About Us

Who Are We?

Gwai started in 2010 and is custom belt company that outsource - and incorporates contractors/resources to get the best custom products made in RSA for Africa.

Our mission is to build relationships by creating unique leather belts for discerned individuals around the world

We focus on building a good relationship with businesses, mining companies, corporate groups, agricultural groups and schools organizations or any organizations that has uniform. We have served 

In the days of ancient Africa, many, many moons ago, a boy was born to parents who waited long for a boy child. From the moment he arrived in this beautiful land... this ancient land called Zimbabwe... it was obvious that he was different. Unique. Special. The way he looked at the land, at its people was something else. He was always discovering, never keeping still. From a young age, he would disappear, walking mile upon mile, one day after the next. His parents named him Gwai.

The women of the tribe shook their heads, reprimanding Gwai’s mother, warning that if left to roam so anchorless, he will perish. She just shook her head, saying Gwai will be fine. Neither she nor his father ever stood in his way. Gwai was free. 

Gwai was discovering the world. Learning and understanding came natural to him. As a young man he became a fearless warrior, a cunning hunter. He was always out on reconnaissance, looking for possible dangers or bringing back meat from the hunt. He developed a special way of hunting with straps made from brayed hide.

What he would do was to set a trap with these straps in the path of a herd of grazing buck. Keeping the wind in his favour, he would hide. And wait. When the herd came, one buck would entangle in his trap. Gwai then pounced, assegai at the ready. Yes, when Gwai donned his straps around his gleaming body, the tribe knew, that night there will be fresh liver on the fire.

Gwai was everybody’s favourite, including the king. And the king’s youngest daughter, his special princess, was Gwai’s favourite. And vice-versa. She was a lot like him, for she would roam the plains as well. All over, but like everybody else, never into the forbidden valley. While she was out one day looking for honey, Gwai stayed in the village, requesting to see the king. He asked for the princess’ hand in marriage. The king was so happy. Yes.

In the meantime, the princess was unfortunate. The hive was bereft of all honey by a badger. She started circling wider and wider to find a new hive, taking in the new territory around her. She, however, did not realise she was walking deeper and deeper into the forbidden valley... Suddenly she heard a whistling hiss, almost like when the warm east wind started to blow just before the rains came. This was not the rains though, it was the giant dark brown snake, keeper of the forbidden valley. In no time it was upon her, encircling her, crushing the princess like a dry twig.

When the princess still wasn’t home the next morning, Gwai donned his straps, gathered his spear and knives and took her spoor. When he found her, his heart was torn apart and he screamed to the heavens, swearing he was going to kill the evil snake. Nobody has ever challenged the snake before...

Carefully he set the trap before walking deeper and deeper into the forbidden valley. When he heard the heavy hiss, he turned around and started running back, kicking stones, making a noise to ensure the evil snake will follow. He almost misjudged the speed of the snake, but just before it could ensnarl him, he was at the trap, sidestepping it to the left. The snake bore straight into it. The straps kicked in, tightening the noose and strangling the snake. The more it wriggled, the worse it got. Gwai was ready, spear high above his head, his muscled torso glistening with sweat. The death pounce about to be executed.

But then the giant snake stopped moving and spoke to Gwai: “If you spare my life, I will help your people.” “Why would I spare you? You killed the princess!” Gwai responded and the snake answered “Maybe I was wrong. But she was also wrong, coming into the forbidden valley.”

Gwai was furious, hurting with his loss, but inside he knew that an eye for an eye achieves nothing.

“How will you help my people?” Gwai asked the snake. “I will cease to exist as a snake. Sailing away I will turn myself into a riverbed. When the rains come, I will live as a river in remorse for killing your princess. What was the forbidden valley will bring new life.”

Gwai pulled his sharpest knife, walked up to the snake and slit the straps. That night you could again hear its blowing hiss. Or was it the east wind blowing this time? Then there was thunder, there was lightning. The rains came. The riverbed filled with beautiful foaming water, becoming the river the snake promised. And they called the river Gwai...