(Photo: Masai men in Masai Mara, Kenya)
Kenya's Maasai are well known for crafting intricate beaded designs worn by both men and women. Maasai beadwork began with natural materials such as clay, wood, and bone. Today, craftspeople use colorful glass beads from Europe, beautifully adorning belts, cuffs, necklaces, and even shoes. We work with several groups of Maasai women outside Nairobi to fashion beautiful, beaded collars on Kenyan leather that are inspired by both traditional and modern designs.
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(Photo: Masai grandmother in Kenya)
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Kenya is also home to the Swahili people, who typically live near the coast. Swahili culture is deeply influenced by Arab and Persian culture after years of trade across the Indian Ocean. Colorful, striped, kikoy fabrics are associated with Kenya's Swahili culture and are worn wrapped around the waist, perfect for the coastal heat. Kikoy makers in Kenya are constantly creating vibrant new designs, with stripes of varying width and new color combinations every season.
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(Photo: Diani Beach, Kenya)
(Photo: Diani Beach, Kenya)
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(Photo: Masai Mara, Kenya)