6 Years of KAZARTT: Reflecting on my journey and what’s next
I’ve been so caught up with life recently that it hit me like a surprise: KAZARTT turned 6 at the beginning of the month.
Six years!
It feels surreal, especially because I’ve been so busy juggling everything: helping clients with their marketing, running my own brand, preparing for Christmas, and, of course, getting ready for the arrival of my daughter in mid-October. Time flies, and I almost didn’t realize how much has happened since the day I first thought about making original and colorful belts.
Back then, I was living in Spain, flying to Madrid every week for my corporate job at Accenture. KAZARTT was just a wild idea I had while navigating the very structured world of suits and business meetings. I knew I wanted to bring something different into the world, something with personality, but I had no idea where to start.
I loved the idea, but every time I thought about actually doing it, I hit a wall. It felt too big, too risky. But then something unexpected happened.
I met Amandine. It was just before Christmas 2016, on a flight from Spain to Belgium. She was in the aisle, and I had the seat next to her, but there was someone sitting between us. Luckily, that person switched seats after takeoff. Amandine and I struck up a conversation. It turns out we’re from the same city in Belgium, and now we both live in Barcelona. Even crazier—she’s a fashion designer. Suddenly, things started clicking. Amandine became the creative mind behind the first KAZARTT models, and our shared passion for the project fueled the fire.
Getting the first prototype
I still remember the excitement when I received the first prototype! An orange belt, which I still have in my closet to this day.
That belt was used for all our first photoshoots. We only had one sample, but we had to start creating content.
And then came the moment of truth. I had a business trip to the U.S. with Accenture, a week full of client meetings. I decided to wear the orange belt. And guess what… many people complimented me on it. I’m sure they weren’t used to seeing someone with an orange belt in their office! When I heard those comments, I knew I was onto something.
The first year was exciting. I felt like I was building something meaningful. I met so many people, pitched my brand, connected with store owners, and learned so much along the way.
Financially broke...
But let’s be honest here—the first year was also rough. Really rough. I was putting everything into KAZARTT, but financially, it was tough. After a year, I couldn’t pay my mortgage anymore. It was a hard pill to swallow. I had no other choice but to find a stable job again. So, I packed up everything and headed to Dubai, hoping to rebuild myself financially in 1-2 years. My plan was to return to Barcelona after that. I loved the city too much (and I still do, though I haven’t returned… yet).
I sold everything I had in Barcelona—my two bicycles (which broke my heart), the few remaining belts in stock, my furniture, sports gear… everything.
Moving to Dubai
November 2019, I arrived in Dubai with only one suitcase, ready for a fresh start.
Moving to Dubai meant I had to stop KAZARTT. There was no one to handle the shipping from Europe, and honestly, it wasn’t a priority anymore. I needed stability. KAZARTT went on hold. I thought it might be the end.
The re-birth of KAZARTT
But then COVID hit. We all know what that felt like—being stuck at home, rethinking everything. For me, it was a chance to start over. KAZARTT wasn’t gone, it just needed to evolve. So, I rebuilt the entire branding, redesigned the collection, and relaunched the website from scratch. This time, I partnered with a logistics company in France to handle shipping, which made all the difference. I could focus on the creative side while working full-time to support the business. Yes, KAZARTT was still a side hustle, but it felt stronger, more mature. I worked hard after office hours, doing everything I could to make this brand something original and ethical.
5 years in Dubai
Time flew by… instead of spending 1 to 2 years as initially planned, I ended up spending five years in Dubai, and I don’t regret a thing!
But I’ll be honest—the beginning was tough. I missed my mountains, the Mediterranean culture, the atmosphere, the parties, and my friends…
Thankfully, I had my sister nearby with her two kids. I watched them grow at an incredible pace and cherished every moment spent by their side. I also had the chance to travel abroad, meet people from all around the world, and acquire my dream car. And better than any material thing, I met the woman of my life.
Life-changing event... and moving to Colombia
Then, something even more life-changing happened. I met my wife in Dubai. And earlier this year, we found out we were expecting. Now, as I write this, we’ve been living in Colombia for the past three months. We’re awaiting the arrival of our daughter in October. It’s an exciting time. I’m managing KAZARTT from Colombia, juggling everything with the upcoming holiday season, and I feel more motivated than ever.
Six years ago, I had no idea KAZARTT would grow into what it is today. It’s been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but every step has been worth it. Looking ahead, I feel like the best is yet to come. I’m excited to see how KAZARTT will continue to evolve and how I can keep pushing its values—originality, craftsmanship, and ethics—into everything we do.
What's next
A lot of people ask me, “What’s next for KAZARTT?” How will the future unfold for the brand?
Until recently, I honestly couldn’t answer that question. Everything has been organic, evolving naturally. I never focused on long-term projections—they always seemed to go wrong anyway. I preferred to treat KAZARTT as my baby. As a side hustle, enjoying the journey, and focusing on creating something original and ethical.
But now, things have changed. The brand carries my grandmother’s name, but today, I want to build a legacy I can one day pass down to my daughter. More than that, I want to show her that in life, anything is possible! I want her to know that her papa was a fighter.
"Anything is possible"
My goal is to make KAZARTT a global brand. I want it to be known as the brand that redefined the belt. I want people to feel happy wearing our belts! If you’re buying one for yourself, I hope it brings you joy every time you buckle it in the morning. And if you’re gifting it, I want you to feel proud of giving something unique, knowing the person receiving it will love their new accessory.
I also want to inspire young entrepreneurs. If KAZARTT can show that passion, creativity, and perseverance can build something meaningful, then that’s success in itself.
So yes… there’s plenty of ambition. And I’m ready to give 200% of myself to achieve those goals.
Thank you !
Thank you for being part of this journey!
Whether you’ve been here since day one or just joined, your support means everything to me.
Here’s to the next chapter of KAZARTT.
Guillaume, founder of KAZARTT since 2018
