Maybe it’s the promise of summer and longer days ahead, but lately we’re in search of cheerful, colorful wares to add some brightness to our weeknight meals and unexpected spirit to our spaces. Even better if those objects are ethically made, designed to last, and crafted by artisans the world over to bring a bit of travel indoors, too.
We’re excited to see that Goodee, the Black-owned online marketplace for eco-minded, fair-trade, design-forward goods, has new offerings for the kitchen and tabletop—just in time for just-because front-porch dinners and outdoor fetes. We particularly like the collection from newly launched brand Siafu Home, a collaboration between Nairobi-based designer Gladys Macharia and Vermont-based Niccola Milnes with an emphasis on preserving Kenyan craftsmanship practices, emphasizing the role of women in community building, and, like all Goodee creators, empowering local makers and embracing slow design.
We’re eyeing Siafu’s beaded water carafes for the bedside or table, colorful cloth napkins, and delicately etched glassware—as well as Tensira’s newly launched aprons, made by artisans in the Republic of Guinea, and the latest additions from Ghana-based basket company Baba Tree for keeping cool on hot summer afternoons.
Take a look:
Above: The Maji Glasses ($100 for a set of two) by Siafu Home are made from recycled glass bottles by Kenyan artisans and hand-engraved with subtle botanicals. (They make lovely flower vases, too.)Above: Siafu Home’s Congolese Napkins come in two colorways: Night, shown here, and Day. They’re screen printed by hand onto 100 percent Kenyan cotton with charming scalloped borders; $100 for a set of six.
Above: Two favorites from Ghana-based Baba Tree: The Bolga Fan, shown in the LOVE version (left, $55) and in Yellow, Aqua, and Orange (right, $35). They’re woven in Ghana from sustainable straw and can be used as wall hangings or as a means of keeping cool. Above: The Long Apron – Ines de la Fresange ($125) is a collaboration between Tensira and the French designer. It’s responsibly crafted in the Republic of Guinea of 100 percent cotton and is breathable and lightweight for warm-weather work in the kitchen (or garden).Above: We like Siafu Home’s hand-beaded water carafes, made from recycled glass, for serving cold drinks. This is the Beaded Water Carafe in Blue ($149); it’s also available in Red and Green.Above: Pretty Ebony Salad Spoons by Siafu Home ($50) are eco-minded and low-waste, too: They’re carved from sustainably sourced ebony wood, and the bone handles are made from scraps left over from the local meat industry, then engraved using a traditional wax technique.Above: Equal parts eco-friendly and delicate, the Rose Tumble Glasses ($75 for a set of two) are made from recycled glass and hand-etched in Kenya, so no two are exactly the same.Above: Siafu Home’s Punda Milia Server ($50) is carved from olive wood with a scrap bone handle, wax-engraved for added grip. (“Punda Milia” means “zebra” in Swahili, a nod to the stripey design.) Above: And another of Tensira’s new offerings: The Half Apron in Blue and Black ($99) is made by artisans in the Republic of Guinea, perfect for keeping tools within easy reach. It’s also available in a grey and off-white colorway.
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