Scan Magazine | Design Feature | Kazuri Scandinavia
The distinct aesthetic expression, high quality and strong ethical profile of the Kazuri jewellery appeal to many Scandinavian women.
Small beads with a big impact Made in Kenya and inspired by Nordic fashion, Kazuri Scandinavia is loved for its high-quality hand-painted ceramic jewellery designs. But, even though the colourful aesthetic expression of the jewellery is what first catches the eye, the story behind the fairtrade brand is equally striking. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Kazuri
For decades the small Kazuri beads have provided a strong fairtrade busi-
16 | Issue 86 | March 2016
ness model for mothers in Kenya to support their children. That is why, when former aid worker Gro Strømnæss decided to start up a Scandinavian branch of the jewellery brand, she was acutely aware that the success of her venture was not about quick profits but about creating a long-term sustainable design business. “The women who make our jewellery typically come from two of Nairobi’s largest slum areas and they don’t have other job options, so, if I can help ensure that they will keep their job in the long term, that’s where I can make a difference,” says Strømnæss and adds: “That’s why, when I started out, it was very important for me not just to sell as much jewellery as possible in the shortest possible time.
I wanted to ensure that we don’t saturate the market with our products but rather build up a long-lasting demand, met by a number of carefully selected suppliers. I had offers from big chains that wanted to sell our jewellery, but I dared to say no.” Her strategy has been successful. Kazuri jewellery is now traded all over Scandinavia in a select range of jewellery stores, galleries and art shops, as well as boutique fashion stores.
Handmade
Kazuri was founded in 1975 as an experiment with making ceramic beads by hand. Its founder, the late Lady Susan Wood, intended for the then tiny workshop to be a help centre for women in need, especially single mothers, who had no other source of income. Today, more than 300 such women are employed by Kazuri. The women apply their skills to produce unique and beautiful beads and jewellery shaped by hand. But even