Swahili Coast is a direct trade brand working in partnership with artisans in East Africa to handcraft thoughtfully designed, modern products that build off of traditional East African womenscraft. They develop and support cooperative projects in Tanzania and Kenya.
Purpose
Swahili Coast's mission is to connect the talents of East African Artisans to global markets using principles of fairness, dignity, and respect. They support the creation of worker-owned cooperatives and provide support through fair exchange and promotion of workers rights in the East Africa region. Their principles: Leave the world better than we found it. Develop opportunities for women with fair wages and stable work. Empower women who shape and continue beadwork traditions. Bring traditional East African women's craftsmanship to the global stage. Rebuke the history of colonialism. Collaborate cross-culturally with respect. Promote transparency and fairness Decolonize American perceptions of Africa
People
Swahili Coast focuses their work on women's craftsmanship in East Africa. Traditionally, women do not get the same educational opportunities as men in East Africa, especially in rural areas, and come to the city to seek work. Their partners are mainly women with a middle grades education who are the primary income earners for their families. Through the co-op, they are able to support their families as well as their extended families back home in the villages. Many have invested in land and additional businesses.
Planet
Swahili Coast uses natural leather sourced from small hold pastoralist farmers in Tanzania. Leather is a byproduct of the herding traditions of Tanzania, and none of their leather is sourced from anything other than free-range feed cattle from small scale herding farmers on the plains. They use recycled brass and repurposed bone and horn (another byproduct of herding) to make their jewelry. They also strive to be low-waste, using even their tiniest scraps to make jewelry.
