Swazi artisans turn basket weaving into high end Khokho handbags
Native Interiors is proud to be the exclusive distributors of Khokho handbags in Australasia. Khokho demonstrates how innovation and design elevation can breathe contemporary life into traditional artisan techniques from around the world. The new line of handbags features three elevated styles that stand out as design emblems in their own rights, and carry with them the added bonus of an empowering social mission.
The handbags are the brainchild of Philippa Thorne, the Central Saint Martins educated Creative Director of Swaziland’s women’s basket weaving collective Gone Rural and New York based Sapna Shah, current Design Director of Leather for Eddie Borgo. Philippa partnered with non-profit Nest to bring her vision to life, identifying Nest as an organization committed to capacity building for artisan businesses around the world. Philippa’s goals were to diversify her basket weaving business with a new line of products that could be sold to the export market at a more competitive price than the local market for baskets would afford. This would mean higher wages to the artisans she employs, as well as new job opportunities.
Nest called upon the expertise of an impressive repertoire of industry experts, tapping its proprietary Professional Fellowship Program which helps experienced industry professionals channel their skills and expertise for good. Nest matched Philippa with Sapna to lead the design and product development for the new Khokho bags. Sapna lived and worked alongside the artisan collective in Swaziland for four months, educating the women in color theory and design innovation, and guiding them through the step-by-step process of bag creation.
Sapna weaving with the Khokho artisans in Swaziland
To both elevate the handbags as well to generate increased artisan job opportunity via the introduction of new skill sets, Nest also brought on Carlo Bisceglia, an Italian Master Craftsman with 50 years producing handbags for brands like Coach, Marc Jacobs and Burberry, to lead a three-week intensive training in leatherwork production in Swaziland. This was supplemented by Nest’s acquisition of several crucial tools and equipment needed for the artisan collective to fully capacitate its in-house leather workshop, directly building increased job sustainability for the artisans.
From this partnership, Khokho emerged, culminating in a high-end handbag collection that incorporates natural fibers like the indigenous Swazi ‘lutindzi’ grass into woven panels that are brought together with leather to produce a contemporary and signature look. Rebecca van Bergen, Nest Founder and Executive Director, says, “the Khokho bags are a testament to the fact that global craft techniques have expansive application in the contemporary high-end market. Philippa adds ”Khokho has given the women of the collective renewed pride, as they see their work being recognized in the international world of style.”
Hand crafted with care, each Khokho bag is one-of-a-kind. Khokho handbags range in price from AUD$400 – AUD$780 and are available exclusively online through Native Interiors.
All images via Khokho
