It’s time to invest in timeless treasures from Akojo Market. Discover the online platform that curates and sells fashion, accessories and homeware from independent African artisans and designers.
Nowadays, impact is everything. Since its inception in 2019, Akojo Market has created a mission to positively impact artisans, designers and their wider communities through philanthropic and community-based projects in Africa. To date, the company’s efforts have benefited over 6300 individual lives through their work, and they’re just getting started.
In this spotlight feature, learn more about the sustainable shopping marketplace, their dedication to due diligence and the edit of brands to browse via the platform.
In focus – Akojo Market
Founded by Annie Rudnick & Natasha Buchler in 2019, Akojo Market has become the go-to online marketplace for unique fashion, accessories and homeware – all of which are sourced from independent African makers.
Together they have curated a roster of designers who are committed to sustainable and transparent methods of working. These brands are best in class for ethical sourcing, as well as providing training and employment opportunities to the extended networks of artisans.
Akojo Market take due diligence seriously and evaluate each designer on numerous sustainability credentials. This assessment covers everything from fair labour conditions, to certified organic materials as well as their low environmental impact. Not only do the team assess this, but they work with the brands to encourage them to disclose any challenges that may occur in their value chain. This directly fosters transparency and improves compliance and operational processes.
Their simplified logistics and distribution model makes the platform even more sustainable, as brands ship directly to Akojo customers which cuts unnecessary carbon emissions. Instead of one-time wholesale transactions, the team build long standing relationships with the makers. Akojo Market also reinvest profits into supporting and promoting the designers to an international audience.
Most recently, they have partnered with Nula Carbon to offset their carbon footprint for all orders shipped since the company began. The team have purchased carbon credits that generate an alternative income for local people in Kenya through Wildlife Works Carbon.
Why is their work so important? Firstly, supporting artisans through our purchasing behaviour is a way to show solidarity with unique craftsmanship and cultural techniques. This can have monumental positive impact in preserving cultures that may be at risk from erasure. Our shopping preferences for unique hand-made items has seen the handicraft market sit at a substantial $526.5 billion in 2018. By purchasing from gifted makers, like those on Akojo, it popularises sustainable alternatives that move away from mass market lifestyle brands and fast fashion.
Additionally, 2020 has also been marked by attention to the need to support black owned businesses. Yelp reported there was a 7,043% increase in searches for Black-owned businesses from May 25th to July 1st on its platform when compared to the same time period last year—from approximately 35,000 to more than 2,500,000.
However, supporting black owned businesses should be more than a trend, it’s about provenance, creating long term socio-economic stability and moving away from systemic racial biases that can often create barriers in commerce.
10 African brands to discover on Akojo Market
Merwe Salt
Merwe Salt is the brain child of experienced designers, Deeva and Eva. Based in Cape Town, they specialise in stylist silhouettes and luxury aesthetics.
Khokho Collection
For all handwoven handbags and accessories, look no further than Khoko Collection. The brand partner with buhle bakhoko, a self-governed co-operative of female weavers in eSwatini. Through their work, they aim to empower each artisan, provide them with security, prosperity and self-purpose. This basket is made using traditional weaving techniques and handwoven from lutindzi grass, indigenous to Eswatini – and locally grown sisal fibre.
Organic Savanna
Organic Savanna is a Kenyan born sustainable skincare brand that inspires change within the beauty industry. This social enterprise reinvests 100% of its profits into supporting women and children in the community through employment and education. The Organic Savanna raw ingredients are sourced from the farm or neighbouring regions to redefine the farm to face philosophy.
Asha Eleven
Asha translates to life in Arabic and 11 in repetition (11:11) represents the opening of an energetic gateway. Hailing from South Africa, Asha Eleven only use 100% natural and biodegradable materials. All items are locally made by artisans with a commitment to people and the planet.
This is the Malaika dress, which translates to angel in Swahili and is made from 100% Tencel™ by Lenzing™.
Mia Mélange
From hanging baskets to bowls, planters and modern interior decorations, Mia Mélange should be a default go-to when you need to brighten a room. Their items use ancient crafting techniques and source local materials from near their studio in Stellenbosch, South Africa. These hanging planters are made from 100% organic cotton, farmed in South Africa by members of the Better Cotton Initiave (BCI).
Shekudo
If the shoe fits! Shekudo offer a refreshing and colourful take on footwear and accessories. Produced in Lagos, the brand is supporting local craftsmanship through its careful raw material selection and production processes. The brand currently includes local leather and traditional Aso Oke/Akwete cloth for its shoe uppers, local cotton for the dust bags, as well as wood, brass and silver for their earrings.
Indego Africa
Indego Africa is a not for profit that specialises in sweetgrass beautiful baskets made from locally sourced Rwandan natural fibres which are handwoven and hand dyed. Using the country’s traditional weaving techniques, depending on the size and shape, each basket can take one weaver anywhere from 20-740 hours to make! Indego Africa invest all of their profits, as well as grants and business donations into leadership and education programmes for the makers of their products and the youth in their communities. So far, they have partnered with over 1,200 artisans and refugee women in Rwanda and Ghana.
Lunar
Sometimes only simple and elegant silhouettes will do. Since the 1990’s, Lunar has worked to create beautiful clothes from natural fibres made under fair trade working conditions. By selecting sustainable and biodegradable materials like linen, Lunar designs create with the environment in mind.
Ardmore Designs
No home is complete without a sprinkle of something from Ardmore Designs – the leading luxury African interior design brand. Their distinct art, patterns and playful take on African heritage translates into cushions, furniture and finishing touches for tablescapes.
Hamaji
Hamaji are a design house that preserve ancient textile traditions and collaborate with small scale African artisans.
The products are stitched in a small collective in Nanyuki called Mitumba Arts and hand embroidered by a small collective of workers in the Ngara slum of Nairobi. Hamaji share all profits between their tailors, upholsters, hand beaders and painters.
You can join the Akojo Market Community here.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to read about Kenyan sustainable beauty brand Organic Savanna.
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