Meet Diana R. | Upcycling Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana R. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
I work in three pillars: One: reducing plastic bags pollution by transforming the bag’s wastes into urban fashionable products.
Two: investing in talented marginalized artisans to uplift their skills and support their living through revenue generated out of the products they make out of plastic bags.
Three: improve local handmade chic production that aims in economical development.

What should our readers know about your business?
{Kees Chic} is a social enterprise that invents handmade urban products out of plastic bags via marginalized artisans aiming for environmental, social and economical development. I am a phrmacist with Hugh interest in public health (environmental health in particular). One day I learnt about the harm of plastic bags to the environment and I felt so guilty for using them and not doing any thing to stop such behavior. I started with my self, then started to spread the world. I recognized that was not enough. I started searching then the idea of upcycling rose. I had no idea how to start without having a business background. Tried to apply for couple of scholarships to learn business but it did not work out. So I decided to join the life school of learning things. That is to start from whatever I know. I started by doing, asking, searching, experimenting and going for trials along with attending couple of sessions in the areas I needed help with.
The main lesson, is to never quit your job till your startup generates consistent cash flow so you can secure payments. Also to utilize all opportunities from day one, you will get a lot of people, angel investors, VCs and others who want to support – do not take time in thinking and utilize those chances as quick as you can – give them a test and then decide if you have nothing tangible yet as long as they approach you then go for it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We are in Jeddah city that is located at Red Sea so I will start with having these on the list Boat trip to go for diving or snorkeling.
Visiting downtown and old areas / market.
Eating fish or maybe going for fishing boat trip other than diving trip.
Hiking in the beautiful desert and maybe camping for one night while cooking on fire.
Visiting art and museum that is related to historical themes.
Visiting art cafes and maybe connecting with like minded friends.

Instagram: Keeschic