JOINING FORCES WITH THE LEAKEY COLLECTION
The Leakey Collection has focused on zulugrass bracelets and jewelry in Kenya since 2002. Their iconic grass beads are dyed with low-impact dyes and strung on durable elastic. The sale of their products contributes to wonderful work in East Africa, including creating employment for thousands of women, promoting health and hygiene, bringing clean water into homes, and mentoring young girls through school.
Philip and Katy Leakey, founders of The Leakey Collection who live among the Maasai in East Africa, wanted to provide their neighbors with work opportunities. They came up with an imaginative idea to utilize the excellent beading abilities of the Maasai women by using a readily available, sustainable resource- GRASS- as the primary element.
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$24.00
Handmade in Mali, these twirled brass earrings are a modern interpretation of the fulani earrings of the people, who wore large gold earrings as a display of wealth.
The earrings are handcrafted from hammered brass, making them lighter than gold and more affordable. The twisting of the brass adds dimension and dramatic shine.
[L] 1.75"L x 0.75"W [M] 1.25"L x 0.5"W [S] 1"L x 0.5"W. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic, and child labor is never used. Mali Chic provides artisans with 50% advances on all orders and pay a fair price for their products.
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$58.00
These twirled earrings are handmade in Mali, where Fulani women traditionally wore their riches in the form of gold earrings that they could carry at all times.
This modern adaptation shines in beautiful silver plating. The earrings are unique to Swahili Modern in 2016 and fair trade.
Small earrings measure 1"L x 0.5"W. Medium earrings measure 1.25"L x 0.5"W. Large earrings measures 2.5"L x 1"W. Because these are handcrafted items, each will vary slightly.
About the Artisans:
Mali Chic is a collaboration of 195 artisans that sells its products through a boutique in Bamako and through international exports. Artisans work from home, in their own workshops or on-site at Mali Chic, and child labor is never used. Mali Chic provides artisans with 50% advances on all orders and pay a fair price for their products.
$68.00
Earrings feature hammered silver in a half-moon shape and sterling silver earwires. These statement earrings are surprisingly lightweight. Handcrafted by skilled artisans in Mali.
These gorgeous earrings are handmade in Mali in collaboration with designer Phyllis Woods of Tribalinks.
Measures 1.75"L X 1.5"W. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.
$28.00
A stylish accessory for all, these comfortable bracelets are handmade in Kenya using conditioned cow leather. A hand-tooled aluminum cross adds character and contrast, and a snap closure keeps the bracelet secure.
Measures 1.5"W x 8.5"L; 2.5" inner diameter. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected.
About the Artisans:
Joseph works from a home workshop in the rough Mathare neighborhood outside Nairobi. This soft-spoken, artistic man employs three young men, and together they craft jewelry, keepsakes and personal accessories from leather, brass and bone. Joseph enjoys the exchange of ideas encouraged during our design sessions. This year he took on the challenge of using dyes to diversify his leather goods, with beautiful results.
$58.00
These twirled earrings are handmade in Senegal in the tradition of Fulani earrings. Fulani women traditionally wore their riches in the form of gold earrings that they could carry at all times.
This modern adaptation shines in beautiful sterling silver. The delicate twist design creates a statement earring, while maintaining a light weight. The earrings feature a small hinge for easy on-and-off.
Large measures approximately 1.75" wide. Petite measures approximately 0.75" wide.
Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected.
About the Artisans:
These earrings are handcrafted in Senegal by artisan Bass and his small team of 5 young men.
$78.00
This stunning necklace features five silver-plated, rectangular pendants that drape beautifully across the collarbone. Each pendant is engraved with intricate geometric designs. The necklace is strung with glass beads and finished with a hook closure.
Choose from black or emerald green glass beads.
Measures 18" long. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected. Fair trade.
$78.00
Known worldwide for their jewelry craftsmanship, artisans in Mali crafted this beautiful necklace from silver and glass beads.
Five silver-plated droplet pedants drape beautifully from the beaded necklace. Each pendant is accented with hand-etched geometric details. Finished with a hook closure.
Choose from sea green, burgundy, or black glass beads.
Measures 18" long. Due to the handmade nature of this item, slight variation is expected. Fair trade.
$28.00
These handcrafted earrings are created using Kenyan shillings, some of which date back several decades. The coins are hollowed and topped with a turquoise bead, then strung on French earwire.
The earrings are a unique way to show your love for East Africa while also looking incredibly chic. Measures 2.5"L x 1"W. Because this is a handcrafted item, each will vary slightly. Fair trade.
About the Artisans:
Gabriel Muragu learned the art of jewelry crafting from his father, who trained in export readiness with Alan Donovan at African Heritage. Together, the father and son team craft beautifully styled adornments from an upstairs workshop in Nairobi's central business district.
$38.00
These drum-inspired earrings are handmade in Senegal using sterling silver. Each earring is hung on French earwire and includes delicate twirled rope detailing.
A wonderful gifts for musicians! Thanks to the petite size of these djembe earrings, the effect is playful but still subtle.
Measures approximately 1" from top of earwire to base of earring. Due to the handmade nature of this item, some variation is expected.
$18.50
Lulu Life is an organic, Grade A virgin shea butter that is produced using nuts from the vitellaria nilotica tree, which grows only in remote East Africa. Lavender Lulu Life is scented with pure lavender essential oil
Most shea butter comes from West African shea trees and is sold as a hard solid. East African shea butter is silky and harder to procure, and considered a precious luxury good. Lulu Shea Butter is made from nuts that are collected, cracked, sorted, dried, ground by hand and cold-pressed (avoiding even the slightest trace of chemical contamination).
Intensely moisturizing, this shea butter is easily absorbed and is known to transform your skin over time. The butter is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants, and can be used on the face or as an all-over body butter.
Dimensions: 100ml (3.4oz) watertight plastic container.
2.25"L x 2.25"W x 2"H
Crafted from: Nilotica shea nut oil, plant essence or fragrance
Made in: South Sudan
About the Artisans:
Founded in 2000, Lulu Works is a non-profit trust established to provide a source of sustainable income for the women of South Sudan. Comprised of women-owned processing centers, Lulu Works ensures that the profit from the production and sale of Lulu Life products returns to these women. It also provides an incentive to protect the natural shea butter resource.
Vitellaria nilotica tree grows across South Sudan in thick forests and takes 20 years to bear its first fruit. These forests are untouched by chemicals or fertilizers.
Lavender fragrance is provided by natural, essential oils. See all of the scents available in our Skin Care Collection.