Destination: Nairobi
I N TR O D U C I N G O U R N E W E S T PA R TN E R S H I P S IN KENYA
Making a sustainable impact in Kenya is a dream more than twenty years in the making. When Noonday Collection Founder Jessica Honegger traveled to Kenya at age 15, she saw poverty for the first time – but she also saw the power of opportunity. Jessica met a woman who used a microcredit loan to launch a thriving fruit stand in the middle of the Kibera slums. The vision of a powerful woman running her own small business inspired Jessica and ultimately catalyzed the launch of Noonday Collection. This season, the story comes full circle as we partner with new artisan businesses in Kenya to bring you four exclusive styles. Our Kenya collection features vivid Turkana beads and elegant brass crafted by talented Artisans living in Nairobi. One of our artisan partners in Kenya is Joseph. Joseph grew up in a Nairobi slum where economic opportunities were scarce. Joseph’s life changed for good when a nun working in the slum saw Joseph’s potential and gave him the opportunity to receive training as a metalworker. Joseph soon turned this opportunity into a passion for creating beautiful jewelry using traditional techniques. For over 30 years, Joseph has dedicated himself to using what he has been given to create opportunities for others. Today his metalworking business employs nine Artisans from the slums, four of whom are women.