Our Story

Artisanal Macroalgae-based Skincare with Big Impact

Our Namesake

(Swahili) Mwani | (English) Seaweed

The world is finally waking up to what we have always known—seaweed is a force of nature, nourishing both people and the planet.

At Mwani Zanzibar, we blend age-old African botanical wisdom with skilled artisanal craftsmanship and cutting-edge blue technology. From our studio on Zanzibar Island, we create high-performance skincare in small batches, ensuring purity and potency at every step.

Beauty lies in harmony—we pioneer a uniquely regenerative approach to marine habitats, with coastal women at its heart. (Beyond skincare, our work uplifts communities, restores ocean landscapes, and redefines the future of beauty through sustainability and innovation.)

Experts say the model startups such as…Mwani Zanzibar [is] leading with is one that traditional beauty giants can and should learn from.”

Vogue Business, June 2024

Powered by Indigenous Marine Botanicals

Pure Ingredients. Powerful Results.

The ingredients used in our products are indigenous and wild harvested locally. Prepared with the greatest care and precision, Mwani Zanzibar formulations are rich in powerful nutrients and plant-based antioxidants. Our proprietary MW Macroalgae Extract™ is a star ingredient in each product, scientifically proven to deliver powerful moisturizing and rejuvenating benefits.

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Mwani Zanzibar’s Face & Body Skin Superfood shown on skin.
4 Mwani Zanzibar Mamas standing in the Indian Ocean during daytime.

Aquaculture Meets Artistry

Meet the Makers

For generations we, the Mwani Zanzibar Mamas, have harvested seaweed in tune with the moon and the tides of the Indian Ocean. Every day, you see us gently tending our crops in the crystal-clear waters that shape the local rhythm of life. We regard seaweed as a gift from the ocean. We see how much it benefits our skin and the island around us.

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Turning Tides

Beauty in a Blue Economy

Going beyond the surface of beauty and "Beyond Fair Trade," Mwani Zanzibar uplifts and empowers women seaweed farmers, plus our growing network of suppliers, through the creation of our skincare products. From enabling women to earn a salary for their first time—as the Mwani Zanzibar Mamas—to paying local farmers and suppliers up to 33X their traditional pay, to forging partnerships with the likes of revered eco-luxury hotels across the Archipelago, Mwani Zanzibar is co-creating a blue economy in our coastal community, while creating value and regeneration for people and planet.

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Above the Bar

Handcrafted Batches

Collaboration & Purpose

Meet the Team

Mwani Zanzibar is a co-created vision where innovation and tradition unite. Led by our co-founders, who have driven our commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability, and shaped by the Mwani Zanzibar Mamas, whose artisanal skills and heritage define our creations, we have grown together as a family.


The women behind our products are the soul and voice of Mwani Zanzibar—artisans whose skill, care, and traditions are woven into every creation, bridging ancestral wisdom with next-generation skincare.

A Mwani Zanzibar team member
Klaartje Schade

Co-Founder

A Mwani Zanzibar team member
Andrew Anthony

Co-Founder

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Fauzia

Production Manager

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Patima

Production Manager

Pius

Operations Manager

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Hadija

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Pili

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Salama

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan

Maua

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Maua

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Nawaje

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan

A Mwani Zanzibar team member wearing blue garment in front of the ocean.
Sulhia

Seaweed Farmer & Product Artisan