02.01.2020
The making of the Beaded Collars: Ewaso Village visit, Loisaba, Kenya
That contact is why we chose to work with this remarkable women’s co-operative when we were looking for someone to make the neck beads for our Silverless Gin project.
The trip left a lasting impression on us. The warmth of the community, set against the raw beauty of northern Kenya, made the experience unforgettable. So when the Silverless Gin idea became a reality, there was no doubt in our minds who we wanted to partner with.
After working remotely with the ladies via the unflappable Milly Kwatoa, it was incredible to finally visit in person.
Watching the process up close is something else entirely. You gain a whole new respect for the time, patience and precision required. The beads, laid out in colour-coded trays, are painstakingly threaded in patterns that are both traditional and completely unique to each maker.
These colourfully-beaded women use skills learned from childhood, singing and laughing as they complete their incredibly intricate beadwork together. Their craft is both personal and communal, a rhythm passed down generations and shaped by years of shared stories and tradition.
Many of the ladies come from difficult home-lives, and all are extremely poor, so beadwork provides an essential income for them and their extended families.
Beyond the economic support, the co-operative offers something just as vital — a sense of purpose, pride, and empowerment. These collars aren’t just decorative; they represent self-reliance, craftsmanship, and connection.
To date they have made over 1,000 beaded collars for us. And each one is a small piece of Kenya, wrapped around every bottle we send into the world.
