About Us - Redjekie

Our Story

Redjekie was founded by Talitha Zwagers, the daughter of a Dutch father and an Indonesian mother. Although born and raised in Amsterdam, many of her formative years were enriched by holidays spent in the warm family nest in Indonesia.

Trade and bridging cultures run deep in Talitha’s family history. Her Indonesian great-great-grandfather, who is depicted on the left side of this pictue. He served as a regional head mediating between Dutch colonists and the Indonesian population to support trade and maintain peace.

This tradition continued with her grandfather, a respected village elder. And her grandfather, depicted on the left side on the picture presented below, taken around 1965. Grandfather Soehaimi worked as a trade attaché, promoting Indonesian exports.

With such a rich lineage, the founding of Redjekie was a natural continuation of this family legacy. The company’s mission is to open the European market to small producers, particularly those in the Middle East and Asia, with a special focus on Indonesia. Many of these producers possess an extraordinary level of craftsmanship, passed down through generations, but face barriers such as language and cultural differences that prevent them from reaching international markets.

Redjekie bridges this gap by combining a deep familiarity with Indonesian language and customs with over 20 years of experience in marketing and management. Fluent in English and Dutch, Talitha and her team are well-equipped to facilitate international trade, creating meaningful connections between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Our Vision

Redjekie was founded to connect small producers of end products to the European market. The importance of buying products from small artisan producers should not be underestimated. Often, these producers are located in small communities, where the impact on employment, the local economy, and living conditions is immense.

Many of these craftsmen and craftswomen face significant vulnerabilities. They are often undervalued and underpaid for their work, and when orders dry up, they suffer directly. Without a sustainable system, their ability to care for their families and invest in their communities is severely hindered.

Redjekie’s vision is to bring a ripple effect to all producers, families, and villages where these artisans work tirelessly. There is a focus on sustainable partnerships to ensure that stable economic growth of organizations is promoted, contributing positively to the local region by improving employment, financial resilience, and education.

By buying directly from producers, the supply chain remains short, and the producers receive a fair price for their unique work, empowering them to secure better living conditions and opportunities for their families.