Ladan Khalifa CEO Khalifa Crafted
Ladan Khalifa, CEO and founder of Khalifa Crafted, the Kenyan craftsman who turned passion to a powerful leather brand.
Ladan Khalifa unexpected journey began with survival and led to one of Kenya’s most recognisable leather brands. Today, Khalifa Crafted is celebrated for genuine leather wallets Kenya, handmade belts, colourful cardholders, and custom leather accessories. The brand has grown steadily, attracting customers from Kenya to Eastern Africa.
But Ladan’s rise began far away from luxury stores and neatly arranged workshop shelves.
A Business Born From Necessity and Pure Craftsmanship
When asked about his starting point, Ladan shared a story filled with grit and honesty.
He registered the business in 2020 and has been on the journey ever since. Initially, he had no plans to create leather items. His intention was to start a crafts brand that focused on furniture. “Awesome, so when did you start?” we asked. His answer was simple. “Registered the business in 2020 and I’ve been doing it ever since.”
The shift to leather was never planned. “Initially when I was registering it was not to do leather items,” he said. “But I knew I wanted to do crafts. So I drifted towards leather items as time went by.”
Ladan never studied leatherwork in school. Instead, he learned from his father, who made belts for many years. “My dad used to have a leather business making belts,” he said. “That’s where I learned most of the things about leather and how to work with leather.”
With time, he designed his first wallet. People loved it. Orders followed. Passion turned into business.
The Long Road From Rongai to Thika to Kenyatta Road
Ladan’s business has moved several times, each move marking a different stage of growth. He registered his business while living in Rongai, planning to make furniture. Later, he shifted into leatherwork while still based there.
When space became an issue, he moved to Thika town. But as orders increased, the Thika space became too small. In September, he moved again to Kenyatta Road. “I needed bigger space,” he said. “The working space was not enough for my team.”
Each move pushed the brand to a new level.
The Raw Truth Behind His Inspiration
Many entrepreneurs sugarcoat their beginnings. Ladan does not. When we asked about his inspiration, he said something powerful.
“I would like to sugarcoat it and say nice things,” he said. “But my inspiration was poverty.”
He needed to pay rent, buy food, and survive. At one point, he ran four small businesses at once.
He painted, made and delivered pastries on a bicycle, crafted furniture. And finally, he made his first leather wallet.
Furniture orders took time. Painting didn’t sell well. Pastries kept him afloat but lacked growth. The wallet business grew fastest.
“When people saw my wallet, they asked for one,” he said. That was the sign he needed. Demand led him to focus on what worked.
Growing a Team and Feeding Families
Today, Khalifa Crafted has eight employees. They work full-time though not on permanent contracts. “So you are feeding more than ten households?” we asked. “When you count mine, yes,” he replied.
For him, growth means impact. “I want to have 50 employees,” he said. Because leatherwork is a technical craft, he trains every new worker personally. Some take months to master cutting and stitching. But Ladan believes each skilled artisan strengthens the brand.
Choosing Leather Over Synthetic Material
Although he learned belt-making from his father, he avoided belts at first due to conflict of interest concerns. Later, he embraced them after the concern faded. Today, belts remain one of Khalifa Crafted’s top-selling items.
He insists on genuine leather only. “I can’t downgrade my brand,” he said firmly. Many clients request synthetic leather due to religion or preference. “If you don’t want leather, it’s fine,” he said. “But I cannot work with artificial leather.”
That strong stand has shaped his identity in the Kenyan leather market.
Inside the Workshop Where Craft Meets Precision
A tour of the workshop reveals a fully streamlined leather production process.
There is an assembly table where most work begins. Workers cut leather using precision tools. Stitching happens on two industrial machines, depending on the item. A branding machine stamps “Khalifa Crafted” onto each finished piece.
Grace handles personalization. Robert manages social media, responding to DMs and creating digital content. Raw materials are stored neatly, with more leather stored offsite.
Everything speaks to order and growth.
Building a Powerful Kenyan Brand
Khalifa Crafted is now recognised across Kenya and East Africa. Some customers even imagine seeing it in Amsterdam one day. Ladan says branding requires consistency, uniqueness, and patience.
“You need to find an edge,” he said. “Do something different. Don’t copy others.”
He believes everything good takes time to grow. He quoted his father. “A baby stays nine months before coming out,” he said. “If you want yours in a month, that’s not going to happen.”
His Secret Recipe for Work Ethic and Consistency
For his first three years, Ladan worked from 8am to 10pm every day. Seven days a week. No breaks. “I lost many friends,” he said. His social life collapsed.
But he built a brand that now stands among Kenya’s top ten leather craft brands.
Mastering Social Media for Brand Growth
Social media has been central to his rise. He studies trends, engages his audience, and posts high-quality videos. Every video takes at least an hour to prepare.
“You must consume a lot of content,” he said. “To understand the game, you must play it.”
He reviews top-performing posts from other creators and keeps improving his approach. Continuous improvement is part of the brand culture.
What Khalifa Crafted Makes
The brand produces vibrant handcrafted items, including:
- Leather wallets
- Passport holders
- Leather belts
- Card holders
- Personalized leather gifts
- Custom corporate items
Ladan avoids the traditional black and brown palettes. He believes colour brings personality. His own wallet is blue and red. He also carries a second wallet for raw cash. He demonstrated how a thick stack of money fits comfortably without attracting attention.
His Vision of Global Leather Brand Built in Kenya
The next five years look bold. Ladan wants to hire 50 artisans. He wants to expand his workshop. And he wants his products sold internationally.
He believes Kenyan youth must choose consistency over shortcuts. He encourages them to build patience. “Everything takes time to grow,” he said. “Use your mind and your strength. Put in effort and give it time.”
Conclusion
Khalifa Crafted represents the unwavering spirit of Kenyan innovation. It proves that passion, discipline, and authenticity can build a brand that grows beyond borders. From a single wallet designed in Rongai to a thriving workshop in Kenyatta Road, Ladan’s journey is a powerful example of resilience.
Kenyans searching for genuine leather wallets, colourful belts, or personalized leather gifts will find originality, quality, and culture in every Khalifa Crafted piece.
