From beautiful jewelry to employment security, Kazuri Beads fulfills their mission

Kazuri Beads began in 1975 as a tiny workshop experimenting on making handmade beads. Driven by the desire to provide employment opportunities, Kazuri has grown and today has a large workforce skilled in the making of handmade jewelry.

Each piece is hand made and hand painted in rich colors and with an extensive collection from individual collector pieces to dinnerware.  Their mission is “to provide and sustain employment opportunities for disadvantaged members of the Kenyan society.” In order to achieve this, Kazuri has strived to produce high quality handmade and hand painted ceramic jewelry and pottery. Equipped with a clinic, providing free medical care for the employees and their immediate families.

Handmade ceramic beads and jewelry in Kenya

If ever in doubt that fashion and community and social development could not mix, Kazuri clarifies that and proves otherwise. From beautiful jewelry to employment security, Kazuri has been achieving their mission till today. The late Mark and Regina Newman, founders of Kazuri beads, stated “the greatest contribution we can make is to create employment, especially for the disadvantaged and this remains our guiding philosophy.”

Kazuri produces over 5 million beads a year, employs over 400 women, exports to over 30 countries worldwide and can be ordered online from many of their distributors. Kazuri is also a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

See some of their pieces below- photos courtesy of Kazuri Beads.