplifting her community benefits all. This is why she has designed a set of products dedicated to goal to better her community and the world around her.

VANA URTH [MAT]

VANA URTH is a weighted and structured outdoor mat which converts into a portable tote bag. The mat is meant to ground individuals and connect them to something deeper, whether that be spiritual, cultural, mental, environmental or emotional. The idea of the mat is inspired by Zimbabwean culture, which often incorporates mats in daily life as well as in special ceremonies and rituals. It is meant for a range of activities including small gatherings, music, prayer, meals, and meditation. In more developed countries, traditional mats like this have lost significance, but this product allows the idea to exist in a modern and sustainable way. VANA URTH is made with natural materials that are significantly less harmful to the environment than most modern mats and it is adaptablea range of uses and environments. The process of using the mat itself is meant to be ceremonial and grounding.

VANA URTH [FOOTWEAR]

Many underprivileged people lack the resources or space to own multiple pairs of shoes, and I have given life to the concept of the VANA URTH “lifetime” shoe. This shoe gives one person the ability to endure a variety of climates and conditions without the need to own many shoes. The perforated waterproof outer shell provides the user with the ability to endure hot, cold, wet, and dry environments. The shoe comes with three different insert types that can be used depending on what the user sees fit.