Founder of Zeko

Saskia Todes

July 2026

In 1965, Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first human being to ever float in space. Consequently, he became the first human being to ever witness an orbital sunrise.* As soon as he returned to his spacecraft, after a spacesuit malfunction resulting in a terrifying life-threatening ordeal, he reached for his pencil crayons, attached them to his wrist by a string to stop them from floating away, and began to draw what he had seen.

Leonov's first instinct was to create art. He knew that no technological advancement or scientific data could quite capture what he had just experienced.

This is the very reason I wanted to create Zeko for South African talents. I believe that art is the only timeless, all-encompassing means of emotional expression, and that engaging in creativity is vital. South Africa is full of unbelievable talent, and full of crafters who could massively benefit from being able to sell their work online. I wanted to make this easier to do.

*Orbital sunrise: the light display observed from behind Earth's horizon from the perspective of someone orbiting the Earth in space, as opposed to the perspective of someone viewing it from the surface of the planet.

The Maker's Story

“

Hey guys!

I can't believe I'm finally saying this, but welcome to Zeko!

As excited as I am for the next phase of this journey, the main overwhelming feeling I have right now is one of gratitude. When I began the process of creating this platform, I couldn't have dreamed up a more supportive, understanding, encouraging audience to launch to, and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who hopped on board with me and decided to stick around. I do not take the trust you've placed in me, and in Zeko, lightly; and I'm more inspired than ever to build the perfect platform for crafters to take what they love seriously, and for all of South Africa to find things & stores that they seriously love.

I studied Physics & Astrophysics at UCT. The coding skills I learnt during my undergrad definitely came in handy while building this website, but aside from that overlap, this project isn't quite the route I expected to take straight after graduation. I think that after immersing myself in such an analytical world of study for so long, I realised that my favourite reprieve was always creating art. I began contemplating the frightening number of people who forget their passions as they move through life, and I began uncovering how hard it is to legitimize a career as an artisan, especially in this country.

As AI and whatever other Big Tech begins creeping its way into our lives faster and faster, I truly believe the value of human craftsmanship only increases and becomes more important to preserve and to nourish. My wish is that Zeko becomes a place that allows for this celebration of artistry, a place where people feel like they can display their talent without having to fight disproportionally hard against social media algorithms and skeptical customers for it to be seen, trusted, and appreciated. More than anything, I want Zeko to feel like a community of like-minded people who respect each other's work and are willing to listen to each other's stories.

I promise to continue building this space with these concepts in mind, but I know that the most important driver of what Zeko becomes is you. To every maker, customer, casual browser, and curious mind that stumbles across this slice of the internet, I implore you to interact here with kindness.

Maker of the Month is a feature I'm so excited about because it really underscores one of the main reasons I've been so passionate about building Zeko. Each month, I'll be selecting a seller to spotlight here, giving them a chance to share their creative process with the world, to get discovered, and to inspire. I want to highlight the importance of the creative community. I know that every crafter, and every craft, has a story. These deserve to be told.

So take a look around. Uncover the irreplaceable, indescribable quality intrinsic to a product that has been handmade with intention. Remember to make time for the things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Welcome to Zeko, and enjoy your stay.

Love (and so much excitement for what's to come!)

Saskia

Meet the Founder

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