Our story
Who We Are
‘dunia’: /du.ni.a/Swahili: noun (n class, plural dunia) 1. Earth 2. World
A design company that brings you style, quality and a sustainable option, where every purchase cleans the environment and saves a tree.
Since our inception in 2016, when we began our plastic clean up in Arusha, followed by the launch of Dunia iconic pouffe, we have recycled over 1000 tonnes of plastic waste to date. By purchasing our furniture, you play an active role in cleaning up the planet, supporting local initiatives while shopping sustainably!
Dunia - The Sustainable Design Co. was inspired by the global plastic crisis and driven by a passion to make a change by keeping plastic out of our airwaves, waterways and soil. When founders, Evanna Lyons and Alexis Cronin first met they shared a deep concern as their community's streets and rivers filled with plastic. They set out to address the challenge together with Elaine Mahon, a very successful East African Designer, who brought form to their then, radical idea.
How could one take this ever-increasing, indestructible waste and turn it into something beautiful with purpose?
It was then that the first Dunia iconic pouffe was born, stitched together with recycled fabric and stuffed with shredded waste-plastic collected from the very streets they had watched fill with pollution.
The dream to one day clean not only their own environment, but also those around the globe, drove Evanna, Alexis and Elaine to continue growing the venture, developing technologies that would allow them to do far more than simply stuff a pouffe.
The small team were soon joined by their specialised, amazing and ever-expanding team. Dunia has now nearly 55 employees forming an incredible, multi-talented, well-balanced, dream-team who together have brought Dunia to a new level. Now offering a large range of home-furnishing collections, each Dunia piece is brought to life with attention to detail, a focus on design and style, and of course the aim to ensure real, tangible environmental impact.
