( CNN ) -- In a tucked-away corner of Zanzibar 's historic Stone Town lies a little shop of curiosities . Colorful bags , necklaces and hats hang on the racks , and beautiful African prints line the walls . In the back room , a low hum of sewing machines is a sign of busy artisans at work . Welcome to Aromas of Zanzibar , a clothing and accessories store that 's different to others on the island . Founded by the 29-year-old entrepreneur Rizwan Janmohamed , every single thing the shop -- from guitar cases to can holders -- is made on site by local craftsmen , using only locally sourced materials . `` Since my childhood , my dream has been to own my own business , '' says Janmohamed , `` so I thought to myself , what is missing in Stone Town ? At the time , everything was coming from China , India , Thailand , so I decided to make something which is produced here . That 's my concept , '' he adds . Janmohamed left his job as an assistant manager of a local hotel and used a bank loan , with added help from family and friends , to set up his shop . Read more : Teen 's gardening invention blooms into planting revolution . Thousands of tourists come to Stone Town each year and visit its many knickknack stores , but Janmohamed thought he would stand out by providing a piece of authentic Zanzibar for them to bring home . A melting pot of cultures . He started with colorful beaded necklaces and then moved on to spices and aromatic cardamom tea . Today , his most popular items are small wallets , pouches and cosmetics cases made out of vibrant African prints known as Kitenge . However , beginnings were tough , and Janmohamed found it difficult to market his products : `` When I started the business a few years back , you can say it was a nightmare . It was really a challenge . Because you do n't know what to produce first and you do n't know what 's expected tomorrow , '' he says . At the moment , his shop is breaking even , but the businessman hopes to start making a profit within two years , and says his shop is frequented not just by tourists but local people as well . Janmohamed attributes his success to Zanzibar 's unique handicrafts , which display a fusion of Swahili and Arabian culture , but stresses that creating a welcoming environment is just as important . `` It 's not just about selling your product . It 's about maintaining your service , it 's about how you talk to your customer and maintain that relationship as well , '' he says . His products may be local , but Janmohamed 's ambitions run significantly further : `` I want to become one of the largest companies on the African continent for production of fabric accessories and clothing , '' he says . Read more : Teen 's gardening invention blooms into planting revolution . Read more : Think there are n't enough hours in the day ? Meet this maverick slum dweller . Read more : 'Nigerian iTunes ' dances to the mobile phone beat .
Aromas of Zanzibar sells clothing and accessories crafted in vibrant African prints . All products are made on site by local artisans , using only locally sourced materials . The company is also a partner with the National Museum of Kenya to create an exhibit about their history as well as other cultural artifacts from Africa.