On a recent trip to Kenya, Missibaba designer Chloe Townsend, met Abigael Terenoi Sentero and her group of Massi beadwork craftswomen. Astounded by the intricacy of their work and a shared passion for women’s rights and community empowerment a decision was swiftly made to collaborate on an exclusive collection of beaded bags.
Sentero
is married with two daughters and lives in the Keekonyokie location in Kajiado County,
Kenya. Relying on beadwork to support her family, she meets twice a month to
chair a group of likeminded women who discuss issues effecting the community
and ways of promoting and selling their beaded products. Chloe came into
contact with the beautiful beadwork, traditionally done on leather belts, and
felt that the striking patterns would work wonderfully on bags. Sentero and her group are the breadwinners of their
families and each contribute on a monthly basis to a combined kitty of funds
that go to school fees and to upgrading shelters from Maasai manyatta to the modern mambati
houses.
Chloe gave Sentero the colourful leather panels for three
different Missibaba bags and the Cha Ching, Macaw Sling and Macaw Clutch were
given a uniquely Kenyan makeover. “I am thrilled with the outcome and
completely love the slightly skew obviously hand beaded feel,” she enthuses. A
true labour of love, each bead has been stitched on individually, evident by
the odd stray needle hole, and took the women many weeks to complete. The
beaded panels were then delivered to the bustling Missibaba studio in Cape Town
to be assembled and finishing touches made. The final outcome is a small collection of
unique and exquisite pieces ready to be worn and loved by a handful of lucky
women.
Chloe
and business partner Lizel Strydom are attracted to the handmade, artisanal
quality of African design and crafts. “The patterns embrace the ethos of beauty
in imperfection. No line is straight, no dot or mark the same and the overall
effect speaks to the heart! It is very human”, explains Chloe. The pair describes
African design as having a freedom that is completely intoxicating and
insatiable.
Missibaba
beaded collection bag prices range from R2250.00 to R3600.00 and are available for purchase exclusively from the
Missibaba shop in Birdhaven, Johannesburg (Shop 3 Wrenrose, 64 St. Andrew St, Birdhaven, Johannesburg).
Happy shopping this weekend!
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