Meekono Buyer's Lookbook

Lookbook Buyer’s

A Fair Trade certified social enterprise in Ngara in theremote northeastofTanzania.Ourmissionisto increaseeconomicopportunityinthepost-conflict, tri-border area of Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania by bringing rural women together, facilitating their growth and connecting their artistry to the global marketplace. Through WomenCraft, over 600 artisans advance themselves, raise stronger families, stimulate their communities and inspire theworldaroundthem.

SouthAfrica

An ode to Africa, it encompassed the magic and beauty of Africa through unique and contemporary textiles & pieces that all come togethertofeellikeapieceofhome

Founded in 2016, what started as a small scatter cushion business, has evolved into a Textile & Product Design Studio, home to the South African Textile artist and designer Bonolo Chepape, who’s story starts with a love for pattern, art and design, cultivated andnurturedinasmalldustyminingtownof Rustenburg,NorthWest,SouthAfrica.Itisbuilt on a family that works together to realise each others dreams in order to pave a way for the future lineage and to create a place whicheveryonecancallhome.

Sustainable Customizable

Handmade

Ghana

Thehubforaccentfurniture,decorandahostofunique,”artistique” accessories.Drawingourinspirationfromthemanybeautifulstories fromAfricaincludingthecontinent'sartistryandculture,wemakea range of accent tables, contemporary stools and complementary pieces like bowls, vases, candle holders etc reflecting true craftsmanship and the spirit of our local Artisans. Tekura also specializesincustomizedfurniture

Starting in 2000 with only two Artisans, it was created merely from the founder’s passion for things made by hand and with immeasurable support from her husband, Kweku. Today the companyhaveaworkshop,ashowroomandaretailoutletinAccra (including several distributors) as well as a team of about 25 artisans.

SouthAfrica

The home of a range of contemporary handcrafted productsinspiredbytheexquisiteworkmanship,the vibrant colours and the iconic designs that characterizeZulucraftheritage.

Focused on developing new and innovative techniques using only wastepaper and want to change the perception of recycled materials They transformthesewastemagazinesand newspapers into original designs, using their own simple yet pioneering techniques at our workshop. Their women make each product by hand, withbasictoolsandthesun’srays. As much as possible their materials are locally sourced and environmentally friendly.

Theintentionistosupport themarginalizedmembers oftheAfricancommunity especiallywomenandyouth byexposingthemto internationalmarkets,selling jewelry,pieces,handmade furnitureaccessories,artand sculptures.Withthepassion toinspirediversity,theyhave partneredwithmany talentedartistsacrossthe continentstopromotearts& crafts.

Zimbabwe

Handmade Sustainable

Founded in 2014, CABES is a network of 50 associations and nearly 2000 artisans, mostly women, who specialize in the transformation of organic GOTS certified cotton to the quintessential BurkinabétextileFasoDanFani.Wespecialiseinthe productionofTraditionalWestAfricanTextiles

Lukhanyo MdingiCollab

MaarlivingCollab

MaarlivingCollab CamperCollab

In a small village nestled near the Thuchila River, in southern Malawi, our grandfather (pronounced aah wow) handcrafted bamboo baskets. Today, Awawo collaborates with artisans from Malawi, honoring the tradition of Malawian craftsmanship while providing employment opportunities for young peopleandwomen.

Through design and authentic craftsmanship, they curate captivating experienceswitheachpiecetheycreate. They take pride in using bamboo as a primary raw material owing to its fast growth rate and ability to regenerate itself after harvest, making it highly sustainable

Their belief in shared love, ethical and ecological values, artisanal preservation, and sustainable production makes for aninterestingjourney.

They work to connect local artisans with customers. They believe in the collaborative creation of modern objects using old craft techniques while maintaining the most sustainable, responsible, and ethical productionprocesspossible.

The design process begins in the communities of their artisans, sharing techniques, ideas, and inspiration and explore the process of creation as a team together with the designers. Their artisans are exceptionally talented and committed members of the team. Often seeing productspassthroughthehandsofmultiple artisans working in collaboration to deliver thefinestfinalproduct.

ObuoNecklace

SouthAfrica

A company was established in 1995 after 15 years of involvement in various aspects of African craft. The intricately woven baskets of the Hambukushu women becamethefirstproductsintheircollectionoffinelymade handwork.Thefounder’spassionforbasketshastakenher to many remote parts of the continent to track down weavers and she is now an acknowledged reference in Africanbasketry.

The team strives to nurture the creative and entrepreneurial initiative of rural communities by encouraging the production of high quality, on trend products. By promoting well-made, functional and artistic craft,theiraimistocontributetotheacknowledgementof Africaasasourceofinspirationanddesignskills.Theyare passionate about the sustainability of their products and to this end, adheres to ethical and fair trade business practice

An organization formed by rural artists from Greytown, KZN. They are a 100% black owned company with 60% female youth Their focus is to develop previously disadvantaged local artists especially women and those living with physical challenges. They work closely with needy communities, uplifting them economically through skills, networking and linkages with financial and support centers We believe in economic empowerment using indigenous skills, a skilled community has a power over poverty.

SouthAfrica Handmade Sustainable

SouthAfrica

Launched in 2016, Cotton Tree is a small business based in Johannesburg, South Africa, creating handmade, contemporary cushions. Our focus is on texture and original design, guided by environmental kindness and community upliftment. We use 100% cotton yarn for all our embroidery, sourced and hand dyed inSouthAfrica

The cushions are handmade locally by upskilled women, who pride themselves on delivering a quality, authentic product We believe stronglyintheabilityofcreativityand working with your hands to fill your soulandbringpurposetoyourlife,as well as provide a means to earn an income.

Natural Vegan

Tanzania

Started in 2020 with the goal to provide and produce good natural items and to showtheworldtheTanzaniancultureand traditionalcraft.

They make handmade products such matts, lampshades and baskets with natural materials like glass of miruru, bamboobananaleavescalledmigomba leaves

The organization helps to create job opportunity for the local people and improvementoftheirsocietystatus.

An organization that supports Women, Youth, Elderly and their families through income generating schemes such as handcraft training, design, production and Marketing their products to more valuable markets to as to improve on their living standards.

The designs and developments in crafts like Baskets with Women groups, families and small workshops in the region combiningtraditionalskillswithfreshideas. They also offer training in handcraft making, Natural dyes preparation and application.

Handmade Sustainable

This Pottery Studio uses arts to keep children off the streets and away from social ills, since 2015 a King William’s Town ceramicist has been doing her bit to upskill the youth and teaching pupils from five primary schools in East London and two high schools in her hometown how to be pottersforanhouraday

This social enterprise which empowers rural women and teen mothersthroughemployabilityskills.

Rural women and teen mother are empowered by teaching them financialliteracy,employabilityskills, leadership skills and providing them withjobopportunitytomanufacture bespoke, high quality, local handmade unique accessories and interior design to deliver to the local andglobalmarkets

SouthAfrica

Handmade Sustainable

Ayoung,womanfounderwhomakesembroideredtextileswhichincludesbags,wall hangings and cushion covers. She has been participating in various development workshops run by the African Art Centre, particularly the ‘Amazwi Abesifazane’ and the‘Intokozo’group.

She constantly employs new styles and expertise in designing and concepts to make her textiles more appealing. She is also reliable and will do whatever it takes tofulfilandcompleteorderswithinastipulatedtimeframe She iscurrentlyinvolved in training workshops where her skills are passed on to other women in her community.

This organization strives to achieve gender equality and empowerment in alignment with the UN's SDG 5. While acknowledging the significant work that lies ahead, we recognize the positive power social enterprises have in uplifting women globally. Despite the existing inequalities, we are dedicated to challenging the current economic paradigm and creating opportunities for women to thrive, ensuring their dignity and well-being are at the forefront of our endeavors

Embroidered CushionsofNamibianDailyLife

Namibia EmbroideredKid’sBook-WildAnimalsinNamibia

Kenya

Based in Kenya, this company was founded by a mother, creative and entrepreneur dedicated to creating products that help families instill positive valuesintheirchildren.

Each product is lovingly made to reflect the beauty of diversity, teach values and encourage children to love andrespectthemselvesandtheircommunities

Whether it’s an adorable and totally original Crochet Doll, a pack of Rafiki Values Tribe Playing Cards, or African stories, this company has something amazing foreveryone

Handmade

LocallyMade

Handmade Sustainable Kenya

For this company, the relationship with artisans is key! As a 100% women owned and run brand, they had to make it their mission to empower other women. The women artisans are trained in soft skills and management through which they’re able to train and support themselves and their families. They aim to make sure that a chain of collaboration is created in a sustainable way to ensure that the women that work with woven are empowered to create a lifestyle for themselves beyond the organization.

SouthAfrica

Lowimpact

EUStandardCompliant

The production of distinctive and polished Shweshwe designs that harmonise well with the brand's main theme istheirtoppriority.

Devotedtomaintainingtheauthenticityofthebrand,they thoroughly investigate the identity, objectives, and particular needs of the brand at the beginning of each project to make sure the finished design captures the distinctcharacterofthebrand.

Handmade

LocallySourced

Hand-dyed

Senegal

A mudcloth bogolan fabric producer and supplier of handmade and eco-friendly African fabrics from remote areas of West Africa to modern taste. Bogolan is a Malian fabric dyed using a technique used in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Senegal and composed of a more or less thick cotton canvas, spun and woven 100% by hand, and patterns dyed with fermented mud and other organic dyes. The dyeing technique is 100% organic, free from any kind of harmful chemicals. The symbols on the fabric are uniquely drawnbyartisanstotelltraditionalstoriesaboutthepeopleoftheregion.

Côted'Ivoire

This company is set to produce African handwoven fabrics to meet international luxury fashion standards. Their brand intends to keep the cultural legacy alive through the craft of loin-loom weaving, accessories and fine arts They also offer livelihood options to a large community in therurallandscape.

By promoting and preserving their textiles legacy, they also play a role in providing a sustainableincometolocalcommunities

Malawi

A wood carver based in Cape maclear, Malawi. Having learnt the skill from his uncle, he focuses on geometric wall art, incorporating different designs such as Birds, elephants, leopards, lions, giraffes, justtomentionafew

Handmade NaturalFibers

RecycledWaste

Eco-friendly

Non-toxicdye

Biodegradable

Women-led

Thissustainabletextile startupdedicatedto creatingeco-friendlyand sociallyresponsiblefashion products

Specializeinusingbanana fiberstoproducehighqualitytextilesthatareboth sustainableanddurable

Scrunchies

NaturalDye

Anovelfashiondesignpartnershipthat bridgesart,textilesandtailoring.Malian craftsmanshipisattheheart:inthe midstofthearidterrainsoftheSahel, textilemakerspracticeancientweaving anddyeingtechniques.Theycreate motifsthatcouldtellatale.

Offeringuniquecontemporarystyles drawinginspirationpreciselyfromthis folklore.

Theselectedfabricsarecraftpieces thankstotheartisanalknow-howthatis cultivatedwithtenacityovertime.Dyes areextractedfromnaturalsourcessuch asmineralmud,indigo,andothercolor bearingplantleavesandbark.These sourcesareamongsttheleast environmentallyimpactful,whileatthe sametimeproducinghighquality results.

BogolanScarf

Acompanyknownforitssignaturesoftsilksand ethereal chiffons that form delicate drapings and flowing silhouettes. Designed with the modernwomaninmind,thecollectionsfeature a combination of versatile separates and gorgeouskaftansthatmakeitlightandeasyto travelwithandloungein

As is customary with the brand, the story of the print drives the meaning behind each collection. This is then married with sublime silhouettestocreateapowerfulfashionstory

Women-led

MulberrySilk

SilkScrunchie

HeadWraps Kimonos

SheaButter

Whipped shea butter and vitamin E 100g | 3.5oz

This brand collaborates with a women’s cooperative that produces Shea butter and Africanblacksoap.Theirmainobjectiveisto empower women by giving them financial autonomy

Offer African natural beauty products that preserve your health, the environment and supportlocalAfricancommunities

Handmade

Meet Raymond

For the production of our handmade coverings, we use a local material called Elephant Grass, which is hand-dyed and woven by Raymond

AfricanBlackSoap

Cocoa pods, Potash, Shea Butter and Coconut Oil 100g | 3 5oz

This company is the testament of a talent that turned into a hobby and then a passion. A journey of exploration was embarked on twenty years ago, constantly turning into a quest for self-taught learning The all-female team infuses its creations with positive codes and symbols of Africanness and these creations respond to a need for authenticity, while adorningthemselveswithatouchofmodernity.

Creating striking jewelry that lifts up and championswomenaroundtheworld Providing life-changing job opportunities through vertically-integrated manufacturing, employing women in Uganda to handcraft each piece of jewelry with local and sustainablematerials

Everytimeyoupurchaseorweartheirproducts, youarefuelingacycleofhope.Youarepartof a community of women united by the belief that radical change comes from the giving of oneselfforthesakeofanother.

A workshop built ‘from the heart’. You can see that authenticity in the beautifulhand-madeproducts,crochet shoes, and artworks made by this brand. Even though they are just looming into the market, people are loving the passion they put into their work.

Handmade

NaturalMaterials

GiftIdeas

In 2017, an exciting transformation of its creator, transitioning from a career as an international marketingexperttoalifeofloveandpatiencefor theartofcraftsmanship

This brand launched its first leather goods models, fascinated by the magic of leather, an organic material that ages gracefully. These first evening bags, handcrafted and adorned with precious stones, showcase the meticulous work ofexceptionalmasterartisans.

SammBag

MenisBag

Kenya

Foundedin2017,thiscompanysetouttobea trend setting design and production house usingbothfabricandleatherfurnishingswith African touch. Providing a full range of customized products both in small and large scale, they use a blend of locally sourced materials with a modern touch to deliver quality and well prized authentic merchandise and services. They have the experience to tailor products and services to the client needs and use our extensive experience to bring new ideas to a business concept

Afemale-ownedminimalist, ethicalfashionbrandbasedin Tanzania Theyaimtobring minimalistfashionaesthetics withstylesthataretimeless, comfortableandversatile.This brandsseekstobeforward thinkinginmergingfashion withsustainabledevelopment.

ArtisanalElegance

Sustainable Handmade

Tanzania

Handcraftedbytraditionalweavers andleatherworkers,thebrand’s accessoriesblendWestAfrican culturalheritagewithinnovative modernstyles.

Inadditiontoworkingwithtypical Africanfabrics,high-endmaterials areusedtoofferyouluxuryproducts madebyourartisans.

Supportinglocalartisans,sustaining livelihoodsandpreservingancient crafts,thefirmgivesbacktothe peoplethatinspireditsdesigns.

Handmade

Senegal

Mozambique

AsustainableFashionbrandthatuseslocallysourced materialsandcollaborateswithlocalartisansto makeaccessoriessuchasHandbags,Clutches, Backpacks,Hatsandothers Weareinspiredbythe richanddiversecultureofMozambiqueandbring thataestheticintoourdesigns.

Createdin2008,itstartedasawomen’sfashion brand,offeringaneclecticstylethatmixedcapulana withotherfabricsinformalandcasualattire.In2016, afterapausethebrandreemergesnowfocusedon accessoriesproducedbasedonlocalhandicrafts followingFairTradepractices.Mostofthedesigns incorporatetheskillsofdifferentartisansensuringa uniquedesignandrepresentationofthevariedarray ofcraftsmanshipavailableinthecountry.

Sustainable Handmade

This cooperative empowers rural women through our regenerative fashion line and capacity building programs. We use nature based solutions to contribute to community development, gender equality, and environmentalregeneration.

Lilian

MadefromRecycled WastePaper

As a leading pencil producer, the vision of this company is to inspire creativity, innovation, and sustainability through the creation of exceptional, eco-friendly writing instruments. They strive to revolutionize the industry by crafting high-quality pencils that not only meet but exceed the expectationsofourconsumersworldwide.

With a commitment to excellence, they aim to be recognized as pioneers in sustainable manufacturing practices, setting new standards for environmental stewardship while fostering a cultureofcontinuousimprovementandcustomersatisfaction.

This company was birthed from a desire to create a legacy of the Ga language (written) and the expressions of the Ga Samai symbols. The founder chose to pay homage to their grandmother who has lovingly taught her the traditions of the Ga culture

The aim of the company is to continue the preservation of our culture through contemporarydesignbyprovidingAfricanrepresentationthroughartwork.

Lesotho

Kenya

This company strive to bring you the best flavours from Madagascar. Their selection of premium vanillas are ethically sourced and guaranteed to enhance the taste of your favorite recipes

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, their mission istocapturetheessenceAfricathrough flavours and share it with the global community

Natural Vegan