Zden, is a haven for that customer in search of unique beauty to enhance the charm of their homestead. Offering almost everything from gift items and souvenirs to handlooms, stainless steel and porcelain ware, glassware and decorative items, natural and recycled paper products, cane and leather items and so much more, it’s a lifestyle store, which carries almost everything you need to set up a home.
It’s a venture only initiated an year ago by Nazneen Hashim, but has quickly caught the eye of both the business and individual consumer, already catering to local and Maldivian hotels. The store even carries out their own printing on mugs, plates and glasses and provides online shopping facilities, and speaking on the latter topic, Nazneen adds, “it is very successful, even those living abroad if they want to send gifts to their loved ones in Sri Lanka, they order it. We deliver all over Sri Lanka, even up to Vavuniya.”
One of Zden’s very popular attractions is its handlooms, “I find that it is the most popular, I notice that whenever the customer walks in they just make a beeline to that room, because of the colour, and the most amount of their time is spent there,” says Nazneen. Apart from the beauty and quality of Zden handlooms it is also a source of income for many in the process of rebuilding their lives post Tsunami destruction. 90 percent of Zden’s handlooms are made by the Tsunami displaced people in the Eastern Coast of
Sri Lanka. The cloth is woven in their own weaving plant while colour coordination is done by Nazneen herself.
A business venture with a very human aspect to it, Zden is reaching the completion of a successful first year in operation and is currently planning on initiating a bridal registry. Placed at the heart of Colombo with ample parking space, Zden is a pleasure to visit with its cosy and antique feel to the premises and friendly staff making you feel right at home.
