Textiles: Kenyan Jewellery Designer Gladys Macharia For URBANARA

Gladys Macharia for URBANARA [Kenya]

[Image credit: Gladys Macharia, Awasi Collection Table Runner and Napkin – URBANARA]

UK online interiors and lifestyle brand URBANARA has teamed up with Kenyan jewellery designer Gladys Macharia to create a beautiful collection of table linens, that are just perfect for summer. The Awasi collection comprises 100% cotton napkins, placemats, and table runners hand-printed by artisans in Nairobi.

[Image credit: Gladys Macharia, Awasi Collection; top, Napkins and 
bottom, Placemat – URBANARA]

The collaboration came about through FA254, an international social business that was set up by Kenyan-born, former model, Waridi Schrobsdorff to help ‘enhance the development of fashion industries in Africa and strengthen local markets’. Having been challenged to design a contemporary homewares collection that would convey a sense of modern Africa, Gladys won FA254’s ‘African Designers for Tomorrow’ competition in the home decoration category sponsored by URBANARA, who mentored the finalists.

[Image credit: Gladys Macharia, Awasi Collection Embroidered Detail – URBANARA]

A jewellery designer by profession, Kenyan-born Gladys trained as a silversmith in Italy, before returning home in 2011 to launch her jewellery label Loyangalani, named for the place in Northern Kenya where she grew up. Inspired by her homeland, the landscape of East Africa is a theme that reoccurs throughout her jewellery designs, and extends to her textile collection, which sees organic printed shapes, and hand-beaded and embroidered textures rendered in fresh aquamarine shades that invoke sea and sky. The designs are offset against a background of crisp white cotton. 

The result, a beautifully light and summery feel. 

Additional details:
The Awasi collection priced at: £12-£69
For further information about URBANARA and to purchase visit: www.urbanara.co.uk/table-linen
For further information about Gladys Macharia visit: www.facebook.com/Loyangalani
For further information about FA254 visit: http://fa254.com

[Image credits: All images belong to URBANARA. If downloaded and used elsewhere please credit accordingly.]