Kipenzi was started in Kenya in 2009 by Linda Odhiambo and Alex Hooper. Our name KIPENZI is a Swahili word meaning 'something loved'. Linda is a hands-on designer whilst Alex is a photographer and graphic designer. Together, a creative partnership with an eye for the abundance of beauty and inspiration presented by Africa.
Linda was working in the craft sector in Kenya and soon realised that many of the 'craft' items produced, although 'hand made' were mass produced for the tourist market. With her love of fashion and design and a wealth of exciting materials to work with, Linda set about creating a new kind of jewellery that was modern, chic and yet always African.
Linda was working in the craft sector in Kenya and soon realised that many of the 'craft' items produced, although 'hand made' were mass produced for the tourist market. With her love of fashion and design and a wealth of exciting materials to work with, Linda set about creating a new kind of jewellery that was modern, chic and yet always African.
We are thrilled to be introducing our unique and exciting designs made using recycled and renewable raw materials. Kipenzi products are made by us at our own workshop on the outskirts of Nairobi and in our Frome workshop in the UK, whilst other components such as glass beads are made by local skilled Kenyan artisans. We have a close working relationship with all our suppliers, many of whom are women's self-help groups or co-operatives. We ensure that fair trading principles are upheld in all of our activities. We work together on design and production techniques, often spending many hours developing new and effective methods of production. In the coming year we expect to have full Fair Trade affiliation.
Re-cycling is a very popular theme in the developed world but Africans were recycling things long before the rest of the world had thought of those little coloured bins by the front door! So yes, All of our products are made from recycled or renewable raw materials. Brass comes from discarded padlocks and aluminium from dead engines. Glass beads are made from old bottles and our beautiful bone beads are from farm animals only.
It is our pleasure to be involved with the wonderful and skillful artisans of Kenya and through our sales in the wider world, we hope to help them grow and continue to support and improve the lives of families and communities.
And in the end, it's up to you. We have a produced a collection of exciting, stylish, chic, modern, AFRICAN jewellery that we absolutely love.
We hope that you love it too....
It is our pleasure to be involved with the wonderful and skillful artisans of Kenya and through our sales in the wider world, we hope to help them grow and continue to support and improve the lives of families and communities.
And in the end, it's up to you. We have a produced a collection of exciting, stylish, chic, modern, AFRICAN jewellery that we absolutely love.
We hope that you love it too....
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