Jewellery: Mikuti Beaded Bangles Inspired by the Maasai

Mikuti [Tanzania]

[Image credit: Musa Bangle – Mikuti]

Get a glimpse into a vibrant part of Tanzanian culture with these gorgeously colourful bangles from Mikuti; a socially active company founded by US-based Erika Freund, who after spending time in the country as a volunteer set up the business to produce simple yet striking jewellery designs in partnership with various artists, individuals and workshops in Tanzania. Inspired by the colourful and distinctive Maasai jewellery and beaded adornment, the ‘Musa Bangles’ are hand-cut and shaped into a circle of polished aluminium that comes from an airplane wing and is accentuated with two colourful swathes of glass Czech seed beads.

The word Mikuti means ‘Dried Leaf’ in Kiswahili, and is a reference to the company’s use of natural, organic and recycled materials such as banana bark and local textiles. Mikuti’s aim is to help towards creating sustainable economic success within local Tanzanian communities and a portion of Mikuti’s profits are reinvested back into the communities to fund various development initiatives. Other designs produced include bangles and cuffs made from banana bark and another range called the ‘Furaha Line’, sees chokers and bracelets created in a fusion of cultures, taking local wax cloth textiles and weaving them using the traditional Japanese weaving technique of ‘Kumihimo’.

[Image credits: Musa Bangles – Mikuti]

Available in a wide range of colours, the Musa Bangle is great for stacking up; mixing and matching the colours as you please or wearing alone. Every bangle produced is numbered and engraved with a Mikuti logo.

[Image credit: Musa Bangle – Mikuti]

…simply stylish arm candy

Additional details:
Prices range from: USD$30-USD$95
For further information: www.mikuti.com
To purchase visit: www.mikuti.bigcartel.com
To read an interview with Erika on Afri-love visit: www.afri-love.com